Features : Exclusive Interview with Arouna and Azaratou Diarra

Artist: Arouna and Azaratou Diarra

Arouna and Zaza Diarra’s album Dounouya consists of seven songs that are “a piece of life, a lesson in wisdom, an emotion that resonates beyond borders.” Arouna has the gift of fingers with his instrument playing while Zaza has the gift of voice with her singing. Music has weaved itself across their lives and it all carries the same message of love, community and joy that they spread through everything that they do.

This Q&A gives fans a rare glimpse into the mind of one of music’s most respected voices.

FreshMusicWorld: How do you incorporate your cultural background into your music?

Arouna and Azaratou Diarra: Our cultural background is the foundation of our music. With Arouna coming from a long lineage of West African musicians, storytellers, and instrument makers, that heritage naturally lives in the rhythms, melodies, and instruments we use, such as the kora, ngoni, balafon, and traditional percussion. We also sing in ancestral languages and draw from oral traditions that carry wisdom, history, and spirituality. Even when the music evolves or blends with modern influences and sang in western languages such as French and or English, its heart remains rooted in tradition.

FreshMusicWorld: What role does nature or your environment play in your songwriting?

Arouna and Azaratou Diarra: Nature plays a powerful role in our songwriting process. Many of our melodies come while sitting under trees, by the pool, at an airport, overseas in another country. Nature is really not separate from life. It teaches patience, balance, and humility. The wind, the rhythm of footsteps, the sounds of birds and drums all influence how songs unfold. Dounouya reflects this connection to the earth and the cycles of life.  

FreshMusicWorld: Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?

Arouna and Azaratou Diarra: Our songwriting process is very organic. Often it begins with a rhythm or a melody on the Kora, the Ngoni, Balafon... From there, words arrive naturally. Sometimes as a chant, sometimes as a story or prayer or even an event. For example, our song "My Love" was written during an intimate moment of disagreement while we were traveling to Africa. there was an unconfortable silence then Arouna started playing the Ngoni and adding words to express his feelings, and with a smile, I added my responses and that was the song "My Love".  The song expresses the strength of marital love. The lyrics say:

“Do not leave me, for your absence brings sadness and tears. Stay with me, my love, for you are the one I want.”...   We don’t rush the process; We allow the song to reveal itself. Many pieces evolve over time through performance, repetition, and community energy before they feel complete.

FreshMusicWorld: Where do you find inspiration for your lyrics and melodies?

Arouna and Azaratou Diarra: As mentioned, inspiration comes from life itself. Family, Friendship, ancestors, community, spiritual reflection, and daily experiences. basically by human relationships, resilience, joy, struggle, and the search for harmony and the puirsuit of happiness. Melodies often come from traditional patterns passed down through generations, while lyrics reflect both ancient wisdom and present-day realities.

FreshMusicWorld: What’s one thing you wish you had known when you started?

Arouna and Azaratou Diarra: This is the school of life! Never done learning for as long as you live. We are learning that one needs to stay true to your roots because that's more powerful than trying to fit into expectations. Not knowing that from the beganing kept us from putting our an album early on.  it’s easy to feel pressure to want to follow trends or compare yourself to others. Over time, we learned that authenticity creates the deepest connection and the most lasting impact so Dounouya was finaly born!

FreshMusicWorld: What impact do you hope your music has on your listeners?

Arouna and Azaratou Diarra: We hope our music brings hope, healing, peace, and a sense of connection. We want listeners to feel grounded, uplifted, and reminded of our shared humanity and planet. Whether someone understands the language or not, we hope the emotion and intention reach their heart.

FreshMusicWorld: How do you connect with your audience during a performance?

Arouna and Azaratou Diarra: Connection happens through presence and openness. We invite the audience into the rhythm, through call-and-response, movement, eye contact, smiles and shared energy. Live performance is not just about playing music; it’s about creating a communal space where everyone feels included and alive.

FreshMusicWorld: What’s your favorite song to perform live and why?

Arouna and Azaratou Diarra:  Dounouya is one of our favorite songs to perform live because it captures the essence of the album and brings people together. Every time we perform it, the audience responds with movement, emotion, and reflection. It becomes a shared moment rather than just a song.  

FreshMusicWorld: Can you tell us about a particularly memorable fan interaction or story that stands out in your mind?

Arouna and Azaratou Diarra: One memorable moment was when someone told us they didn’t understand the language but felt deeply moved and healed by the music. That confirmed for us that music goes beyond words; it speaks directly to the soul.

FreshMusicWorld: How do you balance the need for creative freedom with the importance of satisfying fan expectations?

Arouna and Azaratou Diarra: We see creative freedom and audience connection as partners, not opposites. We keep that in mind, which allows us to stay honest in our creative process while remaining open to how people receive the music. When you create from a place of truth, listeners feel it. Trust builds naturally, and fans grow alongside the artist rather than expecting repetition.