About
Born in Agadir, southern Morocco, Samir LanGus grew up immersed in the spiritual world of Gnawa — Morocco's sacred trance music, rooted in West African healing traditions and carried by Black communities for centuries.
He began studying with Gnawa masters as a child, learning from legends like Maalem Hamid El Kasri. After winning the U.S. Green Card Lottery, he brought that ancient lineage to New York City — and transformed it.
In Brooklyn, Samir co-founded Innov Gnawa, establishing a living Gnawa presence in the city's most iconic venues: Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Bowl, Music Hall of Williamsburg, Terminal 5, and beyond. He took the tradition to Coachella and Red Rocks. And through a collaboration with producer Bonobo, he earned a Grammy nomination — bringing Gnawa music to audiences who had never heard the sintir before.
Today, Samir performs solo and with his ensemble — fusing traditional Gnawa trance with jazz, rock, and electronic sound. He is an ambassador not of nostalgia, but of evolution.
"An ambassador of peace and a cultural bridge between Morocco, Africa, and the global music world."
— Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
"Immersive world-soul — the raw hypnotic power of the centuries-old tradition, and the pulse of New York City."
— Bandcamp Daily
As Seen At
New Album · 2026
11 tracks weaving soul horns, strings, and synthesizers through the deep pulse of the sintir. Samir LanGus's debut solo album — rooted in ancient Gnawa ceremony, speaking to the world.
Digital · $10.99 · Vinyl 12" · $35
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