Malian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rokia Traoré comes to the Roundhouse this February as part of brand new intimate music series In the Round.

With a limited number of tickets available, this will be a unique opportunity to see one of the world’s leading artists perform up close within the venue’s iconic architecture.

Having consistently swept the board with rave reviews, Rokia Traoré releases new album Né So (produced by John Parish (PJ Harvey, Tracy Chapman)) featuring guest artists John Paul Jones and Devendra Barnhart. It draws deeply from the musical traditions of Mali, but also exhibits a dynamic rock edge. In fact it’s her masterly confidence in mixing influences and musicians (she’s also performed alongside the likes of Paul McCartney, Damon Albarn and the Kronos Quartet) plus her compelling onstage presence that entices critics to say: ‘Extraordinary,’ Time Out and ‘Explosive shows,’ Uncut.

It was through her father, a Malian diplomat, that she discovered jazz, the blues and French chanson, as well as different styles of African music. After studying sociology in Brussels, she returned to Mali to embark on a musical career and is now one of the most original female singer/songwriters in Africa today, remarkable not just for the range of her powerful and emotional voice but also for the sheer variety of her work and a natural talent for reinvention.

For this special performance, Rokia will be joined by Bintou Soumbounou (backing vocals), Mamah Diabaté (n’goni), Stefano Pilla (guitar), Mtthieu Nguessan (bass guitar) and Moise Ouattara (drums).