Laskaar Never Met You (2016)
By 2010, an estimated 44 million Muslims were living in Europe, constituting 6% of the continent’s population. Most Muslims live in the Balkans or in Eastern Europe, where the only Muslim-majority areas in Europe can be found these days.
Back in the late Middle Ages, however, such areas also existed in other parts of Europe. Soon after the death of Muhammad in 632 AD, Muslims embarked on conquests, starting with Persia, then reaching the Levant and North Africa, and finally also the Mediterranean coast. Islam gained its first foothold in mainland Europe on the Iberian Peninsula in 711: the Emirate of Granada, also known as the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, which was ruled by the Nasrid dynasty.
Although Muslim rule officially ended in 1492, Islam left its mark on the region, most notably in the city of Granada. But there are many other influences in the southern Spanish town, as its rich history also has seen periods of Christian, Jewish and Moorish dominion, among others.
Also shaped by manifold influences is the music of Guillermo Sorya aka Laskaar, whose parents are originally from Granada. The multidisciplinary artist who grew up in Switzerland and who has lived in various places blends r’n’b, soul, rave, ambient and other genres to create his unique sound, a prime example being “Never Met You” released in 2016.
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