The video for London-based Ethiopian–Egyptian musician Alewya’s new track Maktoub sees her riding pillion on a motorcycle across the vast, otherworldly desertscape of Afar, Ethiopia. One of the hottest recorded places on Earth, Afar’s volcanic terrain sits at the junction of three tectonic plates – a neat backdrop for an artist whose music is born from collision, folding East African rhythms, Arabic melodies, and contemporary club influences into one.

It’s a location chosen with purpose. “It is the birthplace of humanity, and a land where a new ocean is forming beneath my feet,” says the musician. “The Afar people are warriors who have lived on their own terms for centuries, and the women carry a grace that makes me feel close to God… It felt right to create from the closest place to the beginning.”

Taken from her debut record Zero, the track itself echoes these themes of ancestry, destiny and belonging. Its title is an Arabic word meaning “it is written” or “destined”, while its production samples legendary Ethiopian singer-songwriter Teddy Afro, whose music formed part of Alewya’s own upbringing.

Speaking to us about her new music, Alewya shares exclusive behind-the-scenes imagery from the making of the Maktoub visuals.

Alex James Taylor: Hey Alewya, can you tell us about the stories and themes behind your debut record Zero – what was the starting point and how did it build out from there?
Alewya: This question is harder to answer than it seems, because I can’t pinpoint the start and how we built it out, it felt like an upward spiral as we had to feel our way through something that was much larger a task than any of us anticipated.

AJT: The video for Maktoub is really special. Can you take us through filming in Afar, its landscape, its meaning to you and working with the local filming crew?
A: It’s my second time going and I feel a connection with the land, the people, the heat, the dunes, the salt lakes and the Afari cloth. The women and their beauty and grace, and the men hold hands as they walk. We hiked up to the volcano around 8pm, and when we got there, it was pitch-black smoke, and everyone started coughing. The volcano was closing up and another was forming in the same area, along a new crack coming in from Lebanon to Mozambique to Ethiopia. So basically the continent will split in some thousands or millions of years, and a new ocean will form, which is incredible to be standing on.

“The volcano was closing up and another was forming in the same area.”

AJT: The cinematographer is incredible, were there any references you worked from?
A: Yes, Tedos Teffera is an incredible DOP. He cares, and is really gifted at his craft. Well, this was not the video planned – we kind of had to make it from what we got, as what I wanted wasn’t executed. So we stuck to Afar, which worked out.

AJT: You’re an artist originally, how do you see your artistic practice and your music merge and cross over?
A: Seamlessly, there’s no force – one is the other.

AJT: How does it feel to be releasing your debut record? You’ve been making music for a little while now, but how does this record solidify your voice and message?
A: It feels surreal, but also very normal. I’m grateful, it took a while to find what could be my voice, I dont take it for granted. I’m truly blessed to have a relationship with my voice

Alewya’s debut record Zero is out now. 
Follow Alewya on Instagram.