Morocco-based singer-songwriter Rhita Nattah creates from a place of truth, a voice both tender and fierce, carrying the weight of experience and the lightness of freedom. Guided by her producer Samir El Bousaadi, she blends vulnerability and confidence in a way that feels entirely her own.
Raised by her grandparents in Morocco, Rhita grew up listening to the sacred chants of Aissawa, music rooted in trance and spirit. Her teenage years brought her to the voices of Amy Winehouse, Sarah Vaughan, and Dinah Washington — women whose depth and honesty shaped her sense of musical identity. From there, Rhita began crafting a sound she calls a mix of “richesse arabe et mystique africain” — a dialogue between Arabic richness, African mysticism, and the smoky undertones of jazz.
Her Journey
Rhita’s first single, “Not the Same” (November 2019), revealed the early outlines of her voice: soulful, weary, yet unbroken.
In it, she sings, “Hey, how can I be the same, babe — You’re the one who made me change my mind“
It’s a song about reclaiming self-worth, about refusing to repeat the same emotional patterns, even when love still lingers. The closing chant, الله مع الجاه العالي ,” feels like a blessing, a surrender, and a quiet affirmation of strength.
That song marked the beginning of Rhita’s path toward emotional and spiritual independence — a theme she would deepen in later projects.
Her 2021 single “Effect of Thoughts” traveled far beyond borders, featured on Spotify’s Equal Africa and later displayed on a Times Square billboard, a powerful symbol for a young Moroccan woman whose music speaks universally.
“The Calling” Live Session
In her collaboration with The Local Sessions, Rhita found a space that mirrored her artistic ethos: honest, intimate, rooted in purpose. Her song “The Calling” is both a statement and a meditation — a reminder that the search for freedom begins within.
“Sometimes we feel jailed,” Rhita shared in her interview with us.
“We should find freedom inside of us, find our calling, and follow it.”
Through “The Calling,” she turns that reflection into sound — an invitation to drop fear, listen inward, and embrace transformation. With her voice gliding between soft Arabic phrasing and jazz-inspired inflections, Rhita, accompanied by the one who knows her pulse by heart, Samir, and The Local Sessions created something that feels alive: earthy, spiritual, and liberating.
Rhita’s Tangier Concert
Rhita’s duo set returned in May 2025 for an intimate acoustic concert with The Local Sessions at the American Legation in Tangier — an evening that felt like a conversation between soul and space. Over the years, Rhita has built a deep connection with Tangier, and it showed: the audience was engaged, vibrant, and fully interactive, responding to every nuance of her performance. Surrounded by the echoes of the city’s historic walls, her voice carried warmth and defiance in equal measure, transforming the concert into a shared, unforgettable experience.
Looking Ahead
Rhita’s work carries the soul of activism — through emotion, truth, and cultural depth. Her art speaks of liberation, identity, and the courage to be honest. Deeply in love with her country, she also dreams of a stronger, more vibrant music industry and is determined to fight for a better day. Whatever direction her journey takes, her message remains constant: freedom begins within, and music can be its most powerful voice.
