6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
Lamiss Amya: The Moroccan Violinist Carving Her Own Path Through Techno
Rabat – In the evolving world of electronic music, few artists bridge as many different influences as Lamiss Amya.
Based between Morocco, India, and the UAE, she brings together classical training, modern electronic production, and a strong cultural identity to create a sound that feels deeply personal, yet widely resonant.
'I am a multifaceted Moroccan artist with a lifelong passion for music,' she says.
Her story began with the violin, which she started learning as a child. Alongside music, she followed a serious academic path, eventually earning a PhD in Public Law and Political Science. Despite that achievement, music remained at the center of her life.
'It has been my drive, my sanctuary, and my truest form of expression.'
Supporting young talent
At 20, Lamiss launched the Moroccan Association for the Development of Young Talents. The goal was to help new artists be seen and heard. She organized festivals, auditions, and training opportunities to offer real visibility to emerging Moroccan musicians.
At the same time, she became the first violinist in Morocco to specialize in live solo performances for events, something that was still uncommon at the time. Over 17 years later, she continues to perform, with connection always at the heart of her shows.
Discovering Techno in India
A major turning point came unexpectedly, through her seasonal work in India. An event agency there suggested she combine her violin with DJing. At first, she wasn't interested.
'I initially underestimated the work of a DJ, thinking it wasn't really for me.'
But that changed during several festivals in Goa. There, she encountered techno music in a new context, and it shifted her entire creative direction.
'I discovered the techno scene and was completely shaken by it. The emotional depth, the hypnotic rhythms, the spiritual power of the sound, it moved something deep inside me.'
She began learning to DJ, then moved into production. This was more than a genre switch, it was an expansion of her voice.
'Today, I see this as a natural fusion of my classical roots, my travels, my emotional experiences, and my inner desire to create music that is raw, vibrant, and uniquely mine.'
Global perspective
India left a strong impression on Amya, not just musically, but culturally. Despite the distance from Morocco, she found deep similarities in rhythm, spirit, and sound.
'Arabic music is often present in Bollywood films, fused with Indian rhythms in a way that feels both familiar and entirely new to me,' she says. 'In India, I felt at home; but within a much more diverse and rich musical landscape.'
In contrast, the UAE offered her a global stage. Performing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi connected her with international audiences and artists. That exposure helped expand her career, and her work was recognized with a UAE Golden Visa, a milestone she describes as the result of persistence and growth.
Still, her foundation remains in Morocco.
'My Moroccan heritage is the foundation of who I am,' she says. 'Even when I'm working with electronic or techno sounds, there's always something deeply rooted in me that reflects the essence of Morocco.'
For Lamiss, Moroccan influence often appears naturally in her music, without needing to force it. It shows up in the emotional arcs of her sets, the melodic structures, and the textures of her productions.
'Moroccan music has a spiritual quality that is hard to explain,' she says, naming the trance-like power of Gnawa, the emotion of Andalusian melodies, and the raw rhythm of Berber traditions.
'Even as a violinist, I often play in a way that reflects Moroccan storytelling; expressive, improvised, and full of emotion.'
Emotion over concept
Lamiss's debut album consists of six techno tracks, each driven by emotion rather than concept. The overall tone is dark, reflecting the personal and artistic challenges she's faced.
'Producing music is about exposing the deepest parts of the soul,' she explains.
Among the tracks, Lost Ghost stands out as the most personal. The process took three months and almost led her to give up. She was trying to blend Moroccan Aïta and Gnaoua with Hindi vocals, an ambitious fusion on top of a techno beat.
'I struggled to find the right balance,' she says. 'But I chose to trust my intuition, as I always do in the creative process.'
That decision paid off. Today, Lost Ghost is her most streamed track, and one that fully represents her cultural blend and her voice as an artist.
Though her sets often feel effortless, Lamiss emphasizes how much intention lies behind the performance.
'People often see the final result, a powerful live set, an emotional track, or a unique violin-DJ performance, but what many overlook is how deeply intuitive and emotionally driven my entire process is.'
She sees her live shows as rituals, not just entertainment. 'The violin, for me, isn't just an instrument; it's my voice.'
Rather than focusing on technical display, she focuses on connection, channeling her own life into her sets.
'I don't just create music to make people dance. I create to tell stories, to channel what I feel, to transform personal experiences, pain, joy, solitude, transformation into sound.'
An independent voice in a male-dominated space
Carving a space in techno as a woman comes with its challenges, but Lamiss has approached it independently and deliberately. She handles every part of her career: composing, producing, performing, and directing her own artistic vision.
'As a female artist, especially in techno and electronic music, I had to carve out my space from scratch,' she says.
That independence has shaped her path, and it remains a point of pride.
'I'm proud of every step, every struggle, and every beat that came from it.'
Lamiss doesn't follow trends or imitate scenes. She builds from within, rooted in Morocco, shaped by travel, and driven by instinct.
She creates music that doesn't just aim to impress, but to speak. 'I'm trying to say something honest, raw, and real.'
And in a fast-moving industry, that quiet, confident authenticity may be her most powerful instrument of all.
