RAJAE

Rajae El Mouhandiz is a young multi-talented artist. She’s a poet, a singer, composer & producer. Classically trained and naturally shy, Rajae discovered her own voice when she was 20 years old, after playing the French horn since age 8 and dancing ballet since age 4. At the tender age of 15, she left her family, to pursue her ambitions as a musician, but did so while living in foster care until young adulthood. She was admitted into the Dutch Conservatory in 1995, one year after leaving home. Rajae was the first Moroccan/Algerian to study music at a Dutch Conservatory.Now, both educated and gainfully employed, the most beautiful words fall from her lips in the languages of Dutch, English, Arabic, German and “a little French”.She lays vocals in three of those languages during recordings but loves to sing in the harmony of them all. Over the last 9 years Rajae has recorded music with several international producers in Amsterdam, Paris, London, Ibiza, New York, The Bay Area, Hollywood, Texas and Ibiza. Rajae released her debut album ‘Incarnation’ in 2006. Her new album 'Hand of Fatima' is scheduled for summer 2009.

Besides music Rajae is a peace activist, a multi media lover and in her role as a community producer Rajae is often asked by international forums, ngo’s, multinationals and other organizations to consult and to create communication tools for internal and external use. Rajae believes that her music and her other work are reflections of her own life philosophy: to think and act as universal and free as possible, within a plural space and with the use of the right tone of voice.


Statement:
"Making music, media and art can contribute to peace and dialogue. All kids, including Muslim kids in the world today need customized and well branded multi media to identify themselves with. They need male and female role models, who include their voices in songs and poems. In this zeitgeist they need to hear and see their stories in songs, in video’s and other entertainment products. This diversity is necessary and  viable. Yes, we have a lot to win in this industry: When I started doing what I do, everyone told me I would never succeed, because I am a North African, Arab, half Berber, a Muslim and a Female. Both western people as well as Muslims excluded me. By working hard I confronted both the west as well as Muslims that you can’t stereotype a human being... a Soul full of energy, waiting to be released. While I am setting goals and building on foundations for bigger dreams, I can see that I have already received more than I could’ve ever asked for and I also see that this is only the beginning of a lifetime journey.....Hamdulilah....
Bless you all." 

- Rajae