From Niger, Mdou Moctar fuse Tuareg musical tradition with modern rock. Their 2024 album, Funeral For Justice, was recorded after heavy touring and hits with a raw, political edge. It was produced and recorded by bassist Mikey Coltun.
Coltun shared details about his choice of instruments and how they shape the distinctive sound of Mdou Moctar. “I use a 1971 Fender Mustang bass live. For the ‘Funeral For Justice’ record, I used a 1966 Fender Mustang bass but found that when we play live, the higher mid punch of the early ’70s Mustangs cuts through a bit more than the 1966.” he explained. “I’m addicted to short-scale basses. The Mustang is just like a mini P bass with the early ’70s and ’60s ones using the same pickup sound as the early P bass pickups. I really wanted an instrument that had that growl and punch but with the speed so the Mustang was the choice.”
“Because the grooves are all very similar, I can use sonics to help give a different vibe.”
Discussing his broader setup, Coltun elaborated on the role of effects and amplification in live performances and recordings. “For effects, I use TC Electronics Polytune Tuner, Boss OC-2, Earthquaker Devices Blumes, Analogman Sunface 183, Union Tube and Transistor Sub Buzz, Aguilar Grape Phaser. For amps – live: Ampeg SVT (vintage 1970s), Orange 8×10 or Fender 8×10, record: Ampeg V4 (vintage 1970s) with a Traynor 2×15 cab or Ampeg B15. All the overdrive and fuzz pedals have different characteristics and because there is a consistent repetitive groove with this music, I need something that cuts through but also doesn’t completely change the tone. The dirt pedals all have to be able to handle a groove with the notes being pronounced. I’ll throw the octave pedal so I can double a line that Mdou is playing and give it those massive low subs. There’s also more abrasive fuzzes like the Analogman Sunface that I use to accent heavy hits with the band. Souleymane, the drummer, and I worked out some hits we do together, and so these fuzzes help with those. I’m always looking for pedals to give different sonic characters for each song. Similar to my bass lines, it’s important for people who are not as familiar with the music to listen and differentiate the songs. Because the grooves are all very similar, I can use sonics to help give a different vibe.”
“There’s a lot of endurance needed to play this music.”
When crafting bass lines, Coltun pays close attention to the interaction between instruments and vocals. “I’m always listening to Ahmoudou’s rhythm playing, Souleymane’s drumming, and Mdou’s vocals, finding a place that fits in there. For example, because the rhythm guitar never hits a note on beat one, it’s always a percussive scratch at the beginning of a triplet, I like to play around with that. So sometimes I don’t hit a note on beat one with Ahmoudou, and since the kick drum handles that part, I’ll listen to Mdou’s vocal phrasing and try to help bring out those harmonic rhythms on the bass. It’s all about finding a line that feels good within the rhythm guitar and drums, hanging on but morphing ever so slightly as the rhythm section moves together. There’s a lot of endurance needed to play this music because it’s so repetitive and fast that creating lines that groove even at very high tempos is what helps inform the lines I create.”
“We’ve always been a political band.”
Funeral For Justice represents a significant evolution in Mdou Moctar’s sound, something Coltun is particularly proud of. “This record is way more urgent. The lyrics are direct, and so the music had to follow that. Ever since I joined the band in 2017, we’ve always been political band, with Mdou talking about themes happening in Africa, but with ‘Funeral For Justice’, these themes are also happening everywhere in the world. The band’s sound has progressed since 2017 as we got tighter and the subject matter got heavier.”
In discussing the band’s approach to their music, Mikey Coltun highlighted the importance of cultural immersion. “As the only non-Tuareg in the band, it’s important that I listen, have conversations, and experience the culture that is so important to Mdou, Ahmoudou, and Souleymane. Since 2017, I’ve been going to Mali and Niger, spending time with the guys’ families and learning about the Tuareg culture. All this is crucial in helping to create and promote this music to those who are not so familiar with the Tuaregs and the Sahel region of Africa.”
Coltun also touched on the personal and political messages of the album. “Colonisation in Africa inspired the message on ‘Funeral For Justice’, but as Mdou and I would talk about the meanings of these songs, it was clear that these are not just problems happening in Africa. To call out the African leaders and say, ‘Hey, do you see what’s going on with colonizers coming into Africa, getting the resources they need, and then leaving but these countries are still poor?’ We hope that the messages on this record create conversations around the world to help create change.”
Funeral For Justice by Mdou Moctar is now available for purchase.
Editor’s Note: This interview originally appeared in BassEmpi.re magazine in 2024, conducted by Joel Costa. It is republished here as an archive record.
