Moroccan-Belgian Artist Jaouad Alloul Releases Emotional New Album ’Homo Universalis’

’Homo Universalis’. This is the title of Jaouad Alloul’s new album, which marks a new beginning in his life. "The fact that I’m releasing it now is not a coincidence," he explains in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad. "The end of the year is approaching and we all love to start a new chapter. Moreover, the musician with whom I made the album has gone to Brazil to see his daughter. He won’t be back until March, so it was the right time for me."

It is an album rich in emotions. "I myself went through a difficult period. As a couple, we’re not quite there yet, but it’s stable. And that’s good for now," confides the 38-year-old singer. This masterpiece also marks the beginning of a new chapter, a rebirth, as he himself describes it: "The music is the result of the valley I’ve crossed. My marriage went through a crisis. With my husband Jeroen, we had to seriously take our marriage in hand. We’ve been together for a long time, there was the coronavirus pandemic during which we were more dependent on each other, I lost my father, you go through different life experiences..."

For the performer of "I’m so tired", "a relationship goes through ups and downs. From time to time, you have to recharge and music is the perfect remedy. A part of me, of our relationship, has died, but at the same time, it leaves room for a new part that can be born." This nine-track album is therefore a love letter to his husband at a time when their relationship is faltering. "[...] Life is constantly pushing us to seek adrenaline. In relationships, there always has to be something to do. But in fact, it’s in simplicity and ease that it’s found."

While waiting to live a harmonious and healthy couple relationship, Jaouad Alloul is already thinking about preparing a third album. "The idea is to continue in this genre. Jazz is really my great love, especially since my participation in "The Voice van Vlaanderen" with coach Alex Callier. There is no concrete initiative yet, but this album is a kind of preview of the universe I want to explore further." Co-composer of Gustaph’s song "Because of You", he dreams of participating in the Eurovision Song Contest. "Participating in the festival is certainly a dream, but for the moment I don’t feel it, especially because of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The fact that Israel can still participate... I don’t know how I would handle that as a participant. But one day, when the time is right."

He sometimes manages to create controversy with his Moroccan roots, especially his extravagant look. "Often unintentionally. For example, I hung up a poster of Studio Stoutpoep (by illustrator Domien Delforge, editor’s note) in a workshop in Brussels where I was working," Alloul recounts. "It showed a man in a suit, but his head was replaced by a penis. This raised a few questions among the people present in the workshop. We are obviously not hundreds of openly gay Moroccans. I think I’m a bit of a pioneer in this field."