Reunion Island's acclaimed chanteuse, Maya Kamaty, recently reconnected with North American audiences at the Festival International Nuits d'Afrique, her first visit since the COVID-19 pandemic. Having previously captivated audiences in 2019, Kamaty continues to redefine traditional maloya music for the 21st century, a vision that has evolved significantly with her latest album, Sovaz. Her return to North America marks a new chapter, allowing her to gauge audience reception to her transformed sound.

Kamaty's musical journey is deeply rooted in the history of maloya, a rhythmic blues sound originating from the enslaved people brought to Reunion Island by French colonialists. This music, initially practiced in secret due to bans from slave owners and the church, faced further legal prohibition by French authorities in the 1970s because of its association with activist groups seeking autonomy for the island. It wasn't until 1981, under French president Francois Mitterand, that maloya was not only legalized but also received funding for its promotion, allowing it to be performed publicly once again. Maya Kamaty is the daughter of Gilbert Pounia, a legendary maloya musician and leader of the band Ziskakan.

Her third album, Sovaz, introduces a new direction, moving beyond the electronic sound explored in her second album, Pandiyé. Kamaty explains that