Wajdi Riahi, Pierre Hurty & Basile Rahola - Essia (2023)

This album unfolds as a true artistic odyssey, a journey where the aspirations of the young pianist Wajdi harmoniously intertwine between rich classical melodies, the enchanting rhythms of Arabic and African music, and the jazz nuances that would later appear in his musical journey.

The very first track of the album, Opening transports us through the daily path he took from the age of six to reach the conservatory, nestled in the heart of the old city of Tunis: the Medina. His spirit was brimming with ambitions and an unwavering love for music and the piano, always guided by the benevolent presence of his mother, Essia.

Before entering the Medina, you could see a captivating statue of the philosopher and sociologist Ibn Khaldoun, which Wajdi admired every time he passed by. One of the philosopher’s quotes: “Agree, be hypocrite or leave the country,” inspired the title of the second track of the album: Agree, Hypocrite or Leave.

“Singing is a passion for me because it is the most sincere instrument and the most immediate way to express oneself. In this album, I aspire to offer an experience where my emotions reveal themselves to the listener with total simplicity and candor, without artifice or complexity, like a canvas of my purest feelings.”

Stambeli serves as the perfect setting for this artistic quest, an ancient North African musical style that transforms into an endless source of inspiration for Wajdi.


“I particularly appreciate paying tribute, and in this album, two songs are dedicated to exceptional women, Nawres and Essia, my sister and my mother, two remarkable women of beauty and life warriors.”

—Wajdi Riahi