26 Facts About Natacha Atlas

Natacha Atlas is an Egyptian-Belgian singer known for her fusion of Arabic and Western music, particularly hip-hop.

Natacha Atlas once termed her music "cha'abi moderne".

Natacha Atlas's music has been influenced by many styles including Maghrebain, hip hop, drum and bass and reggae.

Natacha Atlas has since released seven solo albums and been a part of numerous collaborations.

Natacha Atlas was born on 20 March 1964, in Schaerbeek, Brussels-Capital, Belgium.

Natacha Atlas was raised listening to eclectic music from both Eastern and Western traditions.

Natacha Atlas grew up speaking French and English, and later learned Arabic and Spanish.

Natacha Atlas returned to Belgium at age 24 and began her career with two jobs: belly dancing and being the lead singer of a Belgian salsa band.

At the time, Transglobal Underground had a top 40 hit, "Templehead", and Natacha Atlas became their lead singer and belly dancer.

Natacha Atlas contributed extensive vocal work as well as keyboards and bass guitar.

Natacha Atlas has always spoken her mind about the way both she and Transglobal Underground were seen by the UK press back in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 1999, Natacha Atlas collaborated with David Arnold on the song "One Brief Moment".

Two years earlier, Natacha Atlas collaborated with Arnold on the album Shaken and Stirred, recording the song "From Russia with Love" for the eponymous film.

In 2003, Natacha Atlas provided vocals for the Kolo folk dance song "'Ajde Jano" on Nigel Kennedy and Kroke's album, East Meets East.

Natacha Atlas's music has been used in a number of soundtracks.

Natacha Atlas's cover of I Put a Spell on You was used in the 2002 film Divine Intervention by Palestinian director Elia Suleiman.

Natacha Atlas was originally billed to star in and provide the soundtrack to the film Whatever Lola Wants, directed by Nabil Ayouch.

Natacha Atlas participated in the piece "Light of Life " for the soundtrack of Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven.

In 2007, Natacha Atlas collaborated with Belinda Carlisle for Carlisle's seventh album Voila.

On 23 May 2008 Natacha Atlas released a new album, Ana Hina, which was well received by critics.

In May 2013, Natacha Atlas released Expressions: Live in Toulouse, an album which showcased her expressive voice using largely orchestral arrangements augmented by Middle Eastern percussion.

Natacha Atlas moved into the jazz genre with the albums Myriad Road, which was produced by French Lebanese musician Ibrahim Maalouf, and Strange Days.

Natacha Atlas has said in the past that she is "technically Muslim" and that she identifies with Sufism.

Natacha Atlas stated that her father has some Sephardic Jewish ancestry.

Natacha Atlas included clips from Zeitgeist: Addendum in her 2010 album Mounqaliba.

In March 2011, Natacha Atlas announced that she had joined the boycott of Israel and had withdrawn from a scheduled performance in Israel.