Solarpunk Afrofuturist, Singer
DJ Afrotech/DnB, Producer, Dozent
from Congo
See also
She fuses electronic music, dancehall, Afrobeats & Congolese music into futuristic soundscapes, exploring themes of consciousness and utopia.
Her high-energy live performances – driven by her powerful voice and electronic beats – create dynamic, dance-oriented journeys.
As a DJ, her repertoire ranges from bass-heavy dancehall and Ndombolo sets to drum ‘n’ bass and 180 BPM hi-tech, all designed for the dancefloor.
An activist who uses her platform to support anti-racist, feminist & refugee-focused collectives, she performs at protests and lends her voice to movements she believes in.
Selected appearances: Fusion Festival (DE), Reeperbahn Festival (DE), Entropie Festival (DE), Reggae Life Festival (Gambia & Senegal), as well as clubs & festivals across Europe and Africa.
Born in Moscow to Congolese parents, Carmel grew up in France before moving to Germany in the early 2000s—first to Heidelberg and eventually to Berlin, where she has lived for many years and established a reputation as a reggae and dancehall artist known for her attitude and political edge.
She describes her music as “Diaspora Dance Music” or dance music with political content. Inspired and shaped by Congolese “Soukous” pop music, Carmel discovered dancehall early on, while also singing in reggae bands during her youth. She sees parallels between the two genres not only in musical elements like rhythm and performance style but also in their shared origins.
In her own work, she blends the music of her Congolese roots with dancehall—the music of the Jamaican descendants of Congolese slaves—and often pairs this with sounds from drum and bass, dubstep, electronic music, and pop (as heard in the song “Mabele Riddim”).
With her “conscious lyrics” and powerful flow, Carmel made a name for herself after moving to Germany, particularly within left-wing political circles. Her work includes collaborations with the Igboa Sound System and Ngoma Sound System, as well as with artists such as Irie Révoltés (“Mes sœurs”), rapper FaulenzA (“Tanzen,” “Wo sie mich haben wollen”), and rapper Mal Élevé—who, like rapper Msoke, contributed a verse to Carmel’s song “Oury Jalloh.”
The latter track was released as a single from her 2015 album *Skwamat* (released via the Springstoff label), on which Carmel Zoum also served as a producer. The term “Skwamat” refers to the shedding of skin (in reptiles). It serves as a symbol of Carmel Zoum’s process of reflection—constantly measuring herself against the world around her in order to evolve. In this spirit, she aims for her music not only to inspire celebration and dancing but also to prompt contemplation.
This becomes evident when one examines the lyrical content of her music more closely. Here, true to the roots of 1970s and 80s dancehall, Carmel Zoum uses her music to draw attention to social injustices and give a voice to marginalized people.
In the song “In the Club,” for instance, she adopts the perspective of a refugee, recounting the decision-making process and the journey involved in leaving one’s life—including family and friends—behind to arrive in Europe facing an uncertain future. Alternatively, in a song like “Lucifer Effect,” she engages critically with traditional—and often negatively charged—images of women.
DISCOGRAPHIE
> April 2026: Queen Robot / Single
> Sep 2025: Faya Dubplate / Single | Atahsound
> Aug 2025: Galactic Dreams / Single | Atahsound
> Okt 2024: EP / Solarpunk | Tuko Records
> Okt 2023: Single: Clash
> 2022 Joystick / Single
> 2022 Ready to fight / Single
> 2021 Toxique / Single
> 2020 Telema / Single
> 2015 Skwamat Album | Springstoff
> 2015 Coming out Compilation Track | Springstoff
> 2015 In the Club Single | Killerrr records
> 2015 Mad Compilation Track | Springstoff
> 2014 Nouveau Jour Compilation Track | Reggae Livication
> 2014 Real Compilation Track | Reggae Livication
> 2013 High Compilation Track | GuerillJah Productions
> 2006 Monde Désenchanté Featuring | Chaoze One – Fame
> 2005 Le Show Compilation Track | Grand Etang
> 2003 Mes Soeurs Featuring | Irie Révoltés – Les Deux Cotés
