I have involved with music when I was seven years old. I still remember the song that I learned for the first time; it was the hit song of those days by Najat Ataboo-Shoufi Ghiro. I used to hear it everywhere. It had a simple, catchy melody. That song has single handedly initiated my journey into land of music. As we all know, in middle-class Moroccan tradition, it is hard to convince the parents to study music, let alone to get their support to become a musician. However, to my great surprise, my parents did support my heart’s desires for music. I think it was also to my advantage that I was the youngest in the family. So basically, I didn't have much pressure. The deal between me and my family, of course, included the condition that I would have to complete my regular school education. The fun part was that, I used to make my own instruments with a cane of oil, a peace of wood, and brake-wires of a bicycle as strings. In fact, I used to make many of them for my family who would break them, because I would annoy them sometimes.

The next thing, I could never forget, was my first real instrument—a mandolin—as a gift from my brother Moustafa. I am still grateful to him to day. That was a huge thing for me. From there on, I have involved with music even more seriously. I took a year of music classes only to quit in half, because my regular school education was lagging behind. I met many musicians in Fes and Casablanca nevertheless. Playing with real musicians of different backgrounds has been a real training ground for me. Orchestra Yasmine—my first band—is where I felt the team work, the great feelings of growing together, learning together and maturing together during the preparations and performances we gave in various festivals and weddings.

My music career in United States started at the Moroccan Embassy where my brother used to work. I feel thankful to Mohammad Abourkhouss and Mounir that introduced me to Kasbah Band--Ghanem Family. Same goes for the Mr. El-Wafi for introducing me to Rafie Labrini, Casablanca Restaurant's owner. I was lucky to initiate my music career here with Kasbah Band for I didn’t have to go through the feelings of being a foreigner. Kasbah was very well known in the region and we used to perform in many different occasion.

I performed with Kasbah Band in WalfTrap, USA, in 1995 for a Moroccan Gala, and many occasions in different states. We presented Morocco in New Orleans in 1996 and the North African Folk Art at Smithsonian, Washington DC in 1997. I have performed with many famous Moroccan singers for their performances in USA. I met Mohamed Amir in 1997 and we play together since then. We used to play at "Nick's," nowadays we are playing at "KanZaman—El Pike." He is one of the few musicians that I learn from the meaning of hard work and professionalism.

In December 1997, I performed at the first Ana al Arabi Festival with the orchestra of Casablanca with the Oud player El-Haj Youness. That was a great experience playing with a big orchestra and a famous singer like Lotfi Boushnaq.

Currently, I am working in Radio Sawa as an Audio Programmer and Music Editor. I am also known as "Dj Kimo" I spin in the Washington DC area for private and public occasions. My web address is www.djkimo.com.