Meeting “Lia Maria” from Romania at the Visa For Music festival in Rabat was truly a special moment. She emerged as a young, gifted artist full of vitality. From our first words, she carried with her a unique Eastern-European warmth — an artistic energy and human sensibility that added a special glow to this year’s edition.
Given the cultural diversity that defines Visa For Music — bringing together musicians from Africa, the Middle East, and sometimes Europe and beyond — the presence of an artist from Eastern Europe, even if not yet fully documented, feels symbolic: a bridge between cultures, musical languages, and a shared desire to connect.
During our conversation, Lia Maria spoke with a tone of positivity, reflecting her passion for music and openness to exploration — a readiness to risk stepping into a world of “global music encounters”. Although it’s hard to verify all the concrete details of her participation (travel, visa, whether her name appears on the official lineup), the encounter itself — with an artist carrying a “trans-border musical vision” — serves as a reminder that Visa For Music is not just a platform for African and Middle Eastern music, but can also open a window for “outsiders” from Europe and elsewhere.
The festival’s atmosphere — with live showcases, workshops, professional networking, and informal meetings — offered Lia Maria the chance to immerse herself, meet musicians from diverse backgrounds, and maybe even think about future collaborations or new artistic projects.
Regardless of the finer details of her participation, this meeting left a mark: it reaffirmed that music has the power to transcend geography — and perhaps Lia Maria is one of those voices trying to break through the boundaries. A meeting of culture, positivity and ambition — a living artistic spirit that deserves to be heard.
