Somali-Canadian singer-songwriter Amaal joins us for today's episode of the podcast. Amaal began her remarkable journey in war-torn Mogadishu, where she and her family lived until they were forced to flee as refugees in the early 1990s. Starting over fresh in Toronto, she embraced the poetic nature of her cultural heritage but bristled at the conservative structures and customs that came with it, particularly the repressive expectations placed upon women. By the time she hit 20, Amaal had grown bold enough to begin making her own music, but she still felt limited as to what she could sing about, so she focused her creative energy on politically and socially conscious material inspired by the civil unrest in Somalia and the struggles her people faced as a result. In 2019, Amaal finally worked up the courage to step outside of her comfort zone with the release of Black Dove, which was a critical smash, garnering a Juno nomination for Soul/R&B Recording of the Year! Amaal's sophomore EP, entitled Milly, is available now wherever you stream your music or podcast! Amaal connects with the hosts today to discuss her journey to Toronto, her connection to her culture, and how she eventually became comfortable expressing her true story. New Merch Out Now! [Don’t forget to check out The DNA Project Merch code “PODCAST” for 20 % off your first purchase!!]YouTube SubscribeAudio SubscribeThank you to our Sponsors:The DNA Project  The MPL TorontoWant to connect with Amaal?InstagramFacebookYouTubeTikTokTwitterWebsiteOpening Credits: Daniel Cowans, Musical Director @ The DNA ProjectProduced By: Anthony Lewis and Diriki Palmer Mixed and Edited By: Mat KeselmanAll rights reserved