After years of success on both sides of the Mediterranean, the time had come to cross the Atlantic and sample venues like New York's Apollo Theater.

"I did not think that one day in my life I was going to come and sing here. There, I am here and frankly, I + like +", savored Soolking, during an interview granted to AFP behind the scenes of the legendary Harlem hall where he performed on Friday, following in the footsteps of Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin and James Brown.

"It's a legendary hall like us in Paris, the Olympia. There were a lot of legendary artists who (there) + performed +. So it's an honor for me and it's cool. I'm happy ", he added.

"The Human"

At 32, the native of the suburbs of Algiers continues to ignore borders, he whose artist name comes from a character from the manga series "One piece", and who had known success in 2018 thanks to "Guérilla", a piece inspired by his galley of sans-papiers.

Algerian singer Soolking on stage at the Apollo Theater on May 13, 2022 in New York Angela Weiss AFP

Two albums and several hits later, including "La Liberté", one of the anthems of the Algerian street in revolt against its power, Soolking took a new step this spring with a North American tour, which took him from Montreal to Washington via Chicago and New York.

"It doesn't matter which country I'm listening to", says the singer with multiple inspirations, between hip-hop, raï and Latin music, and who wants first of all "to seek out the human being, since music above all is is +feeling+".

"In my country of origin, I have people who listen to me and I have people who don't listen to me," he adds.

At the Apollo, facing a crowd of fans dancing, singing and waving Algerian flags, Soolking seemed to be playing at home.

Algerian singer Soolking on stage at the Apollo Theater on May 13, 2022 in New York Angela Weiss AFP

"It's just great to see someone from our country having their name in New York," enthused Sarah Hammadi, 26, who came with three cousins ​​from neighboring New Jersey.

"It's incredible, he represents Algeria," she applauds.

One of her cousins, Dilia, 18, feels like she has "come home".

"He's such an icon in our country (...) It's heartwarming," she rejoices.

© 2022 AFP