VIPA One Band One Sound: Unity as Method, Sound as Structure

VIPA One Band One Sound: Unity as Method, Sound as Structure

VIPA One Band One Sound marks a new phase for Kais Kekli. From the start, VIPA One Band One Sound positions itself as a unified project where sound, writing, and performance follow one direction.

The album brings together 10 tracks with a total runtime of 36:05. Instead of separating ideas, VIPA builds continuity. As a result, the project unfolds as one structured body of work. The writing remains concise and deliberate, almost like distilled statements that hold their weight.

As a founding member of the DEBO collective, VIPA continues to develop a practice rooted in collaboration. This second solo album does not break from that logic. Instead, it refines it.

OBOS: one band one sound as a collective system

Behind VIPA One Band One Sound, the concept of OBOS (One Band One Sound) defines the entire approach. It brings together two complementary artistic trajectories: VIPA and Jihed Khmiri.

Together, they move beyond the structure of a traditional rap album. The project blends hip-hop energy with marching band influences, brass arrangements, organic percussion, rock textures, Afro rhythms, and electronic layers. This mix creates a dense and controlled sound where tension remains constant between tradition and modernity.

Moreover, the writing process itself follows a collective logic. Some melodies are designed to be played in unison, similar to a street brass band or a choir. Because of this, the album shifts focus from the individual to the group. It becomes about shared energy, movement, and presence.

In the Tunisian context, where this level of orchestration remains rare in hip-hop, VIPA One Band One Sound sets a clear direction. It builds a local sound without freezing it in folklore, while staying open to global influences.

The artists behind the project

Kais Kekli, born in 1990, stands as one of the leading figures of Tunisian hip-hop. Co-founder of El Banda, Erkez HipHop, and the DEBO collective, he emerged as a defining voice of a generation.

Revealed in 2012 with “Egleb Mandhrek,” closely associated with the period of the Tunisian Revolution, VIPA developed a form of rap deeply connected to social and political realities. His solo album Adheka Eli Bik (2017), along with later projects, reflects his ability to reshape Tunisian hip-hop by integrating local musical influences with contemporary forms. Active on both national and international stages, he continues a trajectory marked by commitment and presence.

Alongside him, Jihed Khmiri, born in 1988 in Tunis, is a musician, composer, and producer whose work moves across disciplines. A self-taught multi-instrumentalist before joining the Higher Institute of Music of Tunis, he has developed projects spanning film scores, stage productions, and live performance.

In 2019, he launched Pan-J, a project dedicated to electronic music. Through it, he explores composition and production shaped by trip-hop, ambient textures, and elements drawn from Arabic musical repertoires. His work extends through releases, performances, and collaborations, forming the sonic foundation of VIPA One Band One Sound.

Full album credits and musicians

The structure of VIPA One Band One Sound relies on a full ensemble.

Artists
Kais Kekli (VIPA) — vocals, lyrics
Jihed Khmiri (Pan-J) — composition, production

Rhythm section
Youssef Soltana — drums
Marwen Soltana — bass
Hedi Fahem — guitars
Don Pac — percussion

Saxophone
Matthieu Fabre
Alexandre Moreira
Chiheb Baazaoui

Trumpet
Antoine Jacquet
Aurelio Bernardes
Adel Mmzali

Trombone
Omar Bouzgarou
Julien Guilloux
Micael Ferreira

Choir
Meriem Bettouhami
Oumaima Ben Amar
Wajih Bjeoui

Recorded at Umbreon Studio
Mixed by Dawan (Hamza Nasraoui)
Mastered by Masterdisk, Paris

Ken Ritni 9ollli: video as extension of the album

The visual world of VIPA One Band One Sound takes shape in “Ken Ritni 9ollli,” directed by Synda Jebali.

The video builds around a timeless dinner scene. It draws from theater and choreography, using bodies, gaze, and movement as central elements. The voice circulates between performers, turning the track into a collective expression.

The cast includes Meriem Sayeh, Oumaima Bahri, Sirine Aouididi, Mariem Bettouhami, Oumaima Ben Amar, Ali Ben Said, Mohamed Souissi, Skander Hentati, Feteh Khiari (Zixtonic), and Wael Ajengu.

Visually, the project balances stylization, strangeness, and sensuality. As the sequence progresses, the atmosphere shifts from control to tension.

Video credits

Executive Production: Digital Iris Productions
Art Direction and Director: Synda Jebali
Producer: VIPA and Bedis Chaouachi
Cinematography: Zied Ben Chaabane
Costume Design: Salah Barka
Makeup: Steevy
Production Design: Mohamed Attia and Maryam Bjeoui
Post-Production Supervisor: Mohamed Mathlouthi

Music production: Pan-J (Jihed Khmiri)
Mixing: Dawan (Hamza Nasraoui)

One band one sound as a statement

VIPA One Band One Sound does not rely on accumulation. Instead, it builds a system where every element follows the same direction.

VIPA operates inside this structure, not above it. He guides the project while remaining part of the collective dynamic.

As a result, VIPA One Band One Sound stands as more than an album. It defines a method where music, image, and performance align into one controlled expression.