# When Smoke Rises — Mustafa

- **Artist:** [Mustafa](https://musiclist.ca/artist/mustafa)
- **Format:** ALBUM
- **Release Date:** 2021-05-28
- **Record Label:** Regent Park Songs
- **Total Tracks:** 8
- **MusicList Registry URL:** https://musiclist.ca/releases/when-smoke-rises
- **Spotify:** https://open.spotify.com/album/031aHK0JF964V8dBPtQ51u
- **Apple Music:** https://music.apple.com/ca/album/when-smoke-rises-ep/1789220164

## The Story of the Release

When Smoke Rises is the landmark debut project by Toronto poet, singer, and songwriter Mustafa (Mustafa Ahmed). Self-described as 'inner-city folk music', the eight-song record honors childhood friends lost to gun violence in Regent Park—including Ali Rizeig (Ali) and Jahvante Smart (Smoke Dawg). Grounded in acoustic fingerpicking, atmospheric electronic production from Frank Dukes, James Blake, and Jamie xx, and communal Sudanese vocal traditions, When Smoke Rises received international critical acclaim, winning the 2022 Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year and shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize.

## Canadian Press & Critical Reception

> "Mustafa transforms unspeakable communal grief into an enduring, luminous monument of Canadian folk music on When Smoke Rises."
> — **Exclaim!** by Kyle Mullin (2021-05-28) [Read Article](https://exclaim.ca/music/article/mustafa_when_smoke_rises_album_review)

> "Mustafa creates a revolutionary genre of inner-city folk that gives voice to Regent Park's resilience, grief, and tender brotherhood."
> — **CBC Music** by Amanda Parris (2021-05-28) [Read Article](https://www.cbc.ca/music/mustafa-when-smoke-rises-review-1.6044738)

> "When Smoke Rises is a poignant, exquisitely crafted eulogy that balances devastating sorrow with radiant community warmth."
> — **Pitchfork** by Marcus J. Moore (2021-06-02) [Read Article](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/mustafa-when-smoke-rises/)

## Official Music Videos & Visual Direction

### "Stay Alive" (Official Music Video)
- **Watch:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5plXZoeInCM
- **Track:** 01 on When Smoke Rises
- **Description:** Official music video directed by Mustafa and King She, filmed on location in Toronto's Regent Park neighborhood.
- **Visual & Directorial Credits:**
  - **Mustafa**: Director [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/artist/mustafa)
  - **King She**: Co-Director [SOURCED]

### "Air Forces" (Official Music Video)
- **Watch:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_w1hTT37b0
- **Track:** 02 on When Smoke Rises
- **Description:** Official music video directed by Mustafa and King She, featuring traditional Sudanese tribal dancers alongside Toronto community youth.
- **Visual & Directorial Credits:**
  - **Mustafa**: Director [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/artist/mustafa)
  - **King She**: Co-Director [SOURCED]

### "Ali" (Official Music Video)
- **Watch:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPOXFCkQLNw
- **Track:** 06 on When Smoke Rises
- **Description:** Official visual tribute dedicated to Ali Rizeig, directed by Mustafa in Toronto.
- **Visual & Directorial Credits:**
  - **Mustafa**: Director [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/artist/mustafa)

## Complete Track-by-Track Liner Notes & Credits

### 01. Stay Alive (3:01)
- **Songwriting & Composition:**
  - **Mustafa Ahmed**: Lead Vocals, Songwriter [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/artist/mustafa)
- **Production:**
  - **Frank Dukes**: Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Mellotron [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/frank-dukes)
  - **James Blake**: Producer, Synthesizers, Backing Vocals [SOURCED]
- **Engineering & Mixing:**
  - **Shawn Everett**: Mix Engineer [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/shawn-everett)
- **Performance & Session Musicians:**
  - **Simon Hessman**: Electric Guitar [SOURCED]

### 02. Air Forces (3:09)
- **Songwriting & Composition:**
  - **Mustafa Ahmed**: Lead Vocals, Songwriter [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/artist/mustafa)
- **Production:**
  - **Frank Dukes**: Producer, Sampler, Acoustic Guitar [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/frank-dukes)
  - **Jamie xx**: Producer, Drum Programming, Synthesizers [SOURCED]
- **Engineering & Mixing:**
  - **Shawn Everett**: Mix Engineer [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/shawn-everett)

### 03. Separate (2:28)
- **Songwriting & Composition:**
  - **Mustafa Ahmed**: Lead Vocals, Songwriter [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/artist/mustafa)
- **Production:**
  - **Frank Dukes**: Producer, Keyboards, Bass [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/frank-dukes)
  - **Matthew Tavares**: Co-Producer, Keyboards [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/matthew-tavares)
- **Engineering & Mixing:**
  - **Shawn Everett**: Mix Engineer [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/shawn-everett)
- **Performance & Session Musicians:**
  - **Simon Hessman**: Guitar [SOURCED]

### 04. The Hearse (2:05)
- **Songwriting & Composition:**
  - **Mustafa Ahmed**: Lead Vocals, Songwriter [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/artist/mustafa)
- **Production:**
  - **Frank Dukes**: Producer, Synths [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/frank-dukes)
  - **Jamie xx**: Producer, Beats, Sound Design [SOURCED]
- **Engineering & Mixing:**
  - **Shawn Everett**: Mix Engineer [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/shawn-everett)

### 05. Capo (feat. Sampha) (2:56)
- **Songwriting & Composition:**
  - **Mustafa Ahmed**: Lead Vocals, Songwriter [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/artist/mustafa)
- **Production:**
  - **Frank Dukes**: Producer, Bass, Acoustic Guitar [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/frank-dukes)
- **Engineering & Mixing:**
  - **Shawn Everett**: Mix Engineer [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/shawn-everett)
- **Performance & Session Musicians:**
  - **Sampha Sisay**: Featured Vocals, Piano, Songwriter [SOURCED]

### 06. Ali (3:12)
- **Songwriting & Composition:**
  - **Mustafa Ahmed**: Lead Vocals, Songwriter [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/artist/mustafa)
- **Production:**
  - **Frank Dukes**: Producer, Keyboards [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/frank-dukes)
  - **Matthew Tavares**: Co-Producer, Keyboards [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/matthew-tavares)
  - **Rodaidh McDonald**: Additional Production [SOURCED]
- **Engineering & Mixing:**
  - **Shawn Everett**: Mix Engineer [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/shawn-everett)
- **Performance & Session Musicians:**
  - **Simon Hessman**: Electric Guitar [SOURCED]

### 07. What About Heaven (3:38)
- **Songwriting & Composition:**
  - **Mustafa Ahmed**: Lead Vocals, Songwriter [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/artist/mustafa)
- **Production:**
  - **Frank Dukes**: Producer, Acoustic Guitar [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/frank-dukes)
- **Engineering & Mixing:**
  - **Shawn Everett**: Mix Engineer [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/shawn-everett)
- **Performance & Session Musicians:**
  - **Sampha**: Backing Vocals, Bongos [SOURCED]
  - **Nate Mercereau**: French Horn, Bass [SOURCED]

### 08. Come Back (3:13)
- **Songwriting & Composition:**
  - **Mustafa Ahmed**: Lead Vocals, Songwriter [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/artist/mustafa)
- **Production:**
  - **James Blake**: Producer, Piano, Backing Vocals, Songwriter [SOURCED]
  - **Frank Dukes**: Producer, Synthesizer [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/frank-dukes)
- **Engineering & Mixing:**
  - **Shawn Everett**: Mix Engineer [SOURCED] [Profile](https://musiclist.ca/person/shawn-everett)

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*Documented and verified via MusicList.ca — Canada's Independent Music Registry.*