Aladean Kheroufi Canadian by way of Algeria is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, arranger, DJ based in Edmonton, Alberta. He writes songs that are idiosyncratic, soulful and devastating with a glass half full optimism that turns heartbreak into melancholy party anthems.At age 17 Aladean started touring as a sideman through Canada, USA, Europe and the UK as a session player which led to spots performing within acts such as The Velveteins and Marlaena Moore. As part of these set ups, Kheroufi opened for the likes of Angel Olsen, Night Beats and Orville Peck, whilst as a solo artist, he has performed alongside Alex Cameron, Michael Rault and Daniel Romano. During the years Aladean always made sure to stop at record stores to dig for something deeper; after four years mostly spent on the road he stationed himself in NYC to absorb the culture of the city and immerse himself in soul music. Upon returning to Canada, he shifted his focus from being a sideman to working on music in his home studio. Aladean’s sound focuses on minimalism – like the confidence of the quietest parts of Curtis Mayfield’s, LIVE! or the faux-simplicity of Sunny Ozuna’s genre bending Tear Drop and Key-Loc output. Yet somehow Aladean’s songs don’t sound old, they sound comfortably made today with respect to the music of the past. His last single “LOVE! … (is the answer) b/w Every Girl” arrived February 2022 via Kimberlite Records to critical acclaim preceded by a covers EP ‘Beauty
Beyond Grief’ – August 2020 on Keeping On Records. June 2024 sees the release of Aladean’s first full length album “Stories in a Dying Love” on Toronto’s We Are Busy Bodies label. The record is a beautiful lo-fi tapestry of heartbreak and soul; an artist’s message about the heart, and the sleeve.
“Love is a lot of things, it’s never been one-size-fits-all. I’ve had a few hard months, but generally most people do so my experience is nothing special. When I think of 5 years from now I think of you, but maybe San Francisco was never the destination. The road trip ended somewhere in the Midwest with the car broken down and a tall can of beer. I know that you deserve better and the worst part is I deserve so much more. Love is a lot of things, I want it to be one-size-fits-all. I want so many things. I want fresh bread every morning, blue skies every day and fresh flowers for every occasion. I want to be a professional boxer but I never want to get hurt. I want my white sneakers to stay clean but some might call that living in a daydream. I want this to be therapy. I want this to be philosophy. I want this to be a recipe to get through hard times. This isn’t a simple love song proclaiming romantic feelings for just one person, this is a grand gesture that declares love for everyone. This is help we all need. This is a study in a dying love.”