In March 2006, I was invited to a folk night at the local club in Pontypridd to play some Moroccan music.

In the beginning, I hesitated, but then I thought, "I've always wanted to perform in front of an audience."

It was nerve wracking when I started playing my first song; I sang it in Arabic, and in my mind, I didn't know how people would react, but they seem genuinely intrigued.

Eventually, I witnessed people being transported somewhere else and lost in foreign rhythms and melodies, thinking of fresh food, heat, and a simple life.

My experience of living in Morocco, France, Germany and the UK have all given me a broad perspective on life. I've always been intrigued by all kinds of music: I think music has the magic to bring people from all different places together.

Since I was a boy, I had always dreamt of being a musician and of being able to play an instrument.

I was fortunate: at the age of 10, my dad bought me a second-hand Spanish guitar, so I started playing my first tunes at an early age, but I was self-taught and picked up some skills as I went along from friends.

I learnt my first chord - A major - at the age of 12, and was so proud that I could play with confidence.

Anyway, back to Pontypridd: after I'd finished playing my songs, quite a number of people came up to me.

They were keen to find out what language I'd been singing in, and they asked me about the meaning of the lyrics and my culture.

I had a wonderful evening and a truly memorable experience. By the end, I'd met and chatted with some very interesting people at the club, talking about music, culture, and life in general.

I will definitely play at the next folk night in Pontypridd.

Mohammed Addabani - April 2006