Rajae El Mouhandiz was born in Larache, Morocco to an Algerian mother and a Moroccan father, Habiba Cherkaoui and Ahmed El Mouhandiz. After her parents" separation in 1982, El Mouhandiz spent her childhood with her mother and siblings in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
While in primary school and high school El Mouhandiz attended extensive ballet classes and studied the French horn.
She has released two albums and is currently recording her third album in Morocco. At the age of sixteen she was the first North-African to study at a Dutch conservatory where she continued her classical music studies. At the age of 20 El Mouhandiz left classical music to follow her own artistic path, seeking to incorporate her cultural roots.
She has released two albums and is currently recording her third album in Morocco.
Currently she is developing her second short film, focusing on her Maghreb heritage. El Mouhandiz is also one of the 60 female curators of the international MUSLIMA exhibition.
On 31.10.2013 El Mouhandiz gave her first TEDx talk during TEDx Breda. In her talk she spoke about how art and music create a new hybrid global culture.
2005-Muslim Leader of Tomorrow 2007-Member WISE 2007-Nominated by Elsevier magazine as one of Hollands 10 biggest talents. El Mouhandiz in the field of contemporary music 2009 - 2014 – Muslim500 – Nominated as the only contemporary female singer on the list of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world.
