The Unplugged Brains
Torn between football and piano, young Mounir hesitated. But at 14, he finally decided Jim Morrison was more charismatic than Maradona. His poetic intensity even led Mounir to take up piano again — more seriously than ever — studying Ray Manzarek’s parts and learning to play Light My Fire and Riders on the Storm.
Later, he was captivated by the epic soundscapes of Pink Floyd, and dreamed of bringing that same spirit of sonic exploration and high standards into his own compositions. King Crimson’s Mellotrons opened the door to heavier influences, leading him all the way to Dream Theater.
Mounir left Morocco at 18 to study in Paris — and experienced the shock of being able to see his idols, and countless other artists, live on stage. The energy was contagious, and he started composing his first songs with the goal of performing live.
He never doubted his vocal identity again after discovering Placebo.
With Guillaume on guitar, the early days were fairly modest. They chose the stage name "The Unplugged Jacks". The plan: home recordings and small gigs.
But positive feedback from the audience and the arrival of Jean-Yves on keyboards sparked a more ambitious dynamic. Riding that momentum, they met Laurent Auffret, with whom they worked on their first album, "No Way Back", released on August 6, 2021. For this release, the band adopted a new name: "The Unplugged Brains".
After the album, Mounir continued the project solo, under the name "Untearable Roots".