Archive for March, 2010
Freemuse Award 2010 winners announced
Posted on March 22nd, 2010 in World Music.
Iranian singer Mahsa Vahdat and Turkish-Kurdish singer and activist Ferhat Tunç have jointly won the 2010 Freemuse Award. They will receive the award at a ceremony in London on March 25.
Freemuse – the independent international organisation advocating freedom of expression for musicians and composers – recognised the singers for their strong defence of freedom of musical expression.
The Award Committee on Mahsa Vahdat:
“Mahsa Vahdat continues to resist all pressures that the conservative sectors of Iranian society put on woman musicians. Despite such pressures Iran has a remarkably vibrant music scene that ridicules the clichés that are often written about the country, and Mahsa is a fabulous example of this. Last year, she recorded an album with Mighty Sam McClain, an artist from the ‘enemy nation’ – the US. Her courage and bold resistance in continuing to follow her artistic muse makes her an ideal laureate.”
The Award Committee on Ferhat Tunç:
“For almost three decades Ferhat Tunç has insisted on exercising his right to perform his music in spite of several court cases and other threats against him. He has continued to sing songs in the minority language Zaza (Dimli) and in Kurmanci (Kurdish) as well as in Turkish. He has refused in a firm way to succumb to all the intimidations, but without expressing any hatred against his perpetrators. Ferhat has actively propagated the strengthening of human rights and democracy in Turkey.”
Both artists are featured on the new Freemuse CD Listen to the Banned.
Charlie Gillett (1942-2010)
Posted on March 18th, 2010 in World Music.
On March 17 2010 much loved radio DJ and music writer Charles Thomas Gillett died after a long illness, aged 68. Charlie’s endless passion for promoting artists who otherwise might not have been heard saw him become the patriarch of world music – the very scene he and a handful of others decided to give a name to, at a historic meeting in London in 1987.
Two years earlier, Charlie was the first to play ‘Sultans of Swing,’ on Honky Tonk, his Radio London show, thus securing a record deal for the hugely successful group Dire Straits. Through his compilation albums and broadcasts for the BBC World Service and Radio 3’s World on 3, world music artists who will always be grateful for Charlie’s support include Youssou N’Dour, Salif Keita and Mariza. It was the sincerity and infectious enthusiasm with which he introduced musicians to his listeners that made him such a central figure, one who will be greatly missed.
Charlie is survived by his wife Buffy, their daughters Suzy and Jody, their son Ivan, and two grandchildren. A full tribute to Charlie’s incredible legacy will be included in Songlines #68, on sale April 30.
Songlines Music Awards 2010 nominations
Posted on March 17th, 2010 in Songlines News.
Songlines magazine announces the final nominees of the Songlines Music Awards 2010 and releases a compilation album on March 22, featuring all 16 nominated artists.
Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural awards, Songlines magazine is delighted to announce the final nominees in the 2010 Songlines Music Awards. The Songlines Music Awards recognise outstanding talent in world music and are voted by Songlines readers and the general public. There are four categories: Best Artist, Best Group, Cross-Cultural Collaboration and Newcomer. The final nominees are the top four in each category from the public vote. The winners of each category will be announced in the June issue (#68) of Songlines, on sale from April 30, 2010. The 16 final nominees are:
BEST ARTIST
Goran Bregović (for the album Alkohol – Sljivovica & Champagne on Blue Wrasse)
Bassekou Kouyaté (for the album I Speak Fula with Ngoni ba on Out Here Records)
Oumou Sangaré (for the album Seya on World Circuit)
Lura (for the album Eclipse on Lusafrica)
BEST GROUP
Gypsy Groovz Orchestra Goes TuttiMundi (for the album Night Train for Lovers and Thieves on Network Medien)
Staff Benda Bilili (for the album Très Très Fort on Crammed Discs)
Tinariwen (for the album Imidiwan: Companions on Independiente)
Shooglenifty (for the album Murmichan on Shoogle Records)
CROSS-CULTURAL COLLABORATION
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara (for the album Tell No Lies on Real World)
Transglobal Underground (for the album Run Devils & Demon (Best Of) on Nascente)
Stockholm Lisboa Project (for the album Diagonal on Westpark)
Faiz Ali Faiz/Titi Robin (for the album Jaadu on Accords Croisés)
NEWCOMER
Invisible System (for the album Punt: Made in Ethiopia on Harper Diabaté)
Deolinda (for the album Canção ao Lado on World Connection)
Speed Caravan (for the album Kalashnik Love on Real World)
Mamer (for the album Eagle on Real World)
“The audience for world music is greater now than it’s ever been,” says Simon Broughton, editor-in-chief of Songlines, “and it’s reaching out in ever more diverse directions. The fact that we have Balkan maestro Goran Bregović and Western China’s Mamer as nominees is indicative of that. But it’s still essential to have awards in which the leading names can be feted and the new and innovative names highlighted.”
Songlines is also releasing a compilation album, distributed by Proper Music, on March 22, 2010, featuring all 16 nominated artists.
www.songlines.co.uk/music-awards