Features

Tuesday, February 18, 2020;

My instrument: Ivan Bobot and his fujara

In Slovakia, one of the most distinctive instruments is the fujara. Simon Broughton talks to one of its current players, Ivan Bobot;

Friday, February 14, 2020;

Dispatch From Belo Horizonte, Brazil

A vibrant arts and hip-hop scene is happening in the Minas Gerais city. Songlines spoke to those who have been instrumental in its boom;

Tuesday, February 11, 2020;

Postcard From Northern Labrador: Sacred Throat-Singing & Polar Bear Spotting

Songlines ventured north to the Labrador Peninsula, Canada, home to the Inuit and a very particular singing style called katajjaq;

Monday, February 10, 2020;

Introducing... Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou

The young Moroccan musician tells Jo Frost how she’s realised her early childhood dreams by fronting her own Gnawa band;

Thursday, February 6, 2020;

Introducing... Mishra

A mutual love of Indian music studied at universi was the impetus to form the global folk collective Mishra. Kevin Bourke speaks to the founding duo;

Tuesday, February 4, 2020;

Music Industry vs. Climate Crisis: A New Songbook For A Dying Planet

Writers, musicians, producers and festival programmers are trying to find new ways to communicate the enormity of the climate crisis. Chris Moss talks to them about folk song, farming, ice, industry, wonder and awe;

Friday, January 31, 2020;

Hamid Sakhizada: "There were Hazara people that hadn't forgotten their culture"

Songlines spoke to the Afghan musician who, despite threats to his life, wants to show the world the beauty of Hazara music;

Thursday, January 2, 2020;

My World: Youssou N’Dour

Having recently turned 60, the Senegalese star is taking stock and looking to the future, as reflected in his My World playlist. He talks to Daniel Brown about his choices;

Wednesday, December 18, 2019;

The Flower Men of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has been making headlines, largely for its war on Yemen and the high-profile murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But now the kingdom is on a PR offensive, launching a tourism initiative. Simon de Bruxelles visits one of its new festivals;

Tuesday, December 17, 2019;

Music in Moskovistan: Central Asians in Moscow

For centuries, Central Asia was criss-crossed from the west and east by merchants on the Silk Road. Today Central Asia itself is on the move with millions of migrant workers in the Russian Federation. Razia Sultanova reports on how music helps them settle in;

Tuesday, December 10, 2019;

Daymé Arocena: “I am letting people see inside me with the music”

The young Cuban singer Daymé Arocena has had a rapid rise to fame. She tells Jane Cornwell about her journey so far and her tribute to Santería’s female orishas;

Friday, December 6, 2019;

Macha & Chico Trujillo: “In Chile, they have generated something very beautiful with the cumbia”

The Chilean musician known as Macha fronts a variety of ever- evolving bands, such as Chico Trujillo and Bloque Depresivo. Russ Slater chats to him about how it all began with cumbia;