Monday, April 19, 2021
How Astor Piazzolla transformed tango
Chris Moss assesses the intrepid composer’s impact on music – and why his legacy, 100 years on since the great man’s birth, remains a challenge for contemporary tangueros;
Features
Monday, April 19, 2021
Encounters Countdown: London Bulgarian Choir
Ahead of their scheduled performance on May 20 at this year's Songlines Encounters Festival, we revisit Simon Broughton's interview from last year with the singing troupe’s charismatic leader, Dessislava Stefanova;
Monday, March 29, 2021
Ballaké Sissoko: A Beginner's Guide
The Malian kora player has become an international star, noted for his myriad musical collaborations. Nigel Williamson examines his extensive back catalogue;
Thursday, March 25, 2021
The 10 best Gospel albums
Garth Cartwright aims to get you swaying in the aisles with these ten top classic gospel collections, featuring Mahalia Jackson, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Edwin Hawkins Singers and more...;
Friday, March 12, 2021
Playlist: Quintessential Kora
A Songlines playlist for Apple Music exploring the many and varied uses of this iconic instrument of West Africa;
Friday, March 12, 2021
The 10 best Tabla Fusion albums
Tabla players, often confined to an accompanying role, have shone in their own right on a plethora of recordings. Liam Izod picks out some of his favourite albums;
Monday, March 1, 2021
A Beginner's Guide to Habib Koité
The Malian singer-songwriter Habib Koité is also one of his country’s leading guitarists. Daniel Brown reflects on the artist’s recordings and career to date;
Thursday, February 25, 2021
The 10 Essential Classic Dub Albums
Garth Cartwright cranks up the sound system for some bass-laden bliss. Here are his top ten classic dub long-players to check out;
Monday, February 22, 2021
Stewart Lee interview: “Stand-up is a duet with the audience. It doesn’t mean anything unless people are laughing. Or booing”
The comedian and writer tells Julian May about a childhood fascination with the past and the parallels between stand-up and the music he loves;
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Burna Boy, Davido and WizKid: The rise and rise of Afrobeats
Amid civil unrest, a slew of young African artists are transforming the perception of their continent, shaking up the mainstream with their infectious Afrobeats insurgency. Russ Slater surveys the scene’s UK roots and global impact;
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Liraz interview: “I refuse to be silenced like women in Iran, who see my videos and tell me ‘Thank you!’”
The Israeli-Iranian singer and actress Liraz talks to Jane Cornwell about rediscovering her Iranian roots, singing in Persian and the risks taken to fulfil her desire to record with fellow Iranian musicians;
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Cosmo Sheldrake: Birdhouse In Your Soul
Jane Cornwell speaks to eco-minded composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Cosmo Sheldrake, whose interest in endangered species and enigmatic writers inspires works such as his new sophomore set, Wake Up Calls;
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Mariza on Amália Rodrigues: “She represents, for me, the diva of the 20th century”
2020 marked the centenary of the birth of the ‘Queen of Fado,’ Amália Rodrigues. Simon Broughton speaks to Mariza, the heir to Amália’s crown, and fado historian Rui Vieira Nery about her legacy;
Thursday, January 7, 2021
Best Albums 2020: Fusion
All of these albums received a maximum of five stars when reviewed in the 2020 issues of Songlines. Featuring Xylouris White, Sunny Jain, Derek Gripper, Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn and many more;
Monday, December 21, 2020
Best Albums 2020: Americas
All of these albums received a maximum of five stars when reviewed in the 2020 issues of Songlines. Featuring Sam Amidon, DJ Dolores, Roberto Fonseca, Ibrahim Ferrer, Leela Gilday, Lido Pimienta and many more;
