Sunday, May 8, 2022
“Just accept yourself and see the beauty” | Eyal el Wahab (El Khat)
The frontman with Tel Aviv four-piece El Khat outlines the DIY aesthetic that has him digging into his Yemeni roots and through the neighbourhood's rubbish bins
Features
Friday, May 6, 2022
“Humanity keeps experiencing the same feelings, asking the same questions” | Tarta Relena
The young Catalan duo explain how their polyphonic folk creations bridge the divides of space and time
Thursday, May 5, 2022
Fly Bird, Fly: The Hungarian Dance House Story
Simon Broughton gives the lowdown on his new documentary about Hungary’s folk revival and its most famous practitioners
Sunday, May 1, 2022
“I lost everything, so it was time to rule my destiny” | OKI
Champion of an obscure Ainu lyre, Oki Kano talks to Charlie Cawood about the late-night encounter that launched his life’s passion
Friday, April 29, 2022
“The jazz word in the folk world is something that people get frightened of” | Knight & Spiers interview
Robin Denselow learns how a chance pairing of melodeon player John Spiers and fiddler Peter Knight evolved into one of folk’s most inspired acts, exploring well-worn tunes in new and improvisatory ways
Monday, April 25, 2022
10 Essential Albums inspired by Myth and Folklore
Nigel Williamson conjures a magical world of legend and lore with a selection of music inspired by gods, monsters and heroes
Monday, April 25, 2022
“Let the world know we are ready” | Gonora Sounds
Nigel Williamson speaks to the Zimbabwean family band’s guitar maestro-in-chief, Daniel Gonora, about his first international release
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
KOG (Kweku of Ghana): Back to the Afro-Future
Russell Higham catches up with the Accra-born seer Kweku Sackey, who is finally releasing his solo debut after years of collaborations
Saturday, April 16, 2022
Spotlight: Africa Oyé 2022
Liverpool’s celebration of African music and culture returns to Sefton Park this year to commemorate three decades of good music. Jim Hickson reports
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
“Drums are spiritual – however they are used” | Alai K interview
Prescribing some dance floor therapy with the Kenyan-born, Berlin-based ‘musical witchdoctor’
Monday, April 11, 2022
Soapbox: Thoughts of a World Music Rover
Gerald Seligman muses on the unique global sounds that once caught his ear and champions the undying spark of creativity
Tuesday, March 29, 2022
“The music takes me over. I dive in so deep that I go into a trance… Music is who I am” | Rokia Koné interview
The new voice of Mali, Rokia Koné, teamed up with producer-to-the-stars Jacknife Lee for an album sure to go down as a classic. Jane Cornwell catches up with this seemingly improbable, though quite inspired, pop partnership. Photography by Karen Paulina Biswell
Monday, March 28, 2022
AR Rahman: “The independent scene is growing... Beauty is created by beautiful minds who may not be popular”
Ashanti Omkar catches up with the prolific film composer AR Rahman about his recent projects, the all-female Firdaus Orchestra and a new platform giving a boost to independent South Asian artists
Friday, March 25, 2022
“The Tyvan word byzaa refers to the mooing sound made by a calf” | Choduraa Tumat
The beacon of Tyvan female throat-singing shines light on her rare four-stringed instrument, the byzaanchy
Monday, March 21, 2022
“I never had a teacher, but I would watch other percussionists” | Élage Diouf
Robin Denselow catches up with the Québec-based Senegalese singer-songwriter and drummer who has just released a new album
