Monday, May 23, 2022
Concept Albums | The Essential 10
Nigel Williamson rounds up a list of great concept albums, from Nitin Sawhney's Beyond Skin to Angélique Kidjo's Remain in Light
Features
Friday, May 20, 2022
Lido Pimienta interview: “When you realise that you don’t actually have to please other people, your life gets better”
It’s been a tough road for Colombian-Canadian artist Lido Pimienta, but she’s finally having her moment. She speaks to Russ Slater about her music and activism
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
“I’m an African woman in charge of how I express myself” | Juanita Euka
The charismatic Congolese singer, and niece of the late rumba king Franco, speaks with Jane Cornwell about her long-awaited solo debut, Mabanzo
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
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
