Features

Monday, September 6, 2021

Introducing... John Francis Flynn

There's a new rising star on Dublin's folk scene. We speak to the multi-instrumentalist and singer, John Francis Flynn, about his genre-assimilating solo debut

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

“You don’t need to sing well, you need to sing from your soul. So, I sing from my soul” | Bomba Estéreo on finding their authentic musical voice

Colombia’s Bomba Estéreo speak to Russ Slater about their aim to propagate positivity amid political upheaval via their distinctive tropical sound

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Calypso Albums | The Essential 10

Calypso has its roots in canboulay music brought to the Caribbean by African slaves, but the style is constantly being revitalised and reinterpreted. Charles de Ledesma traces its history and chooses his top ten albums

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Legends of Latin Music | The Essential 10 Albums

Chris Moss picks out 10 giants upon whose shoulders today’s generation of musicians stand

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Setar | Musical Instrument Guide (with Kiya Tabassian)

The setar player tells Simon Broughton how his instrument came to shape the foundations of his special relationship with fellow Iranian Kayhan Kalhor

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Kora Albums | The Essential 10

The kora has become the defining instrument of West Africa. Simon Broughton picks his ten top albums, including Ballaké Sissoko, Seckou Keita, Sona Jobarteh and more

Monday, August 23, 2021

Angrusori: The Fellowship Of The Ring

Lifting the veil on the innovative, often challenging, project bringing together Norwegian improvisers and Slovak Gypsy musicians

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

“My whole body was shaking. I started to tremble and sing. Two songs later, I didn’t want to stop” | Natalia Lafourcade interview

The multi award-winning Mexican singer Natalia Lafourcade reveals to Catalina Maria Johnson how she found her voice in rewriting the Latin American songbook

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Flamenco Albums | The Essential 10

Chris Moss teases ten of his all-time favourite flamenco albums into the bullring, featuring Camarón de la Isla & Paco de Lucía, Manolo Caracol, Lola Flores and more

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Climate-Conscious Musicians | The Essential 10

As we hurtle ever faster and ever deeper into a global climate crisis, Chris Moss highlights ten releases from artists who are doing their bit to help

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Suka | Musical Instrument Guide (with Maria Pomianowska)

Doyenne of the Polish knee-fiddle, Maria Pomianowska, speaks to Simon Broughton about evolving her instrument's repertoire

Thursday, August 5, 2021

Roots Reggae Albums | The Essential 10

Featuring albums from The Abyssinians, Rocky Dawuni, Inna de Yard, Bob Marley and The Wailers, and more...

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Touareg Albums | The Essential 10

Nigel Williamson selects ten albums that best showcase the inimitable Touareg desert groove sound

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Balkan Albums | The Essential 10

Ten classic albums that exemplify the diversity and virtuosity of music in the Balkan region, featuring Fanfare Ciocărlia, Kočani Orkestar, Taraf de Haïdouks, Esma Redžepova and more