Features

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

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Son Jarocho: A Beginner's Guide

From fandangos to the silver screen, Kary Stewart outlines the evolution of the traditional folk style from Veracruz, Mexico with a record of resistance