The Rough Guide to World Music
The Music of Afghanistan: A Rough Guide
Despite continued fighting, there is new musical life in Afghanistan and new interest abroad. Simon Broughton and Veronica Doubleday report
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Hamid Sakhizada: "There were Hazara people that hadn't forgotten their culture"
Songlines spoke to the Afghan musician who, despite threats to his life, wants to show the world the beauty of Hazara music
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LASS interview: “It’s a cry from the heart to all young Africans that the future belongs to us”
The West African singer provides the inside track on prosperous musical encounters and the circuitous birth of his long-awaited debut album
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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
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Chromesthesia: the Colour of Sound
Acclaimed British-Egyptian academic Dr Hannah Elsisi discusses an ambitious new project surveying the sonic and sensory rituals surrounding African migration
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Beats, Rhymes and Banjos
Gangstagrass are unifying bluegrass and hip-hop through their shared tales of struggle and survival, and having a great time along the way
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Toby Jones: “Music is, of all the art forms, the one that is most commonly employed to put humans in touch with the numinous”
Jim Hickson speaks to acclaimed British actor Toby Jones about his lifelong love for music, and how it always manages to finds a way into his work
Features
China’s Musical Secrets
An ambitious Folk Music of China series by Naxos World features folk songs from all of the country’s 55 officially recognised ethnic minority groups. The compilations offer a COVID-proof musical journey to rural China. Frank Kouwenhoven reports
Features
Ben Aylon: an African obsession
The Israeli multi-instrumentalist talks about the fascination with African music which shaped his debut album, Xalam, an exhilaratingly kinetic collection featuring star turns from Doudou Ndiaye Rose and Khaira Arby
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“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
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“We're trying to make traditional music more accessible” | DLÙ
The up-and-coming Scottish group speak about all things Gaelic and their forthcoming debut release, Moch
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“How am I going to be a legend?”: Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino at 50
Rossella Pinto, one of the original members of Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, and her son Mauro Durante, their current bandleader, reflect on the group’s 50-year history of preserving and promoting the popular pizzica music of southern Italy
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Marina Satti: Eurovision bound
Mateusz Dobrowolski checks in on the vocalist representing Greece at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest
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Catrin Finch and Aoife Ní Bhriain: “The most important thing is hopefully people will love the music”
Welsh harpist Catrin Finch is embarking on a new partnership, this time exploring her Celtic and classical roots with Irish fiddle player Aoife Ní Bhriain
