(Afrobeat / Burkina Faso) Baba Commandant and the Mandingo Band hail from the city of Bobo-Diulasso in Burkina Faso. Rooted in the Manding musical traditions of their ancestral legacy, the group is led by vocalist Mamadou Sanou, a.k.a. Baba Commandant, an activist for...
The name of this trio reflects their dedication to francophone musical traditions of French Canada: it’s both the French word for “summer” and a clever reference to their first names. Élisabeth Moquin, Thierry Clouette and Élisabeth Giroux approach traditional Québec...
This old-time ensemble plays songs and tunes from the string bands of the 1920s and fiddle music from the American Midwest, as well as from other new and traditional sources. A classic old-time dance band, they’re known for a driving twin-fiddle sound, and a...
Van-Anh Vo is an Emmy Award–winning master of the 16-string đan tránh zither and other instruments unique to Vietnamese culture. “Vo’s energy and enthusiasm for musical creativity seems to … feed off a fundamental sonic curiosity, as well as a desire to reflect on her...
Singer Lamiae Naki was born in the ancient city of Fes, Morocco, and her ensemble Seffarine channels a deep knowledge of the music of both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar, a crossroads of African, Middle Eastern, and European cultures. From the 9th to 15th...
Salaam’s exquisitely rendered melodies are woven with stories and musings, taking the listener on a musical journey through traditional and original Middle Eastern music. Their sound, while deeply rooted in maqam and entrancing Middle Eastern rhythms, is infused...
If filmmaker Wes Anderson created an Estonian folk duo, it would be Puulupp, who identify their music as “neo-zombie-post-folk” and use the talharpa (Northern European 4-stringed lyre) and electronics (including effects and loops) to create a unique sonic experience....
Natu Camara is a globally celebrated Guinean artist known for her vibrant fusion of Afro-rock, soul, and pop. With a powerful voice and an inspiring message, she has been captivating audiences worldwide while using her platform to uplift and empower. Natu continues to...
Founded in Costa Rica in 2011, Matixando is the musical project of Costa Rican singer-songwriter David Dávila González. Matixando is a collective of musicians and artists playing original world “forest” music, creating a Latin fusion by blending rock, reggae, blues,...
This young Cape Verdean singer honed her vocal technique in hotels and bars across the Cape Verde islands, developing a repertoire that has included Brazilian pop and bossa nova, jazz, and the morna and coladera genres unique to that culture. Now based in Lisbon,...