Deutsch
Franais
Espa ol
Italiano
Portuguese
Japanese
Chinese

Rahim Alhaj
Middle Eastern music gets lumped into one big mass, but Iraq, like every other country or region in that part of the world, has a very definite sonic identity. Rahim Alhaj is an impeccably pedigreed oud player and student of his homeland’s music, having apprenticed under Munir Bashir, an acknowledged master.

The Nation Beat
Talk about your big beat—the relentless percussion of maracatu music, from northeastern Brazil, is one of the most thunderous, soul-shaking sounds around. In this interview, Scott Kettner of Nation Beat discusses what got him into the sounds of maracatu, the band and their album collaboration with Frank London.
By Phil Freeman

Les Primitifs Du Futur
They’ve gigged regularly over the years in Paris and beyond, but only now does it seem that Les Primitifs Du Futur is making a name for itself beyond French expatriates and tuned-in comic book obsessives.
By Tad Hendrickson

King Jammy
Before he became “King Jammy,” Lloyd James served as apprentice to King Tubby in the ’70s, working as the legendary Jamaican producer’s chief engineer. James soon struck out on his own, restarting his sound system from the ’60s and throwing himself wholeheartedly into production.

Chuck Brown
Perhaps the least-discovered of America’s fiercely regional music scenes, three decades after its inception go-go music is still the soul of black Washington, and Chuck Brown its creator and eminence grise.
By Nick Baily

Reggae/Dancehall
In 2004, the U.K.-based gay and lesbian rights group OutRage! initiated the Stop Murder Music campaign, waging war against dancehall artists that encourage hatred and violence toward gays and lesbians. The campaign targeted Buju Banton (pictured), Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Capleton, Elephant Man, Sizzla, TOK and Vybz Kartel.
By Matt Scheiner

RSS Feeds