African Connections
The sonic similarities between Kenyan and Congolese music have long been evident, and Hakuna Patata celebrates as much with a song called “Kuja Tuscheze” and…
Qawwali Royalty: Rizwan-Muazzam’s Latest Album Honors Tradition with a Fresh Voice
Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali – At the Feet of the Beloved (Real World Records, 2025) Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali, the nephews of the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, return…
Riddim & Views: Reggae Sumfest 2025 Returns to Montego Bay
Reggae Sumfest, Jamaica’s flagship reggae and dancehall festival, returns to Montego Bay from July 13–19, 2025, with a full week of music, parties, and cultural…
Pickin’ Up Steam: Jesse Smathers’ Steady Climb Through Bluegrass Ranks
(headline image: Jesse Smathers – Photo by Laci Mack0 Jesse Smathers, a native of Eden, North Carolina with deep family roots in Western North Carolina,…
Mason Via Balances Tradition and Protest in New Single
Mason Via has released a new single, “Oh Lordy Me,” ahead of his upcoming album, set to drop on April 25. The track features guest…
Max Romeo, Roots Reggae Pioneer, Dies at 80
(headline image: Max Romeo – Photo by Peter Simon) Jamaican roots reggae artist Max Romeo died on April 11, 2025, at the age of 80.…
Agbadja King Reigns Again: Gnonnas Pedro’s Legacy Restored
Gnonnas Pedro & His Dadjes Band – Roi De L’Agbadja Moderne 1974-1983 (Analog Africa, 2025) Gnonnas Pedro, the Beninese icon who modernized Agbadja (a percussive…
Elana Sasson Elegantly Bridges Traditional Folk and Jazz on In Between
Elana Sasson – In Between (PKMusik, 2025) With her beautifully crafted debut album In Between (PKMusik, 2025), Persian-Kurdish-American vocalist and composer Elana Sasson unveils an…
Versatile Flamenco Percussionist and Instrument Designer Nasrine Rahmani
Currently based in Madrid, Spain, Nasrine Rahmani is a professional percussionist specializing in flamenco and Latin percussion. Born in Australia to a mother from Mauritius…
Reus de la Frontera Deliver the Raw Emotion of a Flamenco Party
Reus de la Frontera, a flamenco collective from Reus in northeastern Spain, brings an electrifying take on the traditional juerga flamenca. Their debut project, Juerga…