world fusion | World Music Central

The album cover for Cierzo Lento by Idoipe features a photograph of a white curtain billowing out of a small window set in a vivid red wall.The artist's name appears in the top right corner, with the album title in the bottom left.

Album reviews

Cierzo Lento – A Modern Take on Aragonese Tradition

Idoipe – Cierzo Lento (self release, 2021) Cierzo Lento was the debut full-length album by Spanish musician Idoipe. The self-produced LP combines electronica with traditional…

Articles

Berimbau: Bowed Sounds at the Heart of Afro-Brazilian Tradition

Angel Romero July 25, 2025 No Comments Afro-Brazilian berimbau Brazilian music world fusion world music

(headline image: Berimbau) The berimbau is a single-stringed musical bow that functions as both instrument and cultural emblem. Though now most closely associated with Brazil,…

The album cover for Bords de Terre – Dubhe by Horzines Stara features delicate, colorful flowers taped to a weathered, cracked plaster wall. The band name and album title appear in simple, uppercase sans-serif type.

Album reviews

Borderless Voices: Horzines Stara Pushes Limits on Bords de Terre – Dubhe

Madison Quinn July 25, 2025 No Comments a cappella French music Horzines Stara world fusion world music

Horzines Stara – Bords de Terre – Dubhe (Vlad Productions / InOuïe Distribution, 2022) Horzines Stara’s 2022 release Bords de Terre – Dubhe (Edge of…

The album cover for Nubes Selva by Grecia Albán features a collage that combines Andean and Amazonian motifs. At the center, the artist stands partially obscured by lush tropical leaves, dressed in woven patterns. Surrounding her are embroidered clouds, a jaguar, religious iconography, and folkloric imagery, all framed by tapestry-like borders. The title and artist's name appear vertically along the sides in colorful lettering.

Album reviews

Grecia Albán Weaves South American Folklore Into the Future

Iliana Cabrera July 24, 2025 No Comments Ecuador Ecuadorian music Grecia Albán world fusion world music

Grecia Albán – Nubes Selva (Folkalist Records, 2025) Charmind Ecuadorian singer and songwriter Grecia Albán makes her label debut with Nubes Selva (“Cloud Jungle”), an…

Kengo Saito / Japanistan Trio – Douce Errance. A photo of the trio holding their musical instruments.

Album reviews

Japanistan Trio: Crossroads Without Borders

Madison Quinn July 23, 2025 No Comments Kengo Saito world fusion world music

Kengo Saito / Japanistan Trio – Douce Errance (Felmay, 2025) On Douce Errance, the Japanistan Trio weaves Afghan rubab, Japanese shakuhachi, and Persian tombak through…

Voces del Jazz y del Caribe Festival 2025 poster. Orange colored.

Events

The 12th Edition of Voces del Jazz y del Caribe Festival Brings Memory, Youth, and Rhythm to the Fore

World Music Central News Room July 22, 2025 No Comments Colombian music Voces del Jazz y del Caribe Festival world fusion world music

From August 14 to 17, the colonial streets of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, will echo with jazz, soukous, salsa, zouk, and Afro-fusion. The 12th edition…

The album cover for A Hospedaria dos Jamais Iluminados by Máquina Voadora features a graffiti-style illustration of a dark-skinned figure with yellow and red facial highlights, drawn over a wood-textured background. Above the head floats a red box with a sketched boot. Handwritten text in black and red surrounds the figure.

Music videos Single reviews

A Progressive Twosome

Tom Orr July 19, 2025 No Comments Brazilian music Máquina Voadora world fusion world music

A Brazilian duo called Máquina Voadora mixes dance rhythms from their home country with rock, jazz and soul overtones on a track called “A hospedaria…

Music videos

Kim Carnie Unveils Gaelic-West African Fusion with New Single

World Music Central News Room July 18, 2025 No Comments Celtic music Kim Carnie Scottish music world fusion world music

Multi-award-winning singer-songwriter Kim Carnie has released a new single, Òran na Bèiste Maoile (Càrn Records), ahead of her second solo album due in September 2025.…

Clockwise from top left: Chandrika Tandon, Ablaye Cissoko and Cyrille Brotto, Saami Brothers Khayal, Mariza, Solas, Aynur. Photo Credits: Chandrika Tandon by Shervin Lainez; Ablaye Cissoko and Cyrille Brotto by Cedrick Nöt; Mariza by Eduardo Ramos Photos; Solas by Anna Colliton; Aynur by Jean Baptiste Millot. All other photos courtesy of the artists.

Events

World Music Institute Launches 40th Anniversary Season for Fall/Winter 2025–26

World Music Central News Room July 16, 2025 No Comments Ablaye Cissoko Aynur Chandrika Tandon Cyrille Brotto DakhaBrakha Gamelan Dharma Swara Ganavya Mali Obomsawin Mariam Marisa Anderson Mariza Muireann Bradley Olga Pericet Ravi Shankar Ensemble Saami Brothers Solas Sunny Jain Ustad Naseeruddin Saami world fusion world music Yuval Ron

World Music Institute (WMI) marks its 40th anniversary with a new season celebrating world music and dance in New York City. The Fall/Winter 2025–26 program…

The album cover for The Beginning of the Beginning (African Remix 2024) by Cserepes features a background of traditional African woven fabric in earthy tones of gold and black, adorned with geometric patterns. The title and artist name appear in serif font at the center.

Album reviews

Back to the Rhythm: Cserepes Remixes African Roots

Angel Romero July 15, 2025 No Comments world fusion world music

Cserepes – The Beginning of the Beginning (Fonó, 2024) Károly Cserepes returns with The Beginning of the Beginning, his seventh remix album. This new installment…