Browsing Tag

World Music

The world music sensation Nancita Kapi put us into motion with her standout single, Let’s Ride

Posted on 30 January 2022

Let’s Ride, taken from the sophomore album Chambre Froide/Black Ice, is a fiery introduction to the singer-songwriter Nancita Kapi. The breaking artist takes soul in her harmonic stride and makes world music resonate as even more global with her multilingual lyrics, pop melodies, afrobeat timbre and nuances of dancehall and RnB.

Her infectious energy, almost spiritually high vibes and sun-soaked beats are an indulgent affirmation that when cultures collide, beautiful things happen. After sharing stages with luminaries, such as YAO, Jamice, Jade, Carimi and Kavanda, we do not doubt that Nancita Kapi will celebrate plenty more highlights in her music career. For dopamine’s sake, get her on your radar.

Let’s Ride is available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ludwik Konopko has released the ultimate bohemian alt-country playlist staple with his latest single, Chickee Chick

Posted on 23 January 2022

Ludwik Konopko’s latest single, Chickee Chick, is the ultimate playlist staple for any alt-country fans that aren’t looking to get the blues. The jazzy and progressive single has warm tones by the smorgasbord between the walking basslines, shimmering acoustic guitar chords and arresting infusion of slide guitars.

Even when the vocals kick in, they are sitting low enough in the mix to bring a touch of the human element but not detract away from the organic alchemy that is blossoming from Ludwik Konopko’s Avant-Garde flair.

The Lviv-born guitarist, composer, and arranger has been performing publicly since the age of 19. Just some of the notable ensembles that he’s been involved with include the Lviv National Philharmonic, Tea Fan Club, popular travelling bands and flamenco fusion groups. Notably, he poured every ounce of his creative life experience into the composition of Chikee Chick. It drips with bohemian cool and doesn’t fail to enamour along the way.

Chickee Chick is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: When Mountains Speak embarks on an abstract journey in their live album, From Beyond Comes Within

Posted on 18 January 2022

Texas’ most spiritual solo artist, When Mountains Speak, has released their latest sonic exploration, From Beyond Comes Within. The live-recorded album was recorded through one microphone – not that the all-consumingly psychedelic and transcendent release will allow you to believe it.

The 12-track album pays an earnest homage to the deep spiritual roots that created the foundation for the tribal and rhythmic soundscapes. Yet with When Mountains Speak’s avant-garde flair slipping in through reverberating hums and electronic glitches, there’s a bold sense of creative playfulness. The kind of playfulness that is reflective of the wonder we found in the world before we grew weary of it.

The extended singles amount to a 1 hour and 52-minute experience. With the tribally magnetic rhythms that marry the East with the West, you couldn’t ask for a better sanctum from the chaos that exists beyond music that awakens spiritual intuition.

From Beyond Comes Within is now available to stream on all major platforms. Check out When Mountains Speak on Spotify or via their official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

When Mountains Speak pays homage to Coltrane in their celestially Avant-Garde release Electric Trane

Posted on 13 January 2022
When Mountains Speak

‘Electric Trane’ is the latest spiritual-to-the-point-of-celestial ambient world music piece from the Coltrane-inspired artist, When Mountains Speak (Steven Wright Clarkson).

Between the entrancingly tribal drums, the Eastern-inspired strings, and the gorgeous layers of dark and light electronic effect, Electric Trane brings ambient music into a brand-new realm. Sure, it hits you with a heady dose of catharsis, yet, by permitting this track to arrest your rhythmic pulses and allowing the soundscape to get darker and more enticing as it progresses, Electric Trane became so much more than a sonic experience. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it to a Glenn Branca Fan, yet, the 8-minute release is undoubtedly one of the most spiritual I will hear this year.

Check out Electric Trane for yourselves by heading over to When Mountains Speak’s website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Eastern rhythms meet blackened ethereal trip-hop in Arula’s latest single, Alive Now.

Posted on 4 December 2021

Alt singer-songwriter, Arula’s latest single, Alive Now, is powerful enough alone, but considering it followed on from the imploring, ethereal remix of her single, How Long, the defiance in the statement made in the dark, trippy soundscape is made so much more strident.

With Eastern influences feeding into the artfully blackened trip-hop track, Alive Now became one of the most invigoratingly experimental tracks that we’ve heard this year. It borders on ambient industrial while keeping hold of celestial textures that you’ll want to tune into time and time again.

Alive Now is available to stream and purchase on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get high with the vibes in Rhisk’s enigmatically energetic track, Mr. Mr.

Posted on 4 November 2021

It’s not every day that hip hop artists with magnetic charismas fall onto our radar, which is just one of the reasons to get hyped about Rhisk’s new high-vibe single, Mr. Mr; it’s a baller hip hop track like no other.

With Eastern world music elements putting an alchemic touch on the instrumentals and Rhisk’s enigmatically energetic rap bars falling into them, you couldn’t ask for a more galvanising hip hop playlist staple. If any hip hop single is going to give you the energy to get back on your grind, it’s Mr. Mr with its earworm melodies and unadulterated good vibes. Whatever the X-factor is, Rhisk has it.

Mr. Mr is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Blowing My Own Trumpet takes us around the world with ‘She’s a Black Snake in My Grass’.

Posted on 10 September 2021

Blowing My Own Trumpet is the latest project by South African Trumpeter Claude Lamon. His culturally cultivated sound is best enjoyed through his latest single, She’s a Black Snake in My Grass, featuring his daughter Josephine Lamon, which comprises elements of folk, rock, and African rhythms.

The vibrantly rich soundscape uses jazzy piano motifs around brass and the male and female layered vocals that pull together to celebrate their love for the land and the heritage that made their ground-breaking roots-based sound possible.

She’s a Black Snake in My Grass is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Kassandra Dasent shows us how to love in a hateful world with ‘Be Still’

Posted on 7 September 2021

Singer-songwriter Kassandra Dasent’s latest single, Be Still, gives you the sense that she lights up any room that she walks in. All of her music is a reflection of her evolutionary journey through life, and Be Still is the perfect introduction to the value of her introspection and the passion in her bluesy gospel vocal delivery.

It is all too easy to say ‘good vibes only’ through music; what is far more difficult – and what Dasent excels in – is guiding those who use the atrocities in the world as a reason for apathy back into motion.

The San Juan, Trinidad-born artist grew up in Montreal with Calypso, Soca & Chutneyin her blood; her rich heritage transfuses into her sound that carries a sonic resemblance to 90s soul-pop while unravelling as a melting pot of culture that you’ll want to delve into the and time again.

The official music video for Be Still is now available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Swim Ignorant Fire speaks to your rhythmic pulses on a primal level with ‘Initiated’

Posted on 3 September 2021
Swim Ignorant Fire

Chicago Illinois experimentalist, Swim Ignorant Fire, has launched their latest single, Initiated, as a leftfield globally inspired teaser of his album, Bufo Alvarius. The soundscape makes a Herculeanly strong case for multiculturism as the Eastern vocals ethereally drift in and out of the ambient electronic mix that also feeds in distorted guitars and bass.

If your ambient lo-fi playlists are feeling a like uninspiring, funk them up with this infectiously eclectic release that speaks to your rhythmic pulses on a primal level.

Get Initiated by heading over to Swim Ignorant Fire’s Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Venezuelan aural ambassador Morris Northcutt has released his latest classical score, Tonada Del Cabrestero

Posted on 9 August 2021

Ahead of the release of his solo debut album, award-winning professional touring artist Morris Northcutt teased what is to come with the richly cinematic, deeply emotional classical composition, Tonada Del Cabrestero, composed by Simon Diaz.

To name a few, the Latin-inspired artist’s accolades include winning global music awards, being a Bach Conn-Selmer solo performing artist and touring the globe with performance groups such as Mannheim Steamroller, Critical Mass Big Band, The Blues Brothers Reunion Band, Puget Brass, and the Tacoma Concert Band to the Seattle Symphony Chamber Orchestra, Breath of Aire, and the Tacoma Symphony.

Before you even learn the intent behind the instrumental score, you feel the ego-less sense of passion in the production; you get a sense that Tonada Del Cabrestero is pulling emotion from a much deeper place. Tonada Del Cabrestero was created in collaboration with Venezuelan artists impacted by the economical disaster imparted by quarantine measures.

It was designed to pay ode to the culture that has been stifled and to introduce the world to the cinematic magic of Venezuelan music. It embraces Northcutt’s bold virtuosic flair, bringing a sense of warmth to the soundscape that proves that beyond borders and language barriers, we share humanity that defies the suffocating concepts of tribalism and late-stage capitalism. Frankly, we’re obsessed. Venezuela couldn’t ask for a better aural ambassador.

Tonada Del Cabrestero was released on July 23rd and is now available on Spotify. The debut album is due for official release on August 30th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast