New Artist: The Busy Twist
At just 21, Gabriel Benn (a.k.a Tuesday Born) and Ollie Williams (a.k.a Ollie Twist) are making some impressive African/Electronic fusion and self-releasing it off their own label, The People's Ear. Although they're based in London, much of the creative work goes on in Ghana where the inspiration for their music first came about.
A Short History Of…Amadou and Mariam
To celebrate the release of Amadou & Mariam's new album, Theo Scheiner looks back at a few of their best songs and delves into the history of Mali's most famous musical exports.
A Short History Of…Afrobeat (and Fela Kuti)
Afrobeat is a response to a particular moment in African history. It emerged from Nigeria in the 1960s, matching the mood of the country, and the continent, in its attempts to reconcile the traditional aspects of African societies with the push towards modernity.
New Artist: Black Ph03nix (aka Larry Achiampong)
Doing for African Highlife music what J Dilla did for Soul, Black Ph03nix is the alter ego of one Larry Achiampong, an artist and musician who is reinventing the sound of Africa's west coast with masterful results...
New Artist: DJ iZem
Co-founder of internet world-music radio station Groovalizacion, DJ iZem has now turned his hand to producing his own. Turns out he’s rather good. Exposed to so many different musical cultures at Groovilicion, it’s no surprise that Debaixo D’Agua, his debut EP released this month, is an eclectic affair. Full of energy, it effortlessly blends dub,...
