Of course MaMa Def is a celebration of Senegal's rich musical heritage, infused with hip-hop, electronic sounds and Afrobeats that draw inspiration from the continent's many cultures and rhythms. As a result, the band effectively projects a future, pan-African vision into the global scene. The lioness of the duet, Mamy Victory has 20 years of experience in the urban music arena and... read full bio
One of the real melting pots of the world is Trinidad and Tobago, an island nation whose people have innovated in music, art, food and good times by drawing on their African, Asian, Latin, European and American ancestry. Among the several musical groups residing in this twin-island country, none better exemplify this blend than Kes (also known as KES THE BAND), the diverse... read full bio
Youmna Saba is a composer, musicologist and performer. She graduated from Antonine University in Lebanon with a master's degree in musicology. Her current research focuses on the interaction between Arabic spoken in song and electroacoustic music. These investigations show up as a variety of projects, from electroacoustic experiments on new devices made for voice and her instrument, the oud, to film... read full bio
Five years after their start, the Brazilian ensemble Bixiga 70 from Sao Paulo continues to journey musically forward, only to discover themselves more and more at home. III, the band's third album, is a luminous and vibrant mash-up of Atlantic cultures. The album's hyper-contemporary discussion travels between Brazilian and African sounds and rhythms, as well as between the band's ten musicians... read full bio
Aynur is one of today's most prominent Kurdish vocalists. Her powerful voice and outstanding musical narration convey her cultural roots as a worldwide genre. Her distinct voice combines traditional Kurdish folk music with the modern sensibilities of Western music. She is one of the best-selling performers in Kurdish folk music, and her recordings are hailed not just in Turkish but also... read full bio
Midas The Jagaban is a little mysterious. The British-Nigerian musician, who has been hiding since making her debut in the UK's Afrobeats scene, values her anonymity greatly. She does, however, provide some context for her identity, even if she maintains that her personal life and her music are unrelated. Everything that Midas has touched appears to have turned to gold thus far. Her... read full bio
Bella Shmurda is a Nigerian singer-songwriter of conscious afrobeats music who is originally from Lagos. This independent artist, known as the "new voice of the street," is the head of the Dangbana Republic, an organization of self-assured, straightforward creatives who are obstinate in the face of difficulty. Despite all obstacles, this multiple award winner is committed to stating the truth. Bella... read full bio
Bulgarian musician, producer, and DJ Sariel Orenda investigates the relationship between emotion and sound, mood and feeling, melody and condition of being. His music takes the listener on a voyage across many languages and civilizations with the overarching goal of reuniting them with their most authentic selves. In addition to live concerts, where he combines live looping guitars, vocals, and... read full bio
Chinese-Australian composers Mindy Meng Wang and Sui Zhen came together impromptu one chilly afternoon in Naarm, Melbourne. Origin of You, their first joint album, is centered on the ongoing transformation of a person's conception of identity and self—coming to grips with one's identity, origins, and future. It is about being born, living, and dying. It also deals with transitions: from... read full bio
Six of the original members of the band Cymande, which last performed together a few decades ago, have just come back together to create music for the general public. Their unique musical style, which draws significantly from deep funk, jazz, African music, soul, rock, and calypso, has earned them a reputation for being extremely diverse. The band had been playing... read full bio
Iyaz is a singer-songwriter from the British Virgin Islands. Iyaz, pronounced EYE-az, under Beluga Heights Records is known for his singles Replay and Solo. Iyaz released his debut album, Replay, with singles that have gained international success. His first single titled, Replay, peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Replay was certified platinum in four countries including Australia and... read full bio
In a music scene crowded with confusion and mixed messages, Sounds of Blackness has consistently sought to bring out the best in its listeners. Our message is hope," says Gary Hines, the group's director. The era of Sounds' origins was marked by the spiritual/social consciousness of revolutionary artists like Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. Their success, though nothing... read full bio
Colin Patrick Harper, better known as Collie Buddz, is a reggae artist. He is best known for his single ‘Come Around’. He got his first musical gig performing on Shaggy’s album ‘Intoxication’ on the track ‘Mad Mad World’. His greatest radio success was ‘Mamasita’, which sold an approximate 2 million copies. Collie Buddz has released a numerous amount of singles... read full bio
In terms of music, PawPaw Rod is well-known. The Capricorn in cowboy boots has already formed a musical personality that magpies from elements and mutates genres as if Gil Scott-Heron were trying to fill the dance floor, with only three singles and a debut EP under his belt, the simply titled "A PawPaw Rod EP." Rodney Hulsey is several things at... read full bio
Nerija, a group of musicians based in London who have won the Jazz Newcomer Parliamentary Jazz Award and been nominated for the Jazz FM Breakthrough Act of the Year, perform vibrant and unique music that draws inspiration from jazz, hip hop, afrobeat and South African Township. The seven-piece ensemble contains up-and-coming musicians including guitarist Shirley Tetteh (Maisha, Gary Crosby's Groundation), trumpeter... read full bio
He was raised in the southern Ghanaian rainforest as a child before traveling up to the Frafra land in the northern Ghanaian savannah as a young kid. He was born to a Frafra father and an Akim mother. He was profoundly moved by the magnificent moments he encountered during the services at the local church while growing up in Namoo,... read full bio
Dino d'Santiago is a Cape Verdean-born singer from Lisbon who is well-known in Portugal's hip-hop and R&B sectors. He is a proponent of the new wave of Afro-electronic music. On his albums "Eva" and the well-regarded "Mundu Nôbu," Dino combines traditional Cape Verdean music with fresh genres to produce what has come to be known as his unique sound. Dino was... read full bio
Islandman, a musical identity created by Istanbul-based musician and producer Tolga Boyuk, is based on the musical aspirations of a dreamer who creates stories about an imaginary location. Islandman takes the stage in the shape of an electro-acoustic live trio that combines shamanic rhythms with spacey live guitars and calm electronic structures and dance beats. The mixing concept is to combine Turkish... read full bio
KIOKO is a hard-hitting reggae band from Birmingham, UK that is renowned for its contagious rhythms and thrilling live shows. The band takes pleasure in the fact that their music is politically and sociologically relevant to today's rapidly changing society. They are greatly influenced by Jamaican and Caribbean music as well as the music of their multicultural ancestry. KIOKO has established their status... read full bio
Liraz Charhi is a singer, composer and actress who has dazzled audiences both on stage and in front of the camera. Liraz's most innovative musical endeavor blends contemporary beats and sounds with the regional flavors of her Persian heritage. At the height of the Iranian Revolution in the 1970s, Liraz's family left Iran for Israel. Liraz was raised in an Israeli Persian... read full bio
