music

Ukrainian Eurovision contestant TVORCHI band performs at a concert before departure to the Eurovision contest

Liverpool steps in to host Eurovision Song Contest

Last year's winners from Ukraine are unable to host in-country this year due to ongoing conflict with Russia, so Liverpool is stepping in. To learn more about it, The World's Carol Hills spoke to Dr. Eurovision, himself, Paul Jordan.

Liverpool steps in to host Eurovision Song Contest
Pilani Bubu found her music community after she moved from South Africa to New Orleans. She understood that the people she met wanted to learn more about her culture back home. That’s when she started to incorporate South African music into her repertoire

South Africa’s Pilani Bubu has ‘jumped off the shoulder of giants’ to create music filled with tradition

South Africa’s Pilani Bubu has ‘jumped off the shoulder of giants’ to create music filled with tradition
Haitian Musician and Voudo priest Erol Josué has a new album titled Pèlerinaj, which includes songs like “Rén Sobo,” “Ati Sole” and “Palave Maria" that invoke Voudo goddesses and saints.

Erol Josué’s new album Pèlerinaj highlights Haiti’s Vodou tradition and the artist’s own pilgrimage

Erol Josué’s new album Pèlerinaj highlights Haiti’s Vodou tradition and the artist’s own pilgrimage
Album covers of some of the allbums from artists included in the end-of-year music playlist with recommendations from The World staff. Clockwise, startiing from the top left corner: Adrian Quesada's "Boleros Psicodélicos," Sillvana Estrada's "Marchita," V

A musical journey around the globe 2022, a playlist

A musical journey around the globe 2022, a playlist
Cover art for albums of multiple artists included on The World's 2021 music playlist. Clockwise, starting from the top left image: 'Suba' by Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita; 'El Alimento' by Cimafunk; 'Deja' by Bomba Estereo; 'Seeking New Gods' by Gruff Rhys;

Dance with The World, 2021 edition: A playlist

Dance with The World, 2021 edition: A playlist
Swedish musician José González is known for stretching musical boundaries over his 18-year career. 

José González’s 'Local Valley' mixes sounds from West Africa, from the Sahel to Ghanaian highlife

Over his 18-year music career, José González has tapped into sounds from three continents: Brazilian bossa nova, Swedish hardcore punk, and now, West African styles.

José González’s 'Local Valley' mixes sounds from West Africa, from the Sahel to Ghanaian highlife
New Zealand singer and songwriter Lorde attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" exhibition on Sept. 13, 2021, in New York City.

It’s ‘huge for our language’: Lorde’s new Māori-language EP strikes a chord with NZ's Indigenous community

The release of "Te Ao Mārama," which comes during Māori Language Week, has received a wide range of reactions from New Zealand's Indigenous community.

It’s ‘huge for our language’: Lorde’s new Māori-language EP strikes a chord with NZ's Indigenous community
Multi-generational Haitian band Lakou Mizik has a new album in collaboration with Grammy-winning electronic music artist Joseph Ray titled ‘Leave The Bones.’

Lakou Mizik’s new album highlights Haiti’s creative spirit

Hatian band Lakou Mizik’s “Leave the Bones,” in collaboration with DJ and producer Joseph Ray of Nero, mixes traditional sounds with electronic beats.

Lakou Mizik’s new album highlights Haiti’s creative spirit
For Dr. Enongo Lumumba Kasongo, whose stage name is Sammus, Afrofuturism has been a well of inspiration and a living current underneath all her work.

Forging new space: The multidimensional Afrofuturism of Sammus

For Dr. Enongo Lumumba Kasongo, whose stage name is Sammus, Afrofuturism has been a well of inspiration and a living current underneath all her work.

Forging new space: The multidimensional Afrofuturism of Sammus
Black and white cover of composer Arooj Aftab

The ‘strange grace’ of singer Arooj Aftab

In her latest record, “Vulture Prince,” Pakistani composer Arooj Aftab uses words from Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib and 11th-century Persian poet Jalāl ad-Dīn Mohammad Rūmī, alongside electronic samples and touches of jazz trumpet.

The ‘strange grace’ of singer Arooj Aftab
Nigerian Femi Kuti sings into a microphone

Femi Kuti and Made Kuti continue Afrobeat legacy in two-part album

The roots of Afrobeat — not to be confused with the more pop-oriented Afrobeats, which has exploded in popularity in recent years — is socially conscious music, according to Made Kuti, Fela Kuti's grandson.

Femi Kuti and Made Kuti continue Afrobeat legacy in two-part album
Sabha Aminikia immigrated to the US as a refugee and began studying at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. But even as he launched his career in America, his music was often focused on Iran.

Iranian American composer Sahba Aminikia: Music transforms like raindrops that 'wash this part of humanity'

Iranian American composer Sahba Aminikia, who had to leave his homeland due to religious persecution, says his pain comes out in his music.

Iranian American composer Sahba Aminikia: Music transforms like raindrops that 'wash this part of humanity'
MC Fioti during the recording of the remix version of his 2017 hit "Bum Bum Tam Tam," which has become Brazil's COVID-19 vaccine anthem. 

This funk remix became Brazil’s COVID-19 vaccine anthem

Fioti’s revised version of "Bum Bum Tam Tam" keeps the original melody but the lyrics are not all about the booty. Instead, the remix champions COVID-19 vaccination and the Butantan Institute.

This funk remix became Brazil’s COVID-19 vaccine anthem
Zimbabwean American singer, poet and activist Shungudzo says she finds an outlet for her activism through music.

Artist Shungudzo feels an urgency to 'use her words' to fight against racism

In her music and poetry, Shungudzo tackles the racist experiences she had growing up in Zimbabwe and the US.

Artist Shungudzo feels an urgency to 'use her words' to fight against racism
A woman playin cello appears in an empty museum hall.

'Food for our soul': Cellist Camille Thomas performs solo at Paris museums during lockdown

Franco Belgian cellist Camille Thomas is performing solo at some of Paris' most striking art venues during France's second COVID-19 lockdown.

'Food for our soul': Cellist Camille Thomas performs solo at Paris museums during lockdown