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2012 About.com World Music Readers' Choice Awards -- Vote Now!

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:59:37 +0000

The 2012 About.com World Music Readers' Choice Awards are hereby officially in the voting phase! With hundreds of nominations garnered from readers around the globe, the finalists were tallied and I hereby present to you the esteemed nominees. The rules are simple: one vote per user per category per day, so come back and vote often. Voting ends March 21. Now, without further ado:

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Tinariwen, Stephen Marley Take Home Grammys

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:32:09 +0000

The 2012 world, roots, and reggae music Grammy Awards were, as always, announced in an afternoon ceremony before the major pre-televised portion this year, along with dozens of other awards. The ceremony was actually quite a lot shorter this year than it has been in years past, due to a massive restructuring of the Grammy categories that slashed and distilled the categories from 109 to 78, a move that many (including rock legend Carlos Santana) accuse of being overtly racist and unfairly targeting musicians of color. I'm not sure I necessarily agree or disagree -- I think the number of categories was too large, but I'm not sure the restructuring was anywhere near as fair or as graceful as it could've or should've been.

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Interview With Sura Susso

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:02:47 +0000

I'm so pleased and proud to welcome Dorothy Johnson-Laird to the World Music at About.com team. Dorothy is a wonderful writer whose reviews, interviews, and long-form pieces have appeared on Afropop Worldwide and World Music Central, among others, and who is a font of knowledge about African music, as well as music of the African diaspora.

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Great Vintage Calypso for Carnival

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:49:07 +0000

It's Carnival season throughout the world, including here in Louisiana, where I live (though we call it Mardi Gras, of course), and parties and parades and all sorts of revelry are gearing up in Brazil, Italy, throughout the Caribbean, and elsewhere. One of the most vibrant Carnival celebrations in the world, and the one that's perhaps the most intrinsically musical, is the celebration in Trinidad, home of calypso. If you're trying to get into the Carnival spirit (or simply looking for great Mardi Gras music from around the world to soundtrack your party), you really can't go wrong with some hip-shakin' Vintage Calypso.

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Image (c) Arc Music, 2003

Spotlight: Slavic Soul Party!

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:35:17 +0000

One of Brooklyn's worst-kept secrets happens every Tuesday night at a tiny little Park Slope club called Barbes. Approximately 60 people, a large number of whom seem to be holding horns or drums, cram into a space that barely fits 30 comfortably, and Brass Band Bacchanalia breaks out. Slavic Soul Party! is the band, though they're barely distinguishable from the fans, and the volume is legendary. It's an amazing, visceral musical experience, and one that I recommend everyone take in at least once (cheating and bringing earplugs won't ruin it for you, I promise). Should you not be in the New York area regularly, though, chances are good that Slavic Soul Party! will be coming your way sooner than later, and they're just as fabulous on a big stage as they are crammed into a tiny room. Keep your eyes peeled!

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10 Arabic Music CDs for Beginners

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:32:33 +0000

I have a love/hate relationship with writing "... for Beginners" or "... Starter CDs" lists. I love being able to help people find new music that they will love, and opening a door to a whole new genre of music. I hate narrowing the lists down, though.

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Yoga Music That Doesn't Suck

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:59:04 +0000

I just started getting back into yoga, after a break of almost two years (I have an almost-two-year-old; no big coincidence there), and I'm still in need of pretty serious inspiration. Since most of what I'm doing at this point is still basically advanced sitting, standing, and laying down, and even that leaves me sore, it's hard to really get motivated to practice every day. Since I mostly practice alone (I used to be pretty good at this stuff, and I'm not attempting any advanced asanas, so don't worry about me), I get to pick the music, and having some great music to choose from makes all the difference in the world. I compiled this list of excellent modern yoga music, figuring that I might not be the only one who can't stand the goofy MIDI flutes and raindrop noises that are clearly beloved by every yoga teacher I've ever had. And hey, if you're more of an aerobic exerciser, a lot of these albums make for good warm-up and cool-down music, so they're good for you, too. Read more: Contemporary Yoga Music (That Doesn't Suck)

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Now Accepting Nominations for the 2012 About.com Readers' Choice Awards!

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:42:48 +0000

It's time once again for the annual About.com Readers' Choice Awards, and nominations are open. This year will be the first that the World Music Site will be taking part, though, so let's make it a great one! We've got eight great categories, and we're looking forward to honoring not only artists, but live music venues, radio shows, and even record labels with the tremendous honor of being chosen by you as their favorite. Nominations are open until February 15, and nominees will be announced (and voting will commence) on February 22. Winners will be announced on March 30. What are you waiting for? Go forth and nominate!

Youssou N'Dour Makes Presidential Bid in Senegal

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:30:35 +0000

Youssou N'Dour has announced that he'll be seeking the office of President of Senegal. As the country's most famous citizen, N'Dour is known both domestically and internationally for his vibrant music, which frequently speaks to social and political issues in Senegal and throughout Africa. He's also a fairly astute businessman, and is the owner of several media companies, including a newspaper and a radio station. Thus far, his candidacy seems to have been received with mixed emotions. Read more, from the Washington Post: World Music Star N'Dour Challenges Aging Leader with Presidency Bid

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Artists to Watch in 2012: SMOD

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:09:03 +0000

Happy New Year! 2011 was a great year for world music (see my Top 11 of '11 CDs for proof), but 2012 looks to be even better. On my list of bands to watch is an Afro-hip-hop trio from Mali called SMOD. Their eponymous international debut, produced by Manu Chao (who the band met because he produced Dimanche a Bamako, an international hit album by Amadou and Mariam, who happen to be the parents of SMOD member Sam), made quiet waves among critics in both Europe and North America, but their recent much-talked-about performance at WOMEX, soon to be paired with their U.S. debut at globalFEST, are what really have people's ears perked up. My prediction? You'll be hearing a lot more from them, and you're gonna love it. In fact, if you haven't heard their music yet, why not make it a New Year's Resolution? It's an easy enough one to keep, after all...