Based in Strasbourg in Eastern France, Christine Ott is a classically-trained pianist, composer and a rare specialist of the Ondes Martenot. One of the early electronic instruments, the Ondes Martenot produces a distinctive and eerie oscillating sound often compared to a “celestial” voice. Several 20th century composers ... [Continue Reading]
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Marika Hackman: We Slept At Last
From Hampshire and now based in London, Marika Hackman is a young Folk singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Closely associated with Laura Marling with whom she has toured extensively and with Alt-J producer Charlie Andrew, the singer has already released four EPs and several self-directed videos in 2013 and 2014. Out ... [Continue Reading]
Fox Capture Plan: Butterfly
Formed in Tokyo in 2011 by three musicians already active in three separate bands - Ryo Kishimoto on piano (Jabberloop), Hidehiro Kawai (Immigrant's bossa band) on double bass and Tsukasa Inoue (Nhhmbase) on drums - Fox Capture Plan is a young trio playing an exuberant and infectious brand of contemporary jazz influenced by ... [Continue Reading]
Songhoy Blues: Music in Exile
Influenced by desert blues legends like Ali Farka Touré (1939 - 2006) or Khaira Arby and growing up listening to tapes of BB King, John Lee Hooker or Jimi Hendrix, the four members of Malian band Songhoy Blues play a raw and energetic mix of blues, rock and R&B on a straightforward guitars, bass and drums formula. Released ... [Continue Reading]
Anaïs Mitchell: Why we build the wall
Released in 2010, American singer songwriter Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown is a modern retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Introduced as a “folk opera”, the concept album began life as a stage production which premiered in 2006 in Mitchell’s home state of Vermont. Influenced by the plays and operas of Berthold Brecht ... [Continue Reading]
Hurray for the Riff Raff: St. Roch Blues
Originally from the Bronx in New York, singer-songwriter Alynda Lee Segarra left home at the age of 17 to travel westwards across America before settling in New Orleans. Perfecting her craft busking and singing with various bands while immersed in a city rebuilding itself in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Alynda Lee Segarra ... [Continue Reading]
