Tune Your World

Thione Seck FREE SONG: 'Mouhamadou Bamba'

Former member of Star Band de Dakar and Orchestra Baobab, Thione Seck has been an important figure on Senegal’s music scene since the 1960s. In the late 70s and early 80s Seck was one of the originators of mbalax, which has been Senegal’s most popular sound since then. Check out today's FREE Song:

FREE SONG:'Mouhamadou Bamba'

Seck was always a fan of Egyptian superstars such as Abdel Halim Hafez and Oum Kalsoum as well as Bollywood playback singers Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. These singers have influenced his singing style, sometimes subtly, sometimes in a more obvious way. - An interesting mixture of Africa and Asia, - Senegal and India, among others...

Even though Seck grew up in Senegal, he says that a childhood fascination with Hindu films led him to favor Eastern modes. He told Afropop, "It's like the scales of the Spanish, Hindu, Greek, Arab musicians. Each time I compose a song, I put a few notes from this eastern scale, because that's what I love the most." The contrast between the band's edgy alertness and Seck's air of spiritual intoxication is likely to raise the hair on your spine. Do you agree?

FREE SONG:'Mouhamadou Bamba'

Get more music from Thione Seck here!!

Senegal, Mbalax, Senegalese Pop, Thione Seck,

André Bourgeois and Mano Bap - FREE Song: 'Pentagrama'!!

Today's FREE Song is by André Bourgeois and Mano Bap!

FREE SONG:'Pentagrama'

André Bourgeois and Mano Bap are influenced by the 1960's and 70's jazz, and the experiments of Kruder and Dorfmeister and Erik Truffaz.

They have distanced themselves from the all powerfull Drum'n' Bass and have developed a sound that draws on the best of the technology and the acoustic. Bourgeois and Bap use a computer to record musicians -- not because they are strivng for the artificial, but because they are striving for emotion.

Today' s Free song will delight you with its editing, post production and sound texture. It's a breath of fresh air, for sure! Bap and Bourgeois lead us far beyond all musical and nationality allegiances, so watch out!

FREE SONG:'Pentagrama'

Get more music from André Bourgeois and Mano Bap here!!

Radio Mundial - FREE Song: 'Tambor'!!

Today's FREE Song is by Radio Mundial:

FREE SONG: 'Tambor'

Radio Mundial (World Radio) is a musical collective originally formed by Puerto Rican/Peruvian vocalist and guitarist Jean Shepard and Chilean Swedish DJ and producer Andy Delano. Together with band members Gianni Mano (congas), Geraldo Flores (timbales), Andy Sanesi (drums) Gustavo Amarante (bass), they unleashed the dynamic sounds of their lush harmonies. Jean's cuatro (Puerto Rico's national instrument) also brings exciting percussion and a unique song-writing style.

The full Radio Mundial experience was born as the band soon began playing its modern fusion of Afro-Latin-inspired funk to packed stages in and around New York. Quickly they built a loyal following of devoted fans, and caught the ears and eyes of legendary music men and women. Check it out!!

FREE SONG: 'Tambor'

Get more music from Radio Mundial here!!

 

Puerto Rico, Peru, Latin Alternative,

Hugo Diaz - FREE Song: 'Volver'!!

Today's FREE Song is by Hugo Diaz:

FREE SONG:'Volver'

Here is some remarkable mouth harp music from one of the greatest Argentinian players of all time. Hugo Diaz was born on August 10th 1927 in Santiago de Estero. At the age of five he began to play the harmonica,  and less than two years was already performing regulary for a local radio.

On this track you will hear the grunts, like a wild animal’s, and the unique way he has of drawing out a very high pitched note or of rounding off a sequence with a low note, like a bullfighter delivering the death-blow. There is some styling guitar solos going on here as well. Enjoy this hidden gem!!

FREE SONG:'Volver'

Get more music from Hugo Diaz here!!

Kafala Brothers - FREE Song: 'Salipo'!!

Today's FREE Song is from Angola!

FREE SONG:'Salipo'

Born in the village of Mazoso, in the province of Benguela, Angola, Moises and Jose Kafala both rose to national fame individually before their debut performance together in Luanda.

The Kafala Brothers' music is best described as Angolan folk music. Their songs are revolutionary in nature and reflect real life experiences, while painting poetic portraits of Angola's 30 year long war and continued struggle for national reconciliation. Using a single guitar and a flute, the Kafalas are able to tell stories of war, sadness, love and joy with conviction and heartbreaking vocal harmonies which have been known to provoke uncontrolled tears to well up in the eyes of those listening.

FREE SONG:'Salipo'

Get more music from Kafala Brothers here!!

Coco Mbassi - FREE Song: 'Na Menguele'!!

Today's FREE Song is by Coco Mbassi, She is Cameroonian, but she is principally based in Paris. Winner of the 1996 Radio France Internationale Decouvertes 'prize in the African music category, she is both an author and a composer.

FREE SONG:'Na Menguele'

Coco's songs tell stories often based on personal life experiences that she recalls. It's these stories and feelings that make her songs what they are today, and a great deal of these memories are made up of those old sepia-colored (black and white) photographs from home.

With a postgraduate degree in translation she began singing lead and chorus in the African gospel choir "Les Cherubins" and as a backing vocalist, she collaborated with various artists like Salif Keita, Oumou Sangare, Manu Dibango and Ray Lema.

The words to the songs of her mother tongue, Duala, are often found combined with jazzy, minimalist and classical arrangements, where vocal polyphony and African rhythm continue to play an important role. Coco Mbassi composes her own pieces and writes the words. Although her husband - who teaches as classical double-bassist - exercises a strong influence on her music writing, in her childhood she was permanently exposed at home to a wide variety of Händel, Makossa and jazz bigbands.

FREE SONG:'Na Menguele'

Get more music from Coco Mbassi here!!

Frédéric Galliano - FREE Song: 'Isto é kuduro w/Zoca Zoca'!!

Today's FREE Song is by Frederic Galliano and the Kuduro Sound System!

FREE SONG:'Isto é kuduro w/Zoca Zoca'

French DJ, Frederic Galliano,  has been working the French groove scene since 1994. He put together his own label, Frikyiwa, with artists and bands such as Hadja Kouyaté, Baye Coly, Néba Solo, Ali Boulo Santo, and others. His latest project, 'Kuduro Sound System', is all about dance and takes us across the continent of Africa to Angola.

The Kuduro was born in 1996 in Angola. Created by Tony Amado, the Angolan's Grandmaster Flash. Kuduro is an African electronic production, and Galliano's beats are a savant mix of programming inspired by Angola's carnival. Just check out the moves on the Kuduro Sound System's live video and you'll be a believer!!

FREE SONG:'Isto é kuduro w/Zoca Zoca'

Watch Kuduro Sound System's Live Video

Get more music from Frederic Galliano here!!

Kuduro, Frederic Galliano, Frikyiwa, Angola,

Pêcheurs de perles - FREE Song: 'Yassou '!!

Today's FREE Song is by Pêcheurs de perles!

FREE SONG:'Yassou'

Concert musicians Pêcheurs de Perles (Pearl divers) is based in the south of France. They are composed of an Iraqi singer and four European musicians.
The band's origins come from a very rich musical tradition (Persian Gulf Pearl-divers) and allow both Eastern and Western countries to meet and come together. This combination has given a style of music which is sensitive, impassionate, flamboyant and nostalgic and has been inspired by the sight of the universe.

That name, as a symbol, reminds an ancient time when the Persian Gulf was the best place for pearl diving and was practised in the Isle of Barhein, Iran, South of Iraq, Kuwait and up to Yemen.
On boats, musicians were bound to help pearl divers in giving a rythm to their job.
Pearl diving has stopped, music has survived.

FREE SONG:'Yassou'

Get more music from Pêcheurs de perles here!!

K'naan - FREE Song: 'Strugglin' (Live)'!!

Today's FREE Song is by K'naan, the new Somalian Icon on the international scene:

FREE SONG:'Strugglin (Live)'

K'naan, “the traveler”, fled war-torn Somalia at the age of thirteen on what turned out to be the very last commercial flight to ever do so, amidst a crumbling society and the end of any form of centralized government. He arrived in Toronto with a very strong sense of purpose, and it is this sense of purpose as well as his amazing lyrical gift, which has made him a beacon for other artists as well as those dedicated to global change.

An elegant ambassador of peace, K'naan rhymes against violence because he never forgot the chance he had to escape death. In 2001, after gaining notoriety as a skilled mc and spoken word poet, K'naan was invited to Geneva to perform a spoken word piece at the 50th anniversary of the UN Commission for Refugees. In front of some of the biggest suits in the world, K'naan brought the house down with his politically charged poem. The audience was so moved by the piece that they gave K'naan a standing ovation. K'naanexplains, "I basically called out the UN for its failed relief mission in Somalia. When my brother heard the song he said that it’s the first song he’d heard of mine that could get me killed.”

K’naan emerged on the International scene with his debut album “The Dusty Foot Philosopher” in 2005. He took home the 2006 Juno Award (Canada’s Grammy)  for Best Rap Recording and received newcomer of the year at BBC’s World Music Awards. In the last 2 years he has played over 350 shows touring 5 continents recorded and sharing the stage with Damian Marley, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, M1, Youssou N’Dour, Amadou and Miriam and many more.  These artists celebrate the relevance of his political poetry, live performance and purpose-driven mission.

K'naan’s music is truly a vehicle to raise awareness. He is an artist with a message; as such, his music and his actions have placed him in a position to speak out for the voiceless while informing, empowering and inspire the masses.

FREE SONG:'Strugglin (Live)'

Get more music from K'naan here!!

RV Babe - FREE Song: 'African Boy (African Tribal Mixx)'!!

RV Babé is a result of 5 years of adventurous, experimental studio hours and brain-storm sessions. Not to overreach, but this may be both The Rebirth of Nubian Music and of World Music. check out today's FREE Song:

FREE SONG:'African Boy (African Tribal Mixx)'

In 2000 Luis Maruwasa started one of Namibia’s major hip-hop establishments, Tha Syndicate. The fundamental ideology that brought Tha Syndicate into being was that Tha Syndicate was principally to be a custodian of a near helpless juvenile Hip-Hop culture amidst a prejudice and unwelcoming nation which could not allow it to flourish like other kinds of “Acceptable” music styles.

Hence Tha Syndicate’s only aim was to nurture and nourish such a “being”. The World over, Hip-Hop has not seen a revolution since 93 or so, but Namibian Hip-Hop has possibly experienced many revolutions in itself. Aided by only an arsenal of skilled MCs, Luis managed to set Tha Syndicate to sail into a horizon of what seemed to be the future of Hip-Hop in Namibia.

RV Babé Vol.1 reaches in even further than might have been expected or anticipated by music fanatics and critics alike. RV Babé Vol.1 may not in itself be revolutionary but rather a renewal of music, a new beginning.

FREE SONG:'African Boy (African Tribal Mixx)'

Get more music from RV Babe here!!