[trim length=”450″] Maciré Sylla was born and lives in the Guinea capital of Conakry, but spent most of her childhood in the countryside. Staying with her grandparents there, she learnt traditional songs from her grandmother, who also taught her about her heritage and Guinea’s traditional culture. Maciré Sylla sings mainly in the Soussou language, while the majority of singers from griot class (a West African poet, praise singer, and wandering musician) sing in the Malenke language. By giving a modern treatment to music and lyrics of Soussou origin, this “non-griots” of Basse-Côte enjoys an astonishing success in her country. Being herself from both side of the social spectrum, the city and the countryside, her aim is to make a fusion of those worlds. Her sound is eclectic, and brings in influences from reggae to electric pop music. Traditional instruments such as the Fulani flute and Mande guitar, combine with Macire’s soulful voice and mix beautifully. [/trim] |
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[trim length=”450″] Having started off as a drummer in a 1960’s PopRock Coverband, passing through the eXPerimental & psychedelic stages of music of the 1970s, arrived in the New Millennium as a percussionist in the Berlin Band “Los Multikultis”, I now mainly produce WorldFusion music in my home studio in Berlin, currently collaborating with Msafiri Zawose from Tanzania [/trim] |
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[trim length=”450″] Alex Boyé who’s mesmerizing presence and Epic voice helped propel “Peponi”, the piano guys Coldplay cover to the stratosphere with over 15 million views on YouTube, is a formidable solo artist. Alex was also featured vocalist on the viral music video of violin sensation Lindsey Sterling, on the captivating “Afro-classical version of Bruno Mars’s “Grenade”. Award winning singer and songwriter is best known for his African twist on American pop and Riding on a fresh new musical wave of ethnic sound mixed with the hottest hits of today, Alex’s music is being discovered by thousands of new listeners daily, and is on the verge of making serious milestones in the industry. [/trim] |
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[trim length=”450″] Amadou Diagne is a musician who has the traditions of West Africa at his fingertips. Amadou comes from a Griot family line of percussionists and praise singers from the area around Dakar in Senegal. His talent as a percussionist led to him becoming for many years a professional full time member of l’Orchestre National du Senegal. He performed regularly with some of the top west African stars for concerts and television and was a busy session musician on the Dakar music scene. Though Amadou Diagne draws heavily on the traditional music and rhythms of West Africa, since moving to England he has been busy forging his own musical identity as a singer, songwriter, and multi instrumentalist. Amadou writes and performs most of his songs in Wolof the most widely spoken language in Senegal, with some French and English in the mix. As a guitarist he has developed a unique and intricate guitar style to accompany himself which draws on his skills as a percussionist. Amadou has a love of improvisation and an eclectic musical inspiration when playing, exploring the instrument delighting in the rhythmic possibilities within the melodies he composes. Amadou’s music has attracted global airplay on radio stations from Australia to Israel, Denmark and the USA as well as on BBC Radio 3 Late Junction, BBC Focus on Africa TV/Radio and BBC World Service Radio. “Honey-smoked vocals …Plaintive, acoustic and brimming with an unhurried assurance.” Jamie Renton, fROOTS Magazine no.361, July 2013 www.amadoudiagne.com In 2015 Amadou released his third album Ligéey on the Long Tale Recordings label. Ligéey is produced by Mark Smulian who also plays bass and oud. With Group Yakar, they are playing gigs around the UK in 2016. [/trim] |
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[trim length=”450″] Niasony came from Congo to Germany at the age of 13. Like many of her compatriots she is torn between a “functioning“ Europe and a homeland which is affected by poverty and violence – especially against females. Niasony entrances her audience with an under the skin getting velvet voice and an unique balancing act of dance music and melancholy. Her live show is authentic, pulsating, provoking and hypnotic. So serious her issues (and her glance) are – her message is positive as her music: “Dancing in the rain is better than waiting for the sun! [/trim] |
