All posts by newsandnoise

“Artists are the best way to communicate” – an interview with Yvonne Kahan

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Yvonne Kahan from Norway is the manager of the international booking agency Olamalé. We spoke with her at Babel Med 2013 where one of her artists, the Alaev Family was having a showcase. It was one of the most cheerful and energetic groups at the festival. The 80-year-old master drummer Allo Alaev who has deep roots in the music of Tajikistan and the Jewish music of Buchara, emigrated with the entire family to Israel in 1991. Under enthusiastic supervision of Allo Alaev, the younger generation in the multi-talented band makes true cross over from the old to the new. Kahan reveals the difficulties she encounters working with Israeli artists in the international field.

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Singing is a way to resist – an interview with Rokia Traoré

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Even though there will be elections in Mali on 28 Juli, the situation remains insecure and dangerous. Lots of Malian musicians are touring around the world. Not only because they are very successful, but they also need to spread the message of solidarity and unity. One of those artists is Rokia Traoré. She was at the Babel Med 2013 to receive an award and to participate in a conference about Music in Resistance with Olev Reitov (Freemuse), Mariem Hassan, and Gennardo de Rosa (Musica Contre le Maffia). At one moment she was saying something about women in polygamous marriages who expresses themselves through singing. There wasn’t much time for her to elaborate on this subject, but afterwards she found a moment in her tight schedule to tell me more about it.

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The story of El Gusto – an interview with Safinez Bousbia

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It all started with a mirror… The reunion of the Algerian Jewish and Muslim musicians has been made possible by Safinez Bousbia, a woman who got interested in the stories of the musicians torn apart after the Algerian Revolution (1954 – 1962). Without any experience she made a beautiful documentary (2011) and these days the Orchestra El Gusto is touring successfully around the world. Unfortunately not with all the original musicians, some had to be replaced by younger musicians, but some of them appeared in the film. Music journalist Bas Springer interviewed Safinez Bousbia, and asked her how it all began, the difficulties she encountered, and the emotions they all felt.

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Improvisation in Pyongyang?

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Some years ago, by the end of 2010, Dutch Radio 6 – the national radio station for Jazz & Soul music – aired a program about an amazing visit three horn players and a journalist paid to North Korea, in the spring of 2009.
They went there to partake in the 26th April Spring Arts Friendship Festival in Pyongyang, which was – this year it is off schedule because of the country’s war rhetoric –  annually organized in honor of the late Kim Il Sung, the Great Leader of North Korea.

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Cuba trip has become a trending topic

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The trip of Jay-Z and Beyoncé has been a trending topic this week. To celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary, they decided to go to Havana to have a meal at La Guarida, where lots of celebrities have been. The Cubans were thrilled to get a closer look at these world-famous artists. In a 21 minute lasting home video you can see an enthusiastic mob screaming and following the two pop stars. For the Mexican TV, this visit has caused a revolution in Cuba. But in the USA the trip seems to be provocative for various reasons.

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