Divanhana - A World in London

Selma Droce 

Divanhana

Selma Droce (vocals)
Larisa Droce (violin)
Irfan Tahirović (percussion)
Nedžad Mušović (accordion)
Neven Tunjić (keyboards)

23rd October 2024
A World in London
Resonance FM

Neven Tunjić

Live in the studio, a special sevdah session by Sarajevo superstars, Divanhana, before their Jazz Café concert on October 24th! 

Listen to the latest episodes of A World in London at www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/playlists/a-world-in-london/

Nedžad Mušović

Listen to this show again on Saturday 26th October at 3.30pm on Resonance 104.4fm or anytime worldwide at Mixcloud/DJ Ritu. 

More about Divanhana: This multi-award-winning band has been on the road since 2009, wowing audiences across the world with their original compositions and unique adaptations of traditional urban Sevdah music. In this AWIL live session, Divanhana’s skilled and fluid musicianship rocked the studio as they sailed through 4 of their tracks, including an exclusive preview of the yet-to-be-released ‘Rijekama’. 

Irfan Tahirović

Selma Droce (lead vox) and Neven Tunjić (piano/melodica) told us about the beautiful sights in Bosnia & Herzegovina and the diverse musical landscape. We were even treated to signed copies of their 6th and latest album, ‘Zavrzlama’! Only a section of the band played for us tonight… imagine what the full lineup sounds like! 

Find Divanhana on tour near you and go see them!
Oct 25th Midlands Arts Centre - MAC,
Oct 26th/27th Musicport Whitby! 

Larisa Droce

Dens and Denizens - Vinyl Joblottin' ep.24

Each week on Vinyl Joblottin’ we buy a bundle of vinyl at auction (or find one in a record shop, charity shop, car boot sale, etc). The records are a slice of a collection, giving us a glimpse into a collector’s past. Then we spin each joblot into a theme for you.

Welcome to Vinyl Joblottin'
Listen to episode 24 here - https://www.mixcloud.com/AlbanLow/dens-and-denizens-vinyl-joblottin-ep24/

Like many towns and cities across the UK, London’s bars and clubs were empty this New Year’s Eve. Recently, our pioneering founder and presenter of A World in London, DJ Ritu, met HRH Prince Charles & Camilla at the 100 Club, London. Alongside the Night Czar they were raising awareness of the plight of venues and musicians during the pandemic. So this week here’s a joblot of vinyl celebrating London’s vibrant scene and its musical personalities. 

Alban Low is your Joblotter. Part of the 'A World in London' radio series. This Joblot of 7 records cost £4.89.

Tracklist 

1. All The Things You Are - Dickie Valentine
2. Go. Go. Go. - Ken Mackintosh And His Orchestra
3. London Pride - Noël Coward
4. Want Me - Puma Blue
5. Mama Don't Allow - Les Hobeaux
6. Late At Night - Joy Room
7. Hernando's Hideaway - Edmundo Ros & His Orchestra

This radio programme is part of the A World In London Radio Series, more information at http://djritu.squarespace.com/

All Vinyl A to Z of Africa: Islands and autonomous cities (Ep.12)

Join me on a journey across Africa, from Algeria to Zimbabwe, one country, one record at a time.

Episode 12 is here for you to enjoy https://soasradio.org/music/episodes/ep-12-all-vinyl-a-to-z-of-africa-islands-and-autonomous-cities

Take a trip with me to Ceuta, Mayotte, Melilla, Saint Helena, São Tomé and Príncipe, and the Seychelles. This week we track down some of the hard to find vinyl from the smaller territories in Africa. We hear the flamenco influences from the two Spanish autonomous cities on the North Africa coast. Finally, we cast ourselves into the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Guinea, Indian Ocean and the Mozambique Channel to finish the A to Z of Africa series.

Tracklist
1 – Lole Y Manuel – Bulerias De La Luna (Movieplay)
2 – Les Rapaces – Journée Dans Mon Pays (Piros)
3 – Emilio el Moro – Yo Recorro En Bicicleta (Montilla)
4 – Peter Bellamy – St. Helena (Argo)
5 – Gilberto Gil Umbelina – Vôa, Papagaio, Vôa! (Self release)
6 – Despilly Williams – Cançon Déchiré (Decca)

This radio programme is part of the A World In London Radio Series, more information at http://djritu.squarespace.com/

Lockdown here in London has had its challenges and I've been blessed with a fairly carefree life. Although I have missed my nights sketching in the clubs and nightspots of the capital I've used my time to research my first ever radio programme. Every evening I'm been trying to track down vinyl, records and shellac from Africa, and nearly every day a new package is brought by the postman. I've now managed to find a record from each African country and brought these together in twelve 20 minute programmes on SOAS radio.

The Gambia to Kenya - All Vinyl A to Z of Africa

Join me on a journey across Africa, from Algeria to Zimbabwe, one country, one record at a time.

Episode 5 is here for you to enjoy https://soasradio.org/music/episodes/ep-5-the-gambia-to-kenya-all-vinyl-a-to-z-of-africa

Take a trip with me to The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Kenya. This week we hear from the Globetrotting Ghanaian musician who earned the title The Divine Drummer; the leader of a pioneering dance company who was imprisoned in a Guinean concentration camp; and the Kenyan musician who wrote and recorded one of the most popular songs in Africa.

1 – Konte Family – Masaane Siise (Virgin)
2 – Guy Warren – Waltzing Drums (RCA Victor)
3 – Des Ballets Africains De Keita Fodeba – Minko-Sodia (Vogue Productions)
4 – Ramiro Naka – Tchon Tchoma (Island Records)
5 – Fadhili William And The Black Shadows – Malaika (Equator International)

This radio programme is part of the A World In London Radio Series, more information at http://djritu.squarespace.com/

Lockdown here in London has had its challenges and I've been blessed with a fairly carefree life for the past month or so. Although I have missed my nights sketching in the clubs and nightspots of the capital I've used my time to research my first ever radio programme. Every evening I'm been trying to track down vinyl, records and shellac from Africa, and nearly every day a new package is brought by the postman. I've now managed to find a record from each African country and brought these together in eleven 20 minute programmes on SOAS radio.

Rapasa NyatraPasa Otieno - A World in London

Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno

Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno - vocals and nyatiti 

A World in London, Resonance FM, UK

4th March 2020

Listen to the full interview here on A World in London - https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-4th-march-2020/

Gifted Kenyan multi-instrumentalist & singer-songwriter, Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno, brought his raw, poetic, and passionate music talents to A World in London on Resonance 104.4fm ? He played live, exclusive extracts from his forthcoming debut album, Tipona, which is out on March 13th, and we learnt all about his main instrument, the nyatiti (eight-string lyre), for which he is a skilled ambassador. 

 Also on this AWIL, great global music by Grand Union Orchestra, Damir Imamovic, Matthieu Saglio [oficial], and Awale Jant Band.
Pics & production by Sophie Darling, Tanbir Johal, artist Alban Low, and Norman Druker, plus Bernard Bernard on sound!
#London #worldmusic #folkmusic #livemusic #music #radio #AWIL #RapasaNyatraopasaOtieno #Kenya #Africa #UK #singer #songwriter #composer #musician #educator #AfricanMusic #EastAfrica #nyatiti #Dhoulou #language

Lokkhi Terra - A World In London

Sohini Alam

Kishon Khan - piano
Sohini Alam - vocals
Javier Camilo - guitar / vocals

29th January 2020
A World in London, Resonance FM, UK

Kishon Khan

Quintessentially London - Lokkhi Terra on A World in London! Click: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-29th-january-2020/ 

We first interviewed Lokkhi Terra over a decade ago when AWIL was based at BBC London and the band was relatively new. Last year they supported the Bangladeshi Cricket Team during the ICC World Cup, performed at numerous festivals, and consolidated their long-time collaboration with Afrobeat don Dele Sosimi through the fantastic Cubafrobeat album. In this AWIL session, Lokkhi Terra were represented  by band-founder & keyboard wizard Kishon Khan, divine vocalist Sohini Alam (also of Khiyo and GRRRL fame), and Cuban guitar legend Javier Camilo. Together they delivered an exclusive & electrifying preview - steeped in virtuosity - of their forthcoming album, CuBangla. Lokkhi Terra’s influences reflect the unique diversity of our capital, combining jazz, reggae, Sufi music, Bangladeshi folk songs & lyrics, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and everything in between! ‘We play pure forms of music authentically’, explains Kishon. Born in Bangladesh, Kishon grew up in London before moving to Havana in the 90’s, seeking out the history, politics & innocence of Castro’s Cuba. Britishness and Asianness were already in Kishon’s musical DNA, and he gradually added the African/Spanish dimensions, absorbing each city he visited as his musical university. ‘Every city has its own musical identity and most musicians resonate with it.’ An outstanding pianist, Kishon was invited to perform at Cuba’s very first reggae festival in 1996, curated by Rita Marley. He was paid for gigs in bottles of rum and biscuits, before eventually returning to London which was revelling in the explosion of new musical trends like Drum n’Bass, Acid Jazz, and the Asian Underground scene.

Javier Camilo

Kishon set up Lokkhi Terra in 2006, building upon his global experiences and forging bonds with like-minded musicians based here. Acclaimed albums followed: Che Guava's Rickshaw Diaries and No Visa Required. The band boasts an international line up that includes trombone titan Justin Thurgur, Turkish percussionist Tansay Omar, and four Cuban members including Javier Camilo, who underlines the unlikely Cuba-Bangla link by saying 'Quien no tiene de Cuba tiene de Bangladesh!'

Lokkhi Terra’s modus operandi is sharing - music, cultures, food, and languages - and finding the sweet spots of harmony and dissonance between everything, but most of all this band’s heart beats in time with London. CuBangla is out on Funkiwala Records later this year but catch Lokkhi Terra in full 14-piece glory at The Jazz Café on March 2nd!

Tanbir Johal

Lokkhi Terra is a London-based world music collective. Their music combines Bangladeshi folk tunes with Afro-beat and Cuban rumba. Established by pianist Kishon Khan, the band played its first gig at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall in 2006. They have performed at numerous venues since then, including WOMAD, Ronnie Scott's, Barbican Centre and the opening ceremony of the South Asian Games. Lokkhi Terra have released two albums to date: No Visa Required and Che Guava's Rickshaw Diaries.

Nadine Benjamin & Nicole Panizza - Emergence

Nadine Benjamin

Nadine Benjamin

Nicole Panizza

Listen here  https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-30th-october-2019/

It was a privilege to welcome back super soprano Nadine Benjamin and her partner-in-rhyme, pianist Nicole Panizza! Together, the pair have crafted a new album illuminating the works of nineteenth century American poet Emily Dickinson and it's a beaut! 'Emergence' is a complex album in many ways. Firstly because of its central muse, Emily Dickinson, and her own multifaceted, connected yet disconnected story of empathy with nature and humanity, yet latter years spent in solitude. Nicole and Nadine identify with Emily on many levels and applaud her as ‘a voice for what it means to be human.’ They describe their own reclusive periods required to enable the creative process, counterpointed with performances in front of huge audiences. Secondly, Emergence features a surrounding cast of five composers plus our two intrepid interpreters - Nadine and Nicole, not to mention studio engineers and various technical bods. A lot goes on behind the scenes in the making of most music and some of that is explained in this interview. Nadine and Nicole shed light on their process of releasing Emergence - raising funds, engaging sponsors and supporters, steering the PR campaign, but finding freedom and liberating self-determination along the way. As Nicole says, ‘The power of creating your dream.’

Nicole Panizza

The synchronicity between Nicole and Nadine is apparent, and since they formed a partnership two years ago, it's blossomed into Emergence Music. Nicole has the piano, her classical music credentials, plus a scholarly lust for in-depth research into her subject matter. Nadine has that rare & incredible voice  plus unique charisma that can shift mountains and hearts. She has no classical music training yet has forged a path into the upper echelons of the opera world from her council estate background. Whilst we were both working in Greece in September, I saw Nadine move people to tears with her singing, and witnessed her powerful voice fill the sky in a large open-air theatre, unamplified by a microphone. People relate to Nadine because 'she's one of us', bringing ‘opera to the masses’, and she affirms this by describing herself as a people's person.

Emergence is out now on Stone Records and Nadine & Nicole will be launching it at a concert near you soon, but meanwhile catch them on Dec 1st at Blackheath Halls at what they refer to as 'just a performance'. It'll be way more than that, and well worth emerging for at 11am on a Sunday morning!

Also on this show, tracks by Brazilian choro masters Alvorada Music & young Hackney soul-jazz band Kiki and the Tiger. Production & pics by Norman Druker, artist Alban Low, Sophie Darling, and DJ Ritu. Sound by Patrick Bernard and Resonance 104.4fm.

#London #globalmusic #livemusic #music #radio #djritu #Emergence #NadineBenjamin #NicolePanizza #singer #soprano #vocalist #pianist #piano #ClassicalMusic #poetry #poems #coach #mentor Karen Pitchford Women in Music #WomenInMusic #EqualisingMusic

IyatraQuartet - Break The Dawn

Will Roberts

IyatraQuartet

Alice Barron

Will Roberts

Rich Phillips

George Sleightholme

Rich Phillips

Blown away by IyatraQuartet's orchestral vision for connecting the world! Hear an exclusive preview of their their forthcoming album, 'Break The Dawn', on this #AWorldInLondon. Band members Alice Barron, Will Roberts, Rich Phillips, and George Sleightholme have scored an absolute triumph!!?? Raags, Gregorian Chants, mantras, Cuban percussion, Syrian laments, and Classical music from east to west are all in their melting pot.

Listen to the full show here: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-16th-october-2019/

Alice Barron

See IyatraQuartet at Sofarsounds Hackney October 25th and launching their first single from the new album at Boulevard Soho November 3rd! Also on this #AWIL magical music by Seby Ntege & Band (see them at SOAS Concert Series Friday 18th October) and Reem Kelani (catch her on October 19th at Musicport Festival!
Production by Sophie Darling Norman Druker Alban Low #DJRitu & sound by Patrick Bernard & Sarah Nicol  #London #globalmusic #worldmusic #classicalmusic #livemusic #music #radio #IyatraQuartet Next week Brazilian choro masters Alvorada Music 6.30pm Resonance 104.4fm

George Sleightholme

Seby Ntege - Love, life, and loss

Lucas Keen

Seby Ntege

Diana Lwanga  

Ben Avison 

Lucas Keen

9th October 2019

Seby Ntege

Catch the full radio show here: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-9th-october-2019/

and tickets for the concert 

here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/soas-concert-series-seby-ntege-tickets-74738738579?fbclid=IwAR1pnpjITHbvS84uDCyizDKnU3HoQH3N8tdBGJAqlJy2nCm1zJp73Qz9kiY

The Soul of East Africa with Seby Ntege & Band on this A World in London! 

This Friday October 18th is the opening date for the new season of SOAS Concerts and Seby Ntege with his mighty multi-cult London band are ready to Rock The Campus! Seby’s superb debut album, Five Notes’, which came out last year, took the group on a star-studded journey as they toured from WOMAD to Seby’s hometown at the source of The Nile in Uganda. There’s a multitude of everything with Seby; his gifts and honesty as a songwriter, his prowess with six or more African folkloric instruments, and his dreamcoat palette of musical colours to paint from. This time round on AWIL, now that I was over the excitement  & rarity of even having a Ugandan artist in the studio, I was able to sit back and fully appreciate what a phenomenal and versatile vocalist he actually is. Ultra-skilled, soulful, and bearing the most delicious tones. When you marry up Seby’s vocals with Diana Lwanga’s gorgeous and gilted voice an awesome magic happens, enhanced by dexterous drummer Lucas Keen and Ben Avison on guitar, who do full justice to the multiplex of African rhythms and nuances. Together, Seby Ntege & band are an award-deserving team with a family vibe that gels them in harmony. The material they cover ranges from upbeat dance numbers like Maria Swahili to the poignant tribute song Memories, penned by Seby for his mother who sadly passed away three years ago in October. In this interview, Seby talks about writing from the heart and ‘speaking to everyone’. He does. A new album beckons but meanwhile see Seby Ntege & band in concert at Brunei Gallery SOAS London on Friday and prepare to be moved!! 

Diana Lwanga 

#AWIL 225 Production by Norman Druker Alban Low Sophie Darling & #DJRitu + Resonance 104.4fm & Patrick Bernard on sound. Songs by Seby Ntege & Band Reem Kelani The Scorpios
#London #globalmusic #worldmusic #livemusic #folkmusic #radio #SebyNtege #band #Uganda #Africa #UK #AfricanMusic #music #Luganda #Swahili #FiveNotes #musician #composer #singer #songwriter #BlackHistoryMonth Black History Month UK SOAS East Africa Society Pan African Music Calabash, The UK's African Music Guide Africa Centre Uganda Embassy(Uk) Bantu Club - A melhor balada do tatuapé

Ben Avison

The Scorpios - A World in London

Mimi Kobayashi

The Scorpios

Adam Bulweski

Mimi Kobayashi

Regia Ishag

Osman Babo

Ronnie Maxwell

Dawid Frydryk

Sue Lynch

Will Roberts

Osman Mohammed

2nd October 2019

Adam Bulweski

Listen to the The Scorpios on A World in London

No foot stayed still when The Scorpios played live on A World in London! Their infectious Sudanese grooves, funky b-lines & horn section, plus Arabic rhythms had us all bursting to dance, sway, and swing! Lead vocals by Regia Ishag and Osman Babo were mesmerising & spot on, singing mostly uplifting heritage songs from their roots in Sudan. They may have been forced to flee their homeland but in their quest to find safety and freedom they landed in London to colllect an equally talented & international team around them that includes Mimi Kobayashi from Japan on keys, Jamaican bass don Ronnie Maxwell, Polish trumpeter Dawid Frydryk, saxophone from improv pioneer Sue Lynch, Adam Bulewski on guitar, IyatraQuartet's Will Roberts on drums, and fellow Sudanese musician Osman Mohammed on darbuka!

Ronnie Maxwell

EVERYONE loves The Scorpios!!. A new album is scheduled for release in early 2020 and it’ll be debuted on AWIL. Meanwhile, catch them at The Post Bar in Seven Sisters, live on November 23rd alongside Stunflower, Slow Rebelling, and our very own Sophie Darling on the dex, for Same Waves Musicians Series!!

Will Roberts

#AWorldinLondon Resonance 104.4fm #London #globalmusic #worldmusic #livemusic #music #radio #TheScorpios #Sudan #Africa #UK #Japan #Poland #Jamaica #Funk #Soul #ArabicMusic #BlackHistoryMonth @Black History Month UK FOCUS Africa Focus Organization

Dawid Frydryk

Osman Babo

Regia Ishag

Sue Lynch