It’s been a long time since the last Pine Tree Republic post – over eight months, to be exact! I’ve experienced lots of exciting changes over that time, including travelling to China in the spring, and starting on my PhD this fall. Admittedly, I’ve let those changes knock me off course in terms of keeping a regular…
Sixteen years ago, a group called Tinariwen (the word for “deserts” in the Tamashek language) burst onto the world music scene with a performance at Mali’s Festival au Désert and subsequent performances in Europe. Since that time, the group has served as the unofficial musical ambassadors of the nomadic Touareg people and the “desert blues”, or assouf, music of the…
Following up on our top news articles of 2016, another annual Pine Tree Republic tradition is to review the past year in world music. With digital music services making ever more music available from around the world, it can be difficult to distinguish what makes “world music” distinct from any other kind of music we might hear these…
It’s hard to believe we’re already past the halfway point of 2016. As usual, this year has already brought a bounty of must-hear music from all corners of the world. New albums have trickled in from established artists on the world music circuit (such as Fanfare Cicorlia), while new artists are being discovered from countries…
Immigration has clearly catapulted its way to the top of the political discourse in North America and Europe in recent months. From debates over refugee policy in Canada and Europe, to the persistence of Donald Trump’s campaign and anti-immigrant soundbites in the United States, it seems that all political actors have an opinion on what to…
In the West Africa of the 13th and 14th centuries, the reigning Malinke Empire gave rise to a unique societal group called griots. Originating from a handful of families, griots served as storytellers, musicians, and poets to the courts. Essentially, griots acted as troubadours for their societies, passing down collective history, memory, and values to their societies long before the…
2015 has been a great year for world music so far. African bands in particular have had a banner year, with groups from Mali, Niger, and the Congo issuing original music that transcends boundaries. In other parts of the world, collaboration between different traditions has also led to exciting musical discoveries. If you’re looking to…
For many people, the Arctic Circle represents one of this planet’s last frontiers. A land covered by snow and ice most of the year, where the sun doesn’t set in the peak of summer and doesn’t rise in the depths of winter, it is a harsh environment that few of us will ever experience first hand.…
Good morning, PineTreeRepublic citizens! This month’s WorldBeat post features an album that oozes with the rich traditions of America’s pre-eminent musical city, New Orleans. As it takes us on a journey of soothing bluegrass, folk, blues, and rhythm & blues tunes, this album packs enough lyrical bite to make us contemplate the social ills plaguing a city that, perhaps in some…
Good morning, Pine Tree Republic citizens! Today we debut a new feature on this blog called Worldbeat. I’m a big fan of world music, and am excited to share some of the latest albums from around the world with all of you. The Worldbeat series will be a monthly feature on one particular world music album of…
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