Around the World
12 December 2025
You can listen to Around the World on Mixcloud
The first hour - The second hour
There will be music from: Algeria, Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, France (Réunion), Guinea, Italy, Indonesia, Lithuania, Mali, Morocco, North Macedonia, Norway, Senegal, Spain, Sudan, United Kingdom, and the United States.
There will be music by: Amira Kheir, Antibalas, Divanhana, Dobrila&Dorian Duo, Elena Vasova, GANGAR & Synnøve Brøndbo Plassen, Guitari Baro, Hamouna Isewlan, Le Vent du Nord, Lina & Marco Mezquida, Lívia Mattos, Meklit, Melanie, Noura Mint Seymali, Pedro Makay, Radio Tarifa, Saha Gnawa, Saodaj’, Saso Popovski, Sutartronica, Syran Mbenza, Vs Tempet & Diger, and Yaraka.
This week’s featured album - Nusantara Beat by Nusantara Beat
Nusantara Beat - live at 3voor12 Radio
Amsterdam-based Nusantara Beat blends Indonesian tradition with psychedelic beats in debut album ‘Nusantara Beat’.
Emerging from the vibrant psych-funk scene of Amsterdam, Nusantara Beat is a multicultural ensemble whose members come from acclaimed acts such as EUT, Jungle by Night, and Altin Gün. Their self-titled debut album, Nusantara Beat, released via Glitterbeat Records on November 14, 2025, showcases a dynamic fusion of Indonesian musical heritage and retro-inspired global psychedelia.
The band’s name, “Nusantara,” refers to the Indonesian archipelago, a theme echoed in the album’s sonic palette. Across 11 tracks, the group pays homage to their traditions and the pelog gamelan scale, layering ancient tonalities beneath surf guitars, hypnotic percussion, and cinematic synths. Vocalist Megan de Klerk sings in Indonesian for the first time, adding emotional depth to tracks like “Tamat” and “Cinta Itu Menyakitkan” [conemagazine.com].
Before releasing original material, Nusantara Beat gained attention for reinterpreting Indonesian songs from the 1960s and 70s, particularly through singles on Bongo Joe Records. Their debut album expands this foundation, weaving together garage riffs, funk-soul, and spaced-out soundscapes into a cohesive narrative of cultural celebration and rhythmic unity.
Sources: conemagazine.com - rhythmpassport.com - Far Out Magazine
Elena Vasova - Ljubov
One of the most commanding performances I saw at PIN Music Conference at the end of November was by the young Elena Vasova. Her single Ljubov quickly became a landmark in Macedonian music.
Released on May 31, 2025 via DistroKid, Ljubov (meaning “Love”) is a deeply personal composition by the young singer-songwriter from North Macedonia. The track, produced in collaboration with Nenad Stefanovski (Kungfoolish), blends contemporary pop styles with poetic lyricism, reflecting Vasova’s personal storytelling style. In interviews, she described the song as her “most intimate confession, like opening a diary to everyone”. The single earned her the prestigious Milan Mladenović Award, a regional recognition previously awarded to Dina Jashari, further cementing her place among emerging Balkan artists. Ljubov has resonated widely, praised for its emotional honesty and its ability to connect personal experience with universal themes of love and vulnerability.
Sources: YouTube Spotify Слободен печат
LINA_ & Marco Mezquida - O Fado
Lina & Marco Mezquida’s album O Fado reimagines Portugal’s iconic genre through voice and piano.
Released on September 26, 2025 by Galileo Music, O Fado marks the duo’s first full-length collaboration following their earlier EP. Lina, a classically trained singer with roots in opera and fado houses, brings emotional depth to the project, while Menorca-born pianist Marco Mezquida contributes versatile arrangements that expand fado’s traditional boundaries. Recorded at Moraleda Studios in Barcelona, the album features 12 tracks blending originals, reinterpretations, and poetic texts, including lyrics by Florbela Espanca. Critics highlight its intimate dialogue between voice and piano, offering a fresh yet respectful take on fado’s heritage.
Sources: YouTube - galileomusic.de - ebbmusic.eu
Where and when to hear Around the World
Friday:
Akaroa World Radio 2:00 pm local New Zealand Time (3:00 am GMT 4:00 am CET)
NAR-GROUP Germany – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
Mosel Radio – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
NAR-Alf – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 CET)
Saturday:
Best City Radio (Belfast) 6:00 am
Power 101FM Malawi: 11:00 local time
Flirt FM (Galway’s Community of Interest & Student Station) 101.3 10:45 am - 12 45 pm
RCFM (Radio City FM) Duisburg, Germany 3:00 – 5:00 pm CET
U Radio - Sri Lanka 8:00pm - 10:00 pm local time
World FM 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
Essential Radio Midnight to 2:00 am GMT (1:00 am CET)
Sunday:
West Coast FM Namibia 10:00 pm to 12:00 noon Central Africa Time (2:00 to 4:00 GMT)
Power 101FM Malawi: 12:00 local time
NFRS Osaka Japan: 12:00 noon local time (3:00 am UK time 4:00 am CET)
973FM in Singapore and 11:00 pm local time (3:00 pm/15:00 hours UTC – Universal Time).
Circl8 Chester: 12:00 noon
Best City Radio (Belfast) 3:00 pm
The Illuminate Network 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Websound Radio (Larne) 8:00 pm
DCRFM (Dover Community Radio 7:00pm
Slice Audio 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Holywood Radio - Various times
Monday:
Armagh City Radio 00:00 pm local time (01:00 pm CET)
SparkFlame Radio: 00:00 am GMT (01:00 CET)
Circl8 Chester: 12:00 noon
Stirling Community Radio 8:00 pm GMT (9:00 pm CET)
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 CET)
BR2 Pure Gold Radio – Costa Blanca, Spain 10:00 pm local time (CET)
Akaroa World Radio 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
World FM 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
Tuesday:
Shire Extra: 8:00 pm GMT (21:00 CET)
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 CET)
Wednesday:
World FM 4:00 am local New Zealand Time (5:00 pm Tuesday GMT, 6:00 pm CET)
Slice Audio 4:00 am local time GMT (5:00 am CET)
Life Right Radio (London) 7:00 pm
Best City Radio (Belfast) 10:00 pm
Radio Skye (Radio Garden) 10:00 pm GMT (11:00 pm CET)
Thursday:
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 CET)