Around the World
6 June 2025
You can always listen to the most recent show on Mixcloud
This Week
Being the first newsletter of the month, towards the end of the page, you can see the World Music Chart Europe and Transglobal Music Chart. Also, you can see where and when you can hear Around the World.
Music From: Brazil, Canada, Corsica, Cuba, Ecuador, Finland, Ghana, Greece, India, Iran, Italy, Mali, Netherlands, Quebec, Senegal, South Africa, Sweden, and Tunisia
Music by: Ahmed Moneka, Amamere, Ammar 808, Barbora Xu, Bossa Nova Noites, Celia Cruz, Farnaz Ohadi, Gidiki, Grecia Albán, Grosse Isle, Maija Kauhanen & Johannes Geworkian Hellman, Päivi Hirvonen, Pédro Kouyaté, Qü (Sakumzi Qumana), Quartetto Areasud, Raquel Kurpershoek, Red Baraat, Salif Keïta, Songhoy Blues, Tempvs Fvgit, Voodoo Drummer Duo, Willos' & Massimo Giuntini, and Youssou N'Dour.
After last week’s party, the standout theme of this week is music from Greece. Untl recently, I had played very little music from Greece, even though I have been looking hard for music from the country and region. When suddenly ——
This week’s Featured Album: Nefeli Fasouli & Antonis Apergis - O Kipos
Antonis Apergis "Prosopo Diko mou"
Vocals: Nefeli Fasouli
Double bass: Giorgis Mouchtaris
Drums: Panagiotis Kostopoulos
Guitar: Antonis Apergis
Guitar: Giannis Poupoulis
Clarinet: Kostas Fortsas
The singer/songwriter/musician Nefeli Fasouli is from Athens, Greece. She is known for her work in jazz, folk, and Greek Éntekhno music (an orchestral music with elements from Greek folk rhythm and melody. Its lyrical themes are often based on the work of famous Greek poets).
She began her musical journey aged six, learning the violin at a conservatory in Pangrati in Athens. She expanded her skills, studying jazz singing, vocal improvisation, and music theory at the Athenaeum Conservatory between 2014 and 2016.
Fasouli has collaborated with other Greek musicians, including Foivos Delivorias and Panos Vlachos, which helped her gain recognition in the Greek music scene. Her debut solo album, O Kosmos Sou (Your World) was released in 2021. Since then, she has continued to evolve as an artist, releasing albums such as Phases (2023), O Kipos (2024), and Wyrd (2025).
Antonis Apergis is a Greek composer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Nikea, Piraeus . He is known for his work in Greek folk, jazz, and traditional music, playing instruments such as the guitar, oud, kanonaki, double bass, and ney.
He began playing the guitar before attending school and later studied classical guitar at the National Conservatory . Over the years, he expanded his musical expertise, incorporating pre-classical music, puppet theatre compositions, and big band arrangements into his work.
His discography includes albums such as Oud (1998) – A solo oud project, Ikaros (2005) – An orchestral work, Nychta me Asteria (2006) – Featuring collaborations with Lizeta Kalimeri and Kostas Pavlidis and O Kipos (2024) – this week’s featured album showcasing his evolving style.
Apergis has worked with Greek and international musicians , including Foivos Delivorias, Alkinoos Ioannidis, Domna Samiou, and on this album Nefeli Fasouli . He has also collaborated with Arab musicians, the Turkmen ensemble Ashkabad, and the salsa group Tierra Negra .
Beyond performing, he has taught electric guitar and Greek traditional music at institutions such as the University of Ioannina and the Pallini Music School . His work continues to shape contemporary Greek music, blending traditional and modern elements .
Sources include: el.wikipedia.org, www.mataroa.gr, www.domnasamiou.gr, www.discogs.com, and www.music-village.gr
The Afro-Dionysian VOODOO DRUMMER duo
“HELLaS SPELLS” is the debut album of the Voodoo Drummer Duo (Hellas, officially the Hellenic Republic, is the country known as Greece). Chris Koutsogiannis became the Voodoo Drummer after participating in a funeral in Benin, West Africa, and his appearances in New Orleans. He toured with the British cult trio The Tiger Lillies, before forming this strange but compelling act in Athens with Stavros Parginos.
“You can find more harmony in this Afro-Dionysian duo than in our world, even if it is just drums and cello.” Says Chris. As the drummer he employs what he calls the “Weirdofon,” a one octave - out of tune – metal Balafon similar to the African instrument , plus sounds, noises, chants, bells, as well as voice, saw, violin, and guitar.
Stavros Parginos is a professor of cello and chamber music at various conservatories in Athens. He has an extensive background in classical music and has collaborated with numerous ensembles and orchestras throughout his career. His contributions extend beyond live performances, as he has also been involved in film and music video productions, appearing in works such as Canto si tú cantas (2020) and Lavrentis Mahairitsas: Giatre mou (2020).
Γκιντίκι - Θοδώρα / Gidiki - Thodora
While I found the O Kipos album through the World Music Chart Europe, and The VooDoo Drummer Duo through Chris Koutsogiammis himself, Gidiki came through a YouTube suggestion.
Γκιντίκι (Gidiki) is a Greek band that blends traditional music with contemporary influences. Formed in 2015, the band initially performed in Thessaloniki before moving to Athens, where they solidified their musical identity. Their music is deeply rooted in Greek folk traditions, incorporating instruments like the lute, clarinet, Greek bagpipe, violin, and upright bass. A key aspect of their performances is improvisation, allowing them to experiment with traditional forms and rhythms while engaging dynamically with their audience.
Gidiki has released albums such as Ahoy in 2023) and Perasma last year.
1 THE DEVIL RIDES AGAIN prev month: 2
Adrian Raso & Fanfare Ciocarlia • Canada/Romania • Asphalt Tango Records
2 CLUB TOUNSI prev month: ---
Ammar 808 • Tunisia • Glitterbeat
3 AL ALBA prev month: 7
Matthieu Saglio & Camille Saglio • France • ACT
4 O RAPAZ DA MONTANHA prev month: ---
Rodrigo Leao • Portugal • Galileo
5 BAGOLA prev month: 1
Trio da Kali • Mali • One World Records
6 NIEPRAUDZIVAYA prev month: 3
Hajda Banda • Poland/Belarus • self released
7 THE GARDEN OF OTAVA prev month: 16
Barbora Xu • Czech Republic • Nordic Notes
8 ROOTS IN MOTION prev month: ---
Mehmet Polat Quartet • Turkey/The Netherlands • Aftab Records
9 KYLY prev month: 54
Värttinä • Finland • Rockadillo Records
10 LUNA, CERA E VINO prev month: ---
Brigan • Italy • Liburia Records
11 IVGU prev month: ---
Wimme + Rinne • Finland • Rockadillo Records
12 MODAS NOVAS E ALGUMAS VELHAS prev month: 5
Omiri • Portugal • Repasseado
13 LIVE! prev month: 4
Boubacar Traoré, Vincent Bucher & Jeremie Diarra • Mali/France • Büro Käser
14 ECLAIRER LE MONDE prev month: 54
Youssou N’Dour • Senegal • The Orchard
15 MAN SHALL BE FREE prev month: 127
Amamere • Ghana • Afro Urban Project
16 GHOYOUM prev month: 15
Kazdoura • Canada/Syria/Lebanon • August 4 Records
17 CANCIONERA prev month: ---
Natalia Lafourcade • Mexico • Sony
18 FROGGY’S DEMISE prev month: ---
Ezra • USA • Adhyaropa Records
19 AFRICAN WOMEN ARISE prev month: 50
Awa Khiwe • Zimbabwe • Outhere Records
20 CURIOSITY SESSION VOL. 1 – FLAMENCO IN MY HEART prev month: ---
various artists • Slovakia/Germany/Finland/Spain • Bebe Rebe
Compiled by Milan Tesař on behalf of the World Music Workshop of the European Broadcasting Union, based on playlists submitted by 44 radio producers from 25 European countries.
1. Adrian Raso & Fanfare Ciocărlia · The Devil Rides Again · Asphalt Tango [10]
2. Songhoy Blues · Héritage · Transgressive / Remote [1]
3. Savina Yannatou, Primavera en Salonico and Lamia Bedioui · Watersong · ECM [4]
4. Värttinä · Kyly · Rockadillo [-]
5. Nidia Góngora · Pacífico Maravilla · Positivo [6]
6. Ammar 808 · Club Tounsi · Glitterbeat [-]
7. Trio Da Kali · Bagola · One World [2]
8. Mara Aranda · Sefarad en el Corazón de Bulgaria · Mara Aranda [7]
9. Aïta Mon Amour · Abda · Shouka [5]
10. Kankou Kouyate · N’Darila · One World [3]
11. Madalitso Band · Ma Gitala · Bongo Joe [-]
12. Matthieu Saglio & Camille Saglio · Al Alba · ACT Music [29]
13. Anouar Brahem · After the Last Sky · ECM [32]
14. Park Jiha · All Living Things · Tak:til / Glitterbeat [8]
15. Votia · Vie Kaz · Ajabu! [-]
16. Mehmet Polat Quartet · Roots in Motion · AudioMaze [25]
17. Boubacar Traoré & Vincent Boucher & Jeremie Diarra · Live! · Boubacar Traoré [18]
18. Elana Sasson · In Between · PKMusik [-]
19. Thanos Stavridis & Drom · Fygame · Thanos Stavridis & Drom [12]
20. Famo Mountain · For Those Left Behind · Glitterbeat [-]
21. Charles Maimarosia · Hote’ Hote’ · Wantok Musik [33]
22. Kin’Gongolo Kiniata · Kiniata · Hélico [22]
23. Rizwan Muazzam Qawwali · At the Feet of the Beloved · Real World [11]
24. Los Pirañas · Una Oportunidad Más de Triunfar en la Vida · Glitterbeat [-]
25. Ensemble Chakâm · Les Vents Brûlants / The Blazing Winds · Ensemble Chakâm [9]
26. Awa Khiwe · African Women Arise · Outhere [35]
27. Red Baraat · Bhangra Rangeela · Sinj Records [-]
28. Ensemble Marani · Sharatin · Buda Musique [21]
29. Francis Bebey · Trésor Magnétique · Africa Seven [-]
30. Alune Wade · New African Orleans · Enja / Yellowbird [-]
31. Sami Galbi · Ylh Bye Bye · Bongo Joe [-]
32. Samba Touré · Baarakelaw · Glitterbeat [23]
33. Pacha Wakay Munan · El Tiempo Quiere Cantar · Buh [-]
34. Assafir · Traversées · Rakomelo [-]
35. Wimme + Rinne · Ivgu · Rockadillo [31]
36. Farnaz Ohadi · Breath / Aliento · Air Musi [38]
37. Piers Faccini & Ballaké Sissoko · Our Calling · Nø Førmat! [24]
38. Manika Kaur · Devocean · Six Degrees [-]
39. Tempvs Fvgit · Da Caminu · Tempvs Fvgit [-]
40. Ablaye Cissoko & Cyrille Brotto · Djiyo · Ma Case Prod [14]
The Transglobal World Music Chart (TWMC) is a ranking of world music albums, compiled by a panel of music critics and experts from around the globe.
If you like Around the World you light also like …
is a new section in the newsletter pointing you to other programmes by colleagues on the World Music Chart Europe.
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:
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
Websound Radio (Larne) 8:00 pm
Slice Audio 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
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:
LIVE DRN1 Perth Western Australia - 9:00 p.m. local time (2:00 pm CET)
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 CET)