Around the World - Show Notes
24 April 2026
What’s on this week
LISTEN TO AROUND THE WORLD ON MIXCLOUD
Music by: Amsterdam Klezmer Band, Beatrice Deer, Berima Amo, Bjonko, Cheikh Ibra Fam, Crossing (Diabaté/Martella/Schiavone), Dani Larkin, Dub Colossus, Fenya Rai, Grupo Compay Segundo, Hersi Matmuja & Jacopo Conoci, Imarhan, Inude & Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, Kasbah Rockers & Argan, Lëk Sèn, Lucas Santtana, Macho Beta Orquestra, Maringotka, MJ Pérez, Nuevos Rios, Okra Playground, Orchestra Popolare di Via Leuca, Saso Popovski, Souad Massi, and ViGaD.
This week’s Featured Album: MAL by Aysay
AySay - Ez Kevokim (Live at VEGA 2026)
AySay’s MAL is a striking cross‑cultural, multilingual release, issued in March 2026. Blending Anatolian folk, Kurdish musical heritage, and Nordic alternative pop, it stands out as one of the year’s most distinctive world‑music albums.
Based in Copenhagen, the trio is led by vocalist and composer Luna Ersahin, whose Danish–Kurdish background shapes the band’s musical and lyrical identity. The record moves fluidly between Kurdish, Turkish, and Danish, creating a sound that is both rooted and exploratory.
According to the official release notes, MAL arrived on 27 March 2026 with 12 tracks, including “Yârimisin,” “Hannover,” “Den om en mand (Haline Bak),” and “Malala.” It sits comfortably across genres such as world, alternative pop, and Anatolian rock, reflecting its hybrid character.
Musically, the album balances Aske Døssing Bendixen’s percussion, Carl West Hosbond’s guitar work, the saz (a long‑necked fretted lute central to Turkish and regional Middle Eastern traditions), and Ersahin’s unmistakable vocal tone. Thematically, it draws on stories of courage and cultural struggle, including a direct nod to Malala Yousafzai in one of its standout tracks.
The title MAL—meaning “home” in Kurdish—anchors the album’s emotional core. Ersahin describes the project as a “soft revolution,” exploring the space between hope and hopelessness while asserting the universal right to a home.
With previous Danish Music Awards for Su Akar and KÖY, AySay continue to bridge cultures through multilingual songwriting and a sound that feels both contemporary and timeless. Their work can be explored further via their official AySay Bandcamp or follow their latest updates via V2 Records.
AI researcher - Human editor
References:
Mal - Album by AySay | Spotify
ALBUM REVIEW: AYSAY – MAL - Joyzine
Aysay - Mal - Reviews - Album of The Year
Today, AySay release their third studio album ‘Mal’ via V2 records
AySay releases Mal | FrontView Magazine
Also on the show:
Macho Beta Orquestra — Sem Macho Alfa – Single
The project is led by Gionni Dall’Orto, a Florentine musician and former live bassist for Articolo 31 in the 1990s.
The track was co‑composed with Gil Badaró and DJ Farrapo with mastering by Giovanni Versari, a Grammy‑winning engineer known for work with Muse.
Souad Massi — Zagate
Zagate is Massi’s ninth album, released in 2026 on Backingtrack Production.
Guest artists include Gaël Faye, Youssoupha, and a band featuring musicians linked to Massive Attack and Robert Plant.
The title comes from the Algerian expression derived from French “ça se gâte” (“things are getting worse”), reflecting Massi’s dual Algerian–French heritage and the album’s themes of war, injustice, and resilience.
Lucas Santtana — Brasiliano
Brasiliano is Santtana’s tenth album, released on 6 March 2026, celebrating the vitality of Romance languages.
The record features an extensive list of collaborators, including Gilberto Gil, Oxmo Puccino, Piers Faccini, Chico César, and Os Paralamas do Sucesso.
The album treats language as a musical and political instrument, exploring themes of cultural heritage, identity, and colonial memory.
Kasbah Rockers & Argan — The Anouach Amdakel Tssilim Medley – EP
Released 6 March 2026, the EP revisits material from Argan’s 1996 debut Berberism, which reached the Top 10 of the WMCE charts. kasbahrockers.bandcamp.com
The project blends Tamazight Desert Blues, Moroccan Berber rhythms, and eclectic dance‑fusion elements, creating a darker, more contemporary reinterpretation of earlier material. kasbahrockers.bandcamp.com
Maringotka — Maringotka II
The band Maringotka formed in 2009 in Banská Bystrica, originally inspired by the 100th anniversary of Django Reinhardt, and began as a gypsy swing / jazz‑manouche ensemble. Donio
They won the Young Talent competition at the Bratislava Jazz Days in 2013, leading to an appearance on the festival’s main stage the following year. Donio
MJ Pérez — Je tiens bon
Je tiens bon is MJ Pérez’s fifth album, released in late February 2026, described by the artist as expressing “resistance, endurance and resilience from a place of peace.” diariodesantiago.es
Pérez is a Galician singer‑songwriter from Arzúa, active since 2014, with a background in audiovisual communication and a career that includes award‑winning videoclips and documentary collaborations. gl.wikipedia.org
ViGaD — Tri, i
ViGaD is a contemporary Hungarian band that specialises in South Slavic (Balkan) folk music. The group’s name is a mnemonic formed from the first letters of its three founding members’ first names: Vince, Gáspár, and Dániel.
The band is known for its energetic performances of virtuoso tambura music, a traditional string-instrument style popular in the South Slavic regions of Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, and Macedonia. They are considered a “third generation” ensemble following in the footsteps of legendary groups like Vujicsics and Söndörgő.
Amsterdam Klezmer Band — Diaspora
The album was recorded almost entirely in one take at Singelkerk, Amsterdam (26 November 2025), capturing a raw, live, acoustic sound with no overdubs or electronics
The record expands the group’s sonic palette with a newly prominent role for drummer Mischa Porte, blending Romanian and Turkish rhythms with traditional klezmer and original compositions. amsterdamklezmerband.bandcamp.com
Nuevos Ríos — Nuevos Ríos
Nuevos Ríos is a collaborative project uniting Colombia’s iconic Canalón de Timbiquí (led by Nidia Góngora) with the Toulouse‑based trio Reco Reco, blending Afro‑Colombian traditions with trance‑driven electronic textures. nuevosrios.bandcamp.com
The music is rooted in the Pacific coast of Colombia, drawing on marimba, call‑and‑response vocals, and river‑based cultural imagery, while integrating keyboards, guitar, and drums. nuevosrios.bandcamp.com
Inude & Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino — Malencunia (Single)
Malencunia was released on 27 March 2026 by Factory Flaws, serving as a preview of Inude’s forthcoming album. La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno
The collaboration merges Inude’s indie‑tronica / alt‑pop sound with the ancestral folk traditions of Salento, carried by the historic Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino. La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno
Grupo Compay Segundo — Vivelo
Vivelo is the group’s fourth album, released on 28 October 2022, marking a major return to traditional Cuban son. grupocompaysegundo.bandcamp.com
It is the first album in the group’s history to feature eight original co‑written tracks by Salvador Repilado (Compay’s son and musical director) and rising Cuban star Maikel Dinza. grupocompaysegundo.bandcamp.com
Saso Popovski — Awakening
Awakening was released on 12 August 2025 on the French label Art Melodies. ProStudioMasters
The quartet features Saso Popovski (guitar), Jaume Miquel (piano), Eric Kopetz (double bass), and Cote Calmet (drums/percussion), recorded at The Drum Hub Studio in Granada. sasopopovski.bandcamp.com
The track “Dear Ron” is a tribute to the late jazz trumpeter Ron Miles, honouring his lyrical sensitivity and influence on Popovski’s musical voice. sasopopovski.bandcamp.com
Beatrice Deer — Inuit Legend
Beatrice Deer is a Montreal‑based Inuk and Mohawk artist from Quaqtaq, Nunavik, known for developing “Inuindie” — a fusion of Inuit folk traditions, throat singing, and contemporary indie‑rock. Her work frequently addresses themes of survival, intergenerational trauma, and cultural resilience.
Inuit Legend album reimagines Inuit legends and true historical accounts, including stories of feminine power, transformation, and survival. Tracks such as “The Bear” recount real events, like an elderly woman killing a polar bear during a famine to save her family.
Lëk Sèn – “Natty Fly”
Lëk Sèn is recognised as one of the major voices in global reggae, world, and urban music, described by France Culture as “authentic, with the power and mystery of African desert blues.” [*]
Orchestra Popolare di Via Leuca – Camimamenti
This ensemble is dedicated to the traditional music of Salento (the “heel” of Italy’s boot). Their work often features the pizzica, a high-energy folk dance originally intended to “cure” the bite of a tarantula spider through frantic movement.
Berima Amo – “Ahuofe (Beautiful One)”
Rhythms Of Love (Scheduled release: 22 May 2026)
Berima Amo Ghanaian trumpeter and bandleader. He is a key figure in the “Highlife Restoration Project,” aiming to revive big-band Highlife music for younger generations.
Bjonko – “Merak”
Bjonko is a Copenhagen‑based saxophonist and producer of Macedonian heritage, recognised for bringing Balkan brass, Roma rhythms, and high‑energy dance arrangements into contemporary European club culture. His work often blends traditional scales with electronic production, making him a key figure in the Nordic–Balkan crossover scene.
The title refers to the Balkan cultural concept of merak — a deep, untranslatable sense of pleasure, warmth, and soulful enjoyment. In Macedonian and wider South‑Slavic cultures, merak is tied to music, gatherings, and emotional expression.
Fenya Rai – 10 anys de Fenya
Live Recorded Compilation: The album features 19 songs from their repertoire, which were revisited and recorded live during special concerts in 2025—specifically during the Festa Major de Sant Joan in Valls.
Expanded Musical Formation: To celebrate the decade, the band expanded their traditional sound (diatonic accordion, guitar, and bass) by adding drums, keyboards, saxophone, and trumpet, creating a more festive and powerful live sound for these recordings.
Hersi Matmuja & Jacopo Conoci - Lum
First album together, rooted in northern Albanian and Arbëreshë tradition Lum is the first collaborative album by Albanian singer Hersi Matmuja and Italian cellist Jacopo Conoci, built around reworked traditional songs from northern Albania and the Arbëreshë communities.
Includes material from Salento, reflecting Conoci’s regional heritage Alongside Albanian
repertoire, the album also features a traditional song from
Salento, the region where Conoci originates and developed his
musical training.
Okra Playground - Nordic Notes #200
Their track on the compilation is “Laula!”, a piece showcasing the band’s signature blend of Finnish folk and contemporary electro‑folk energy.
Nordic Notes #200 marks the label’s 20‑year anniversary, positioning Okra Playground among 21 artists selected to represent the most forward‑looking Nordic folk acts of the past two decades.
Cheikh Ibra Fam — Adouna
Cheikh Ibra Fam is a Senegalese multi-instrumentalist and singer, formerly a member of the legendary Orchestra Baobab. His international sophomore album, Adouna (meaning “Life” in Wolof), was released in April 2026 under the Cumbancha label.
The album is a “cohesive mosaic” recorded across Senegal, Reunion Island, France, and Canada. It blends traditional West African music (like mbalax and kora strings) with global influences such as Caribbean zouk, Angolan kizomba, and classic soul.
Crossing — The Path Before Us
The trio unites Petit Solo Diabaté (Burkina Faso, kora), Nino Martella (Italy, cello), and Marco Schiavone (Italy, percussion), blending West African traditions with European contemporary chamber music. The album emphasises open‑hearted musical dialogue and a balance between intensity and quiet, reflective passages. NewsBreak
Dani Larkin – Next of Kin
The album has been praised as a “transformational experience” by Mojo, and its release follows Larkin’s rise as one of Ireland’s most acclaimed contemporary folk voices, with international touring and major collaborations. danilarkin.com
Imarhan — Essam
Imarhan is a prominent Tuareg quintet from Tamanrasset, Algeria, that has significantly influenced the modern “desert blues” (assouf) scene. Their fourth studio album, Essam, was released on 16 January 2026 under the City Slang label.
Essam (meaning “lightning” in Tamasheq) marks a bold shift from the band’s traditional guitar-driven sound by incorporating modular synthesizers and electronic textures. (of the French duo UTO), who sampled live instruments and reprocessed them in real-time.
Dub Colossus — Dub Will Keep Us Together
It is the final Dub Colossus album to feature Nick Page (Count Dubulah), drawing on the last studio sessions he completed before his death in May 2021. World Music Central
The album blends Jamaican dub, Ethiopian traditional influences, Afrobeat, electronica, jazz, and multilingual vocals (English, Amharic, Spanish, French), continuing the project’s long‑standing world‑fusion aesthetic. It features original members such as Mimi Zenebe and collaborators from Transglobal Underground including Tim Whelan and Hamid Mantu. World Music Central
AI and human research - Human editor.
Where and when to hear Around the World
Friday:
Akaroa World Radio New Zealand - 2:00 pm local time
NAR-GROUP Germany – 2:00 pm local time
Mosel Radio Germany – 2:00 pm local time
NAR-Alf Germany – 2:00 pm local time
Waterwaves Radio England - 9:00 pm local time
Essential Radio Scotland - 10:00 midnight
Saturday:
Best City Radio (Belfast, Northern Ireland) - 6:00 am local time
Power 101FM Malawi - 11:00 local time
Flirt FM (Galway’s Community of Interest & Student Station) 101.3 - 10:45 am local time Ireland
Stirling Community Radio - 2:00 pm local time Scotland
RCFM (Radio City FM) Duisburg, Germany - 3:00 local time
World FM New Zealand - 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time
Sunday:
Power 101FM Malawi - 12:00 local time
NFRS Osaka Japan - 12:00 noon local time
973FM in Singapore - 11:00 pm local time
Circl8 Chester England - 12:00 noon local time
DCRFM (Dover Community Radio England - 7:00pm local time
Prodigal Sun Radio - 8:00 pm local time
Slice Audio Northern Ireland - 10:00 pm local time
Holywood Radio - Northern Ireland - Various times
Monday:
Armagh City Radio - 12:00 midnight local time (01:00 pm CET)
SparkFlame Radio - 00:00 am GMT (01:00 CET)
Circl8 Chester England - 12:00 noon local time
Stirling Community Radio Scotland - 10:00 pm local time
Waterwaves Radio England - 9:00 pm local time
BR2 Pure Gold Radio – Costa Blanca, Spain - 10:00 pm local time
World FM New Zealand - 10:00 am local time
Akaroa World Radio New Zealand - 10:00 pm local time
Tuesday:
Waterwaves Radio England - 9:00 pm local time
Wednesday:
World FM New Zealand - 4:00 am local time
Slice Audio Northern Ireland - 4:00 am local time
Best City Radio Northern Ireland - 10:00 pm local time
Radio Skye Scotland - 10:00 pm local time
Thursday:
Waterwaves Radio England - 9:00 pm local time