cafebabel.com

Andrew Bird: 'even hip-hop is folk music'

('Helen Swain',) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:41 -0000

From his Chicago-based home - a farm in Illinois - the 36-year-old thinks up the songs featuring violins, guitars, voices and whistling, which have made him one of the best exponents of the folk renaissance. His latest album Noble Beast was a US hit and has been garnering praise in Europe, where he is touring until 24 November

Zanko: the 'White Arab' Italian rapper who would perform for the Lega Nord

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:30:38 -0000

In English slang, the word 'Zanko' is someone who is a social and cultural pioneer. Like this 28-year-old Syrian Italian, who gigs in unique political hotspots such as Zingonia and Lampedusa, has 'fought' for hip hop and would happily show the far-right Italian party what he's made of

Shlomo: ‘I used to think beatboxing was a way of impressing people’

('Catherine Neilan',) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:45:00 -0000

Simon Shlomo Kahn, 25, preaches his vocal talents to the mainstream and children. The British human beatbox artist, who has Israeli, Iraqi and German origins, talks self-important VIPs, the death of record companies and working with Bjork

The Russian music rundown

('Lydia Bigos',) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:43:37 -0000

As the Eurovision song contest 2009 final takes place in Russia on 16 May, we check out the pop, hip hop and even central Asian choirs marking its music scene today. Music videos