Recently, National Geographic World Music approached some of our favorite world music artists and asked if they had any new music or unheard remixes they wanted to share with our audience.
The response was overwhelming, and included contributions from some of the most cutting-edge artists working in world music today. From New York's Antibalas and Barcelona's Ojos de Brujo to Tijuana's Nortec Collective and London's Bombay Dub Orchestra, this project pulls together the most progressive and forward thinking artists of the new century.
The result was a baker's dozen of 13 exclusive new tracks from 12 amazing artists that just may change the way you think about world music.
Recently, NGWM approached some of our favorite world music artists and asked if they had any new music or unheard remixes they wanted to share with our audience.
The response was overwhelming, and included contributions from some of the most cutting-edge artists working in world music today. From New York's Antibalas and Barcelona's Ojos de Brujo to Tijuana's Nortec Collective and London's Bombay Dub Orchestra, this project pulls together the most progressive and forward thinking artists of the new century.
The result was a baker's dozen of 13 exclusive new tracks from 12 amazing artists that just may change the way you think about world music.
Ska Cubano: "No Me Desperes (The Sea Remix)"
Remixed by: The Sea The original Colombian cumbia bands went out of business because they had too many musicians and were hugely expensive. Anglo-Cuban outfit Ska Cubano (pictured) reimagines these big bands with a ska twist on the huge, melodramatic "No Me Desperes," where a massive rhythm section meets squawking, honking, screaming brass, and wild clarinets.
Antibalas: "Ja Joosh/ My Country" (AfroStreet Remix)
Remixed by: AfroStreet New York artists Antibalas and Rich Medina team up to create a cool but defiant commentary on the current political situation. This is a departure from classic Nigerian Afrobeat. Here Antibalas draws inspiration from the golden age of Ethiopian pop of the late '60s and early '70s popularized by musicians such as Mahmoud Ahmed, Mulatu Astatqe, Alemayehu Eshete, and others. The track revisits the times when socially conscious music was on the airwaves, stages and tongues of party people around the world.
Karsh Kale: "Manifest" (Kaushik Ambient Remix)
Remixed by: Kaushik On has latest album Broken English, London-born and New York-raised Karsh Kale balances his Indian heritage with rock 'n' roll, hip hop and atmospheric pop for his most diverse release to date. The original opening track on Broken English, "Manifest," immediately claims the album's musical territories, MC Napoleon raps while Vishal Vaid sings, and their bilingual interplay is echoed by the programmed sounds of Western drums and the dhol drum. Kaushik's Ambient remix echoes a more spaced out ethereal vibe, while maintaining all of the original sensibilities.
Nortec Collective: "Tengo La Voz" (Karsh Kale Remix)
Remixed by: Karsh Kale South Asian DJ Karsh Kale remixes Tijuana electronica leaders Nortec Collective on this unique interpretion of "Tengo La Voz" ("I Have the Voice"). Nortec made a splash in 2000 with a critically-acclaimed debut that turned traditional notions of Mexican music upside down.
Los Amigos Invisibles: "Yo No Se" (DJ Afro's Edit)
Remixed by: DJ Afro Originally a techno merengue by Diviana, "Yo No Se" has now been transformed into a super smooth house track with Los Amigos Invisibles and DJ Afro's remix. The album version of this song appears on Los Amigos Invisibles' latest album, SuperPop Venezuela, and is an homage to the Venezuelan artists and songs that have most influenced the double Latin Grammy nominees. Produced by famed DJ Dimitri From Paris, the fifth Los Amigos Invisibles album sees the band bring their distinctive sound to reverential and decidedly fun interpretations of Venezuelan songs that "provided the soundtrack to our adolescence and early adult life," explains guitarist José Luis Pardo.
Yerba Buena: "Fever" (Blaze Remix)
Remixed by: Blaze Helmed by producer/bandleader Andres Levin, Yerba Buena's Grammy-nominated debut album was widely hailed with both serious critical acclaim and breathless praise from the dance floor. Now, Levin and the members of the Yerba Buena caravan are set to delve even further into the evolving multicultural musical fusion of bilingual New York.
Ex-Centric Sound System: "Mara" (Remater 0.1)
Remixed by: Yossi Fine Living in Israel at the time, Yossi Fine's experimentation with dubbing Ethiopian music into a hip hop beat in the mid '90s made a big mark on his musical direction, but never made it out on a record. Until now. "Mara", which is a greeting chant similar to a village welcome, is combined with a masengo (one-stringed violin) solo in this hip new remix from Ex-Centric Sound System's founding member.
Bombay Dub Orchestra: "Compassion" (Earth Mix)
Remixed by: Adam Lamprell The Bombay Dub Orchestra is the brainchild of two English musicians, Andrew T. Mackay and Garry Hughes, who wanted to combine electronic sessions recorded in the UK with orchestral sessions recorded in Bombay India. On their self-titled debut, the duo recorded with the cream of Bombay's Indian classical music scene. Here, their lush brand of South Asian orchestral electronica gets the remix treatment from Adam Lamprell. Mid-tempo trip-hop propels a rich tapestry of orchestral strings in "Compassion," with occasional wisps of Indian and Western instruments and subtle hints of '60s cinema.
Charanga Cakewalk: "El Ballad de Jose Campos" (2 Vatos Remix)
Remixed by: Michael Ramos Recorded at The Cumbia Lounge in West Austin, this previously all-instrumental piece is a look back at a 1976 incident in Houston where a Mexican youth was picked up by the police, beaten, handcuffed, and thrown off of a bridge into a bayou, where he drowned. The officers were charged, fined one dollar and put on probation. This track is a reflection on what might have become of Jose Campos Torres had he not been killed so recklessly.
Smadj: "Rouge-Violet" (Smadj Remix)
Remixed live by: Smadj "Rouge-Violet" was a part of Smadj's third album, Take It and Drive. Performing with different teams of musicians including Laurent de Wilde, Cheick Tidjane Seck, Malik Mezzadri, Dierdre Dubois, Peirre Fruchard, Artkonik, Dom Farkas, and Rokia Traoré, Smadj would play the same repertoire but in a different way each time depending on the team he worked with. Improvisation with electronica was the goal of these meetings, playing the computer like an instrument, pushing them in one direction or another to create a new universe around them.
Eccodek: "Juju in This Dub"
Remixed by: Eccodeck "Juju in This Dub" features the vocals of Nigerian Bamidele Bajowa and the gorgeous kora playing of Malian griot Mansa Sissoko. The whole performance is sewn together by the multi-instrumentalist and producer Andrew McPherson. His textured keyboard parts and thick, reggae-influenced bass grooves set up a foundation on which both Mansa and Bamidele confidently work their magic. Together the three join hands to create a dub-inflected cross cultural postcard.
Nortec Collective: "Olvidela Compa"
Remixed by: Rosco The already chilled-out Nortec Collective track "Olvidela Compa" ("Forget About It, Brother") takes an even more laid-back turn on this bass-heavy remix by Mexico City electronic act Rosco.
Ojos de Brujo: "Feedback" (Nitin Sawhney Remix)
Remixed by: Nitin Sawhney Among the 14 tracks on Barcelona-based band Ojos de Brujo's latest release, Techarí, is "Feedback," a composition built around one of the most exciting rhythms particular to Flamenco music: the bulería. The remix track is a unique collaboration with the innovative London-based Asian artist Nitin Sawhney, and features various musical influences and instruments from India, the Middle East, and Spain. All are woven around Marina Abad's flamboyant style of flamenco singing.
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