. Here are the acts that I cannot stop spinning.
M.A.K.U Sound System
A colorful and kenetic band based out of Queens, New York with Colombian roots, this group blends American punk and hip hop with Afro-Columbian music: cumbia, champeta and funk. This fusion of cultures tells a brilliant story of the underground music of urban immigrant communities. Check out this psychedelic cut, Pow!, and grab more here.
Yemen Blues
Fronted by a Yemeni Jewish singer, the eleven piece based out of Israel is truly headline material. Their catalog is as eclectic as globalFEST itself, with songs in multiple languages covering genres from across the Middle East to the Americas. “What we say we are, or are pretending to be, is just a small part of our everyday actions,” is sung in French Creole during Trape La Verite. In their bright conclusion, Ravid Kalahani told us to “Keep dancing, keep reminding yourself that there are good things happening in the world every day!”
Mayra Andrade
Fans of Cesaria Evora and Vanessa da Mata must check out Ms. Andrade, whose beauty is only overshadowed by her musical qualities. Backed by a trio of indelibly talented musicans, Mayra capitvated the Marlin Room towards the end of the night. Representing Cape Verde, Cuba and France, fans definitely got to hear a beautiful live mix. Take a listen to Tchapu na bandera.
BélO
Representing the devastated island of Haiti, BélO weaves Afro-Carribbean folk with reggae that at times becomes so soulful it’s almost painful. Lyrics are sung in French and Haitian Creole, and his presence conveys the power of social protest while remaining uplifting. Before one sonic tale, he explained in English, “This is a story about someone giving a boy a gun to put food on his table.” BélO is the perfect example of the power of world music to engender empathy in audiences, breaking down traditional cultural lines. Check out Lakou trankil.
SMOD
Like BélO, SMOD allows foreign listeners to take a sonic journey to examine the daily struggles of a people on the other side of the globe. “The people of Africa are starving!” they cry. You can feel their spirit in Les Dirigeants Africains. Making their US debut, the project comes from Mali and has close ties to the world renowned music innovator, Manu Chao. Despite their heavy humanitarian themes, the fusion of Afrobeat and hip hop makes for an irresistible dance party.
Wang Li
Wang Li was my takeaway artist of the night, whose mesmerizing howls continue to haunt me. Wang plays the Jew’s Harp and the Sheng, while using circular breathing and throat singing techniques. The result is a dark and dreamy almost acoustic dubstep sound. Wang Li expresses the sounds of an existential lonely wanderer, “Sometimes I ask myself who I am, and what I’m doing here? So, I play,” he explained in broken English. Wang Li is such a virtuoso, a sort-of human Moog synthesizer, that he intentionally incorporates the buzz from the microphone feedback into his pieces. Although there is nothing like witnessing the magic in person, check out this performance.
01/16/12 >> 
