PRI’s The World presents the Global Hit, a daily spotlight on international musical artists or trends. Created by The World’s Marco Werman, the Global Hit features interviews with musicians, critics and deejays around the globe. He is also one of the curators of the South By Southwest Musical Festival (SXSW) – “All Music Is World Music.” Subscribe and follow:

Global Hit


Video: Nisvanis Rocks Capital of Mongolian Grunge

Mongol Grunge (Photo: Lauren Knapp)

For today’s combo Geo Quiz/Global Hit, we’re heading for the capital of Mongolia. It’s the home of Mongolia’s growing alternative music scene. Lauren Knapp profiles the grunge band that pioneered new music after the fall of communism: Nisvanis.

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Danish Hip Hop Queen Karen Mukupa

CD cover of Karen Mukupa's latest album "Human." (Photo: karenmukupa.com)

Karen Mukupa is a Danish-Zambian rapper from Copenhagen and she has been dubbed the Danish hip hop queen. In her new album Human, she raps about her mixed race.

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Japanese Rockers L’Arc~en~Ciel Pack Madison Square Garden

L'Arc~en~Ciel (Photo: L'Arc~en~Ciel/Facebook)

Alex Gallafent profiles the Japanese rock bank L’Arc~en~Ciel. The band performed Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.

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Marco Werman Speaks With Youssou N’Dour’s Father About The Senegal Election

Elimane N'dour is the father of singer Youssou N'dour (Photo: Marco Werman)

The World’s Marco Werman was in Senegal last month covering the country’s first round of elections. While there, he had the chance to speak to the father of Senegalese musician and one-time candidate Youssou N’dour.

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Russian Rock Band Mumiy Troll Recording Hollywood Album

Members of the Mumiy Troll band. (Photo: mumiytroll.com)

Mumiy Troll is one of the most successful rock bands in Russia today. The band is now recording its new album in Hollywood and releasing all the songs in English.

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Buranovo Grannies to Represent Russia in Eurovision 2012

Buranovskie Babyshki (the Buranovo Grannies). (Photo: Buranovskie Babushki/facebook)

A group of singing grandmas from a remote village are to represent Russia in the Eurovision contest. Jessica Golloher brings us the music of the Buranovo Grannies.

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Space Disco/Oslo Disco Movement’s Lindstrom Releases ‘Six Cups of Rebel’

Album cover of "Six Cups of Rebel."

Marius Asp, our Global Hit DJ based in Norway, tells us about electronica artist Lindstrom. Lindstrom is one of the central figures in the so-called “space disco/Oslo disco” movement.

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Jason Moon: A Veteran Who Found Solace in Music

Jason Moon (Photo: jasonmoon.org)

Jason Moon is an Iraq vet and folk singer. He recorded his album “Trying to Find My Way Home” as a way to understand his battle with PTSD.

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The Black Truth Rhythm Band’s ‘Ifetayo’

Album cover of "Ifetayo."

The Black Truth Rhythm Band recorded only one album “Ifetayo” in the short time it was together in Trinidad. Anchor Marco Werman tells us more about the band that helped create Caribbean funk.

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Janka Nabay: The Bubu King of Sierra Leone

Janka Nabay and the Bubu Gang. (Photo: Bubu Gang)

Janka Nabay is known in his native Sierra Leone as the Bubu King. Nabay fled the aftermath of Sierra Leone’s civil war and he is now in the US, with a new band, playing the music from home.

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Nettle’s ‘El Resplandor’ Inspired by Stephen King’s ‘The Shining’

Album cover of "El Resplandor: The Shining in Dubai." (Photo: Lamya Gargash)

El Resplandor is a fictional resort in Dubai, not unlike the hotel in the Stephen King thriller, “The Shining.” Band Nettle’s Jace Clayton dreamed up the music inspired by King’s creepy novel and the movie of the same name.

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Argentine Singer María Volonté on ‘The Blue Tango Tour’

María Volonté (Photo: mariavolonte.com)

Volonté fuses her love of tango with the blues on her new album and is in the midst of a world tour titled “The Blue Tango Tour.”

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Israeli Rockers Red Band More Than Raunchy Muppets

Red Band (Photo: Zak Rosen)

Red Band is the name of a very popular rock group in Israel that became famous thanks to its own TV show that features puppets.

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Teranga Beat Unearths Old Senegalese Vinyl Records

Idrissa Diop (Photo: terangabeat.com)

Terenga Beat is a new record label based in Dakar. Its founder is a Greek DJ who fell in love with Sengalese music years ago, especially its 1960s Afro-Cuban iterations.

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Video: The Peatbog Faeries’ ‘Dust’

The Peatbog Faeries performing at the annual Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo: Maria Bakkalapulo)

The band hails from the Scottish Isle of Skye and mixes traditional music with rock and African styles.

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