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
Justin Adams Guitarist for Juju and Founder of Mali’s Festival in the Desert
British guitarist Justin Adam and Gambian musician Juldeh Camara make up the Afro-beat duo Juju.
The World’s DJ Picks: Favorite Recordings of 2012 Part II
We offer two more musical favorites from our DJs around the globe. We hear music from a trio in Norway and a singer from Mexico.
Bachata: Two Generations Carry on Playing Music from Dominican Republic
Two generations of bachata musicians gathered to pay homage to the classic style of music from the Dominican Republic’s rural north. Bruce Wallace went to a performance in New York City.
Remembering Ravi Shankar, the ‘Godfather of World Music’
George Harrison famously called Ravi Shankar the “Godfather of World Music.” For children of the multicultural age, the late Shankar was something of a father figure.
The World’s DJ Picks: Favorite Recordings of 2012 Part I
Three of our DJ’s around the globe offer their favorite recordings from 2012. Monday’s list includes a Syrian-American hip hop artist and a mirba player from Zimbabwe.
Latvian Mezzo Soprano Elīna Garanča Returns to Met in ‘La Clemenza di Tito’
Monday’s Geo Quiz/Global Hit features mezzo soprano Elīna Garanča who’s appearing on stage at the New York Metropolitan Opera in the role of Sesto in Mozart’s The Clemency of Titus. Later this month Garanča returns to her hometown Riga to sing with the Latvian National Opera.
South Korea’s K-Pop Beyond Gangnam Style
The “Gangnam Style” music video by South Korean musician PSY is now the most watched online video ever. But what most viewers don’t know is that “Gangnam Style” is just the tip of the iceberg in a massive government-backed effort to export Korean pop music, or K-pop, all over the globe.
Iranian Musician Comes Out of Hiding for US, Canada Tour
Iranian musician Shahin Najafi has a price on his head. Iranian clerics also have a fatwa out on him. But none of this is stopping him from touring North America.
Veracruz, Mexico Celebrates the 100th Birthday of Singer Toña La Negra
Mexico is remembering one of its most celebrated singers, Toña La Negra, who was born 100 years ago this month.
The Bee Gees get a Brazilian Makeover from Singer Ana Gazzola
Brazilian singer Ana Gazzola interprets the songs made famous by the Bee Gees on her latest album ‘Musicas e Palavras dos Bee Gees.’
Japanese Composer Asuka Kakitani Committed to Jazz Orchestras
Jazz orchestras are rare creatures nowadays: it’s hard to find the money or the venues to support them. But new jazz artists, such as Japanese composer Asuka Kakitani, are committed to the format, arguing that it offers a palette of sounds like no other.
Pacifika’s Silvana Kane: Songs of South America
Silvana Kane goes solo on her new album ‘La Jardinera.’ The Peruvian-born lead singer of the the band Pacifika reinterprets the songs from her youth.
Dance Floor Politics in Tijuana with the Band Los Macuanos
Musicians in Tijuana are speaking out about violence, corruption and Mexico’s incoming president. Valerie Hamilton talked to Tijuana’s Los Macuanos about the political party on the dance floor.
DJ Tom Schnabel Pays Tribute to Two Late African Artists
Tom Schnabel, from KCRW in Santa Monica, California, is our guest DJ today. He plays tracks from two African artists who died too soon. They are Zani Diabaté and Sory Kandia Kouyaté.
Neba Solo: Mali’s Balafon Master
The World’s Marco Werman catches up with Mali’s Neba Solo, a master of a kind of wooden marimba called the balafon.
Additional funding for PRI's The World is provided by:
