Music - it really does make the world go around! Here at Artisans & Adventurers, we love discovering new music. That's why we wanted to share some of our favourite musicians from around the world with you today...
Amadou & Mariam
Amadou & Mariam are a musical duo from Mali, composed of couple Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia. Amadou and Mariam are both blind and met at Mali's Institute for the Young Blind, where they both performed at the Institute's Eclipse Orchestra, directed by Idrissa Soumaouro, and found they shared an interest in music. They create music that mixes traditional Mali sound with rock guitars, as well as many other instruments from around the world, creating a truly eclectic sound. They have worked alongside numerous famous musicians including Coldplay, Blur and U2. Their album Welcome To Mali (2008) was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album.
Our Top Tracks: Bofou Safou, Le Monde a Changé, Sirra
Jain
Jain is a French musician who was raised mostly in the United Arab Emirates and the Congo. Her music is a true product of multiculturalism, with her main influences being French techno and African rhythms. She reached main-stream fame when her track 'Makeba' was played by Jayden Smith on his Beats 1 show in 2015. Her diverse upbringing exposed her to many different cultures and music, and Jain says that this is ultimately what influenced her sound. From the age of 14 to 17, Jain lived in the Congo in a small town called Pointe Noire and this is where she made her first songs. Jain says Africa is "where I was musically born and where I found myself. Also it's in my family—my mother is half Malagasy, so when i was little I listened to a lot of african music, like Miriam Makeba, Oumou Sangare, Salif Keita, Youssou N'Dour. I began music with rhythm and African music really moves me."
Our Top Tracks: Makeba, Come, Alright
Miriam Makeba
Nicknamed Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba was a legendary musician, actress, UN ambassador and civil rights activist. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Miriam was an advocate against apartheid and made many popular songs that were critical of apartheid. She was one of the first African musicians to receive worldwide recognition after she had a brief role in the anti-apartheid film Come Back, Africa, and led to her performing in Venice, London, and New York City. She moved to New York City and recorded her first solo album in 1960 which was immediately popular. Her music is intertwined with the complex racial politics that she was fighting against, and Nelson Mandela said "her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us." She has inspired thousands of musicians in Africa and beyond to share their art with the world, without censoring themselves.
Our Top Tracks: Pata Pata, Brand New Day, A Luta Continua
The F16s
The F16s are an alternative indie band who describe themselves as "a pop band disguised in a rock and roll outfit." They make music from their home of Chennai, the capital city of the state of Tamil Nadu on India's southeastern coastline. They combine catchy pop vocals with groovy bass lines, synthetic keyboards and some upbeat drums to create a sound that is uniquely theirs. They aim to romanticise the everyday and the mundane that surrounds them, which they say reflect the city that they live in. They have a huge list of achievements, including; The Jack Daniel's Award 2013 for the Best Emerging Act, Radio City Freedom Awards Best Rock Artist and Best Young Indie Artist (Judge's Choice).
Our Top Tracks: WKND FRNDS, Nobody's Gonna Wait, Amber