Souad Abdullah: Yumma, al Hilou

Unique and rare sounds from the Middle East in a look at the creative publication's current music issue

Full of nostalgia, handclaps (and hand drums) and a decidedly warm feeling permeating the entire track, “Habibi Taal” (off the debut album Silt) is the perfect introduction to Brooklyn-based, Sudanese-born singer Alsarah and her band the Nubatones. Named “The New Star Of Nubian Pop” by the Guardian, Alsarah is a singer, songwriter and ethnomusicologist who describes her style as “East-African retro-pop.” Whether familiar with the …

Noura Mint Seymali: Tzenni

Unique and rare sounds from the Middle East in a look at the creative publication's current music issue

Discovered by Sublime Frequencies and then released o”n the label’s compilation Choubi Choubi! Folk and Pop Sounds from Iraq, Yumma, al Hilou” is a track that we don’t know much about, other than the fact that it might translate to “Mother, Here’s My Beauty.” Having little background information on the song makes listeners soak up its complex, fast-paced rhythms, sliding fiddles and the chanting girls. …

Link About It: This Week’s Picks

Crystal computers, NYC Club Kids, drinkable sunscreen and more in our weekly look at the web

1. Disruptive by Design Telling the story of Oakley, from its humble beginnings to becoming one of the world’s leading eyewear innovators, the newly released “Disruptive by Design” is a brand film of rather impressive proportions. Recapping its most impactful designs since the brand launched in 1975, the Kevin Spacey-narrated short film details the ins and outs of building a successful design-focused business, proving what’s …