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. …

Auclair: Jupiter + Venus

Old-school DāM-FЦПK, A Man of Ideas, new Cam'ron, a #PrivateJam from Bradley Zero and more in the music we tweeted this week

UK music website The 405 debuted a new track from London-based singer, songwriter and producer Auclair this week. From her forthcoming EP Semaphore, “Jupiter + Venus” is like the Goldilocks of new music; it’s the perfect combination of sweet and daunting, slow but steady, and instrumentally streamlined but beautifully produced (for which Auclair worked with Marc Pell of Micachu and the Shapes). The melody brings …