Burial: Emel Mathlouthi and "Dfina"

Emel Mathlouthi brings us today's random tune. A Tunisian singer-songwriter originally well known in France, Emel Mathlouthi became the voice of popular uprising in Tunisia when she penned and recorded two songs, Ya Tounes Ya Meskina and Kelmti Horra, that became anthems for the Tunisian Revolution. She began writing songs as a student, but became frustrated by the lack of opportunities and the political apathy of her classmates. Eventually she moved to Paris after the Tunisian government banned her songs from radio and television. However, bootleg copies of her performances in France circulated through Tunisia, and her songs had an impact on the 2010 uprising against the government. You can find this song, Dfina, on her debut album, Kelmti Horra, released in 2012 to critical acclaim.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emel_Mathlouthi

Not Found: Emel Mathlouthi and "Ma Lkit"

Today's song is an intense mix of rock, electronica and traditional music by Emel Mathlouthi, a Tunisian singer-songwriter originally well known in France but who became the voice of popular uprising when she penned and recorded two songs, Ya Tounes Ya Meskina and Kelmti Horra, that became anthems for the Tunisian Revolution. She began writing songs as a student, but became frustrated by the lack of opportunities and the political apathy of her classmates. Eventually she moved to Paris after the Tunisian government banned her songs from radio and television. However, bootleg copies of her performances in France circulated through Tunisia, and her songs had an impact on the 2010 uprising against the government. You can find this song, Ma Lkit, on her debut album, Kelmti Horra, released in 2012 to critical acclaim.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emel_Mathlouthi

Inspired by an Island: Smadj and "Inspiré Par Une Ile"

Today's tune is an interesting , modern sounding mashup of traditional music and exotic vocals over modern, electronic beats. The artist, Jeanne-Pierre Smadja (whose stage name is Smadj) is a Tunisian born, Parisian musician who takes inspiration from Asian, Brazilian, funk, soul and folk music. He started studying music at age 15 with a focus on the guitar, and he became known for turning traditional jazz into eclectic sounds. He gained a degree in sound engineering and became a recording and sound engineer for classical and folk musicians. He released his first solo album in 1994, and eventually became recognized for his blend of acoustic and electronic sounds. He was a co-founder of the famous acoustical group DuOud. He also has worked with a number of famous Turkish musicians, such as Burhan Öçal, Savas Zurnaci and Orhan Osman. You can find this song, Inspiré Par Une Ile, on the compilation CD Istanbul Calling, Vol. 2: Ethnic Electronic (2007).

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: http://www.smadjmusic.com/

An Ancient City: Amine Bouhafa and Fatoumata Diawara with "Timbuktu Fasso"

Today's song, Timbuktu Fasso, was written and performed by Amine Bouhafa and Fatoumata Diawara on the soundtrack to the 2014 movie Timbuktu, set during the fundamentalist Islamist takeover of that ancient Malian city. A French-Tunisian composer of film music, Amine Bouhafa began playing piano at the age of three and attended the conservatory in Tunis where he graduated with honors in at the age of twelve. He began composing music for film at the age of 15 and has provided music for short films, television and feature films. Along the way he also has obtained a degree in mathematics and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of California at Riverside. His score for the movie Timbuktu gained him many awards. Fatoumata Diawara is a Malian musician born in the Ivory Coast and currently living in France. She initially moved to France to try acting, but later took up guitar and began composing music that mixed her native Wassalou music of southern Mali with international influences. She has appeared in eight films and has released one solo album, Fatou, in 2011. She has collaborated with artists such as Bobby Womack, AfroCubism and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Timbuktu Fasso can be found on the Timbuktu Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from 2014.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amine_Bouhafa; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatoumata_Diawara

Calm Before the Storm: Emel Mathlouthi and "Houdou'on"

Emel Mathlouthi, a Tunisian singer-songwriter, brings us today's random tune. Mathlouthi is well known in France, but became the voice of popular uprising when she penned and recorded two songs, Ya Tounes Ya Meskina and Kelmti Horra, that became anthems for the Tunisian Revolution. She began writing songs as a student, but became frustrated by the lack of opportunities and the political apathy of her classmates. Eventually she moved to Paris after the Tunisian government banned her songs from radio and television. However, bootleg copies of her performances in France circulated through Tunisia, and her songs had an impact on the 2010 uprising against the government. You can find this song, Houdou'on (Calm) on her debut album, Kelmti Horra, released in 2012 to critical acclaim.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emel_Mathlouthi

Tell Me Why: Amina and "Dis-Moi Pourquoi"

Today's song is by French-Tunisian singer-songwriter Amina Annabi, who is best known for finishing second in the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest. Her family was involved in setting up the Tunisian Tabarka Music Festival, and so at an early age Annabi was introduced to music through concerts by Joan Baez, James Brown and Algerian singer Warda. She also became friends with Senegalese star Wasis Diop. She formed her own group, but in 1982 she went solo, as well as developing a relationship with producer Martin Meissonnier of the French radio station Radio Nova. She won a music contest in 1983 with an Arabic-influenced rap song called Shehérazade, and began performing in Paris. She eventually married Messonier and had a daughter. She has recorded five solo albums and has released a number of singles, and she has also acted in 15 movies. You can find this song, Dis-Moi Pourquoi, on her 2001 album Nomad, on her 2002 album Le Best of, and on the Putumayo various artists compilation North African Groove (2005).

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Just One: Rhany and "Un Mot de Toi"

Today's song is performed by Cheb Rhany Kabbadj, also known simply as Rhany. The song is called Un Mot de Toi (A Word from You). Originally from Morocco, Rhany is a singer and guitarist who was born to a Moroccan flute-playing father and an Algerian mother. Before living permanently in Morocco, he lived in Tunisia, Paris and the United States. His music is a blend from all of his travels, and includes elements of Cuban, Maghrebi, Latin, Spanish and Hindi styles. You can find Un Mot de Toi on the various artists compilation Putumayo Presents: North African Groove (2005).

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Fighting Tyranny: Emel Mathlouthi and "Dhalem (Tyrant)"

Our random song today is by Emel Mathlouthi, a Tunisian singer-songwriter who penned and recorded two songs, Ya Tounes Ya Meskina and Kelmti Horra, that became anthems for the Tunisian Revolution. She began writing songs as a student, but became frustrated by the lack of opportunities and the political apathy of her classmates. Eventually she moved to Paris after the Tunisian government banned her songs from radio and television. However, bootleg copies of her performances in France circulated through Tunisia, and her songs had an impact on the 2010 uprising against the government. You can find this song, Dhalem (Tyrant) on her debut album, Kelmti Horra, released in 2012 to critical acclaim.

Lost: Emel Mathlouthi and "Ma Ikit (Not Found)"

Our random song today is by Emel Mathlouthi, a Tunisian singer-songwriter who penned and recorded two songs, Ya Tounes Ya Meskina and Kelmti Horra, that became anthems for the Tunisian Revolution. She began writing songs as a student, but became frustrated by the lack of opportunities and the political apathy of her classmates. Eventually she moved to Paris after the Tunisian government banned her songs from radio and television. However, bootleg copies of her performances in France circulated through Tunisia, and her songs had an impact on the 2010 uprising against the government. You can find this song, Ma Ikit (Not Found) on her debut album, Kelmti Horra, released in 2012 to critical acclaim.

Enough is Enough: Emel Mathlouthi and "Yezzi"

Today's song is by Emel Mathlouthi, a Tunisian singer-songwriter who penned and recorded two songs, Ya Tounes Ya Meskina and Kelmti Horra, that became anthems for the Tunisian Revolution. She began writing songs as a student, but became frustrated by the lack of opportunities and the political apathy of her classmates. Eventually she moved to Paris after the Tunisian government banned her songs from radio and television. However, bootleg copies of her performances in France circulated through Tunisia, and her songs had an impact on the 2010 uprising against the government. Her debut album, Kelmti Horra, was released in 2012 to critical acclaim, and that album is where you can find this song, Yezzi (Enough).

What a Name: Smadj and "Inspiré Par Une Ile"

Today's tune is an interesting , modern sounding mashup of traditional music and exotic vocals over modern, electronic beats. The artist, Jeanne-Pierre Smadja (whose stage name is Smadj) is a Tunisian born, Parisian musician who takes inspiration from Asian, Brazilian, funk, soul and folk music. He started studying music at age 15 with a focus on the guitar, and he became known for turning traditional jazz into eclectic sounds. He gained a degree in sound engineering and became a recording and sound engineer for classical and folk musicians. He released his first solo album in 1994, and eventually became recognized for his blend of acoustic and electronic sounds. He was a co-founder of the famous acoustical group DuOud. He also has worked with a number of famous Turkish musicians, such as Burhan Öçal, Savas Zurnaci and Orhan Osman. You can find this song, Inspiré Par Une Ile, on the compilation CD Istanbul Calling, Vol. 2: Ethnic Electronic (2007).

Oud Dog, New Tricks: DuOud and "Nude for Death"

The great master oud player Rahim AlHaj once told us (Megan and me) about the relationship he developed with his oud. To him, the oud was like a living person, like a friend or parent or even a lover. When he first got one, he couldn't be separated from it and even slept with it. That to me encapsulates the kind of passion that the oud inspires in its players and adherents. As I've gotten to know some of the music and history of the oud, it seems to me that it is analogous to western classical guitar. I've heard a lot of oud in Arabic classical music, and it always came across to me as a stately, refined instrument. Then comes DuOud, which incorporates the oud into modern music, and yet does not diminish the elegance of the oud at all.

Now that might seem strange given today's song. Nude for Death is by the Paris-based DuOud. DuOud is made up of Algerian Mehdi Haddad and Tunisian Jean-Pierre "Smadj" Smadja, who specialize in Arabic fusion and a desire to reinvent the image of the oud, one of the traditional instruments of Arabic music. What DuOud do is mix oud with all kinds of stuff - jazz saxophone, guitar, samples, beats, and even African vocals. And yet still, at the base of it all, sits the majestic oud. Nude for Death appears on their 2009 CD http://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/mar/19/worldmusic. (Not sure why on this video, but even though the video is over 7 minutes long, the song ends at about 4:50 in and then it's just silent)