The Batswana Groove

Welcome to the new mecca of heavy metal…

Gaborone, Botswana

Gaborone, Botswana

Against the odds, the African nation of Botswana has not only become a successful and peaceful country in the half-century since achieving independence, but has also developed a thriving heavy metal scene.  Coincidence?  Perhaps.  But still, with the care and precision it takes to cultivate the classic metal lifestyle, it seems more like an honorable religion than the devil’s music.. doesn’t it?

Other Batswana sounds are less Norwegian and more South African.  Seeing as Gaborone, the capital and largest city of Botswana, hugs the border of South Africa, many of the styles from down south are now firmly entrenched in the soundscape of Botswana– most notably Kwaito and electro-hip hop.

Hear these and much more on our BOTSWANA SPECIAL!

And hear the weekly Global Mix right ova here.

Do you Electro-Cumbia?

If you have yet to fall under its spell, check out this thoughtful introduction to the genre by a couple classy Peruvian soundsmiths:

Now dance to this like a shamanic space traveler:

Bosnia Rocks at 16,000 Hz

A country of many intertwining traditions… The music of Bosnia is forever linked to the nations surrounding it, which together make up the former Yugoslavia.  This week we welcome our friends Bojan and Zoran to the program, a pair of fearless musical scholars who present us with the history of popular music in Bosnia.

BosniaDuring the 70s and 80s, Sarajevo was the mecca of rock music in the Balkans.  We’re talking stadium-sized guitar riffs and women screaming every word.  Need proof?

We share some of the best bands of this era,  the electric Gypsy sounds that came before it, the most influential composer of the 20th century, and amore.

Listen to the Bosnian feature here.

Listen to the global mix here.

Bosnia-cello

 

From the top of the world to thee

This week we explore sounds from the highest nation on Earth.  Welcome to Nepal!

Nepal

Sandwiched between two giants (China and India), Nepal offers a diverse sonic palette potent enough to cure even the worst case of altitude sickness.  We bring you a sampling of Nephop, classic pop, rock’n’roll, thunder drums, murchunga mastery, and a funkified yak attack!