Simon Broughton | Songlines

Simon Broughton

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Simon Broughton is the editor-in-chief of Songlines. He is also a freelance writer and filmmaker, and he co-edited the Rough Guide to World Music books.

Articles by Simon Broughton

7/28/2018 12:00:00 AM

Review: WOMAD 2018 – Friday

Visa problems and contentious programming decisions fail to put a dampener on the first full day of WOMAD Charlton Park 2018.

7/30/2018 12:00:00 AM

Review: WOMAD 2018 - Sunday

Despite the predicted dire weather conditions that thankfully never fully materialised, the final day at WOMAD was blessed with a rainbow and plenty of musical colour

2/6/2019 12:00:00 AM

Riverboat Records founder Phil Stanton dies aged 54

Phil Stanton, who founded the record label Riverboat Records and music portal World Music Network has passed away at the age of 54, after a long battle with cancer. From the very beginning he was a great enthusiast for the world, its ecology and its music

10/1/2020 11:00:00 AM

Parvathy Baul at the British Museum

As part of the British Museum's current exhibition Tantra: Enlightenment to Revolution, the West Bengali singer Parvathy Baul will be giving a special, free online performance, followed by a live Q&A with Songlines editor-in-chief Simon Broughton

2/12/2018 12:00:00 AM

Shye Ben Tzur: Devoted to India

Simon Broughton speaks to Shye Ben Tzur about his qawwali-Hebrew collaboration with The Rajasthan Express and Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood

11/22/2019 12:00:00 AM

Introducing... Lakha Khan

It’s rare to see 70-year-olds in our Introducing series, says Simon Broughton, but it is time to take a fresh look at the veteran master

10/18/2018 10:10:00 AM

The Rough Guide to World Music: Iran

Laudan Nooshin reports on the revival of Iranian classical music since 1979 and Simon Broughton takes the pulse of the folk and pop scenes

4/3/2018 12:00:00 AM

A to Z of World Music

World music is a maze. And what you need is a good map. So here is our A to Z of world music, taking you from Africa Express to Zimbabwe, from Balkan brass to qawwali and from cumbia to WOMAD

1/31/2019 12:00:00 AM

Djivan Gasparyan: A Beginner's Guide

If there was one sound emblematic of Armenia it would be the duduk. Simon Broughton appraises the career of the instrument’s most famous exponent who has just turned 90

11/19/2019 12:00:00 AM

Stephan Micus: A Beginner's Guide

The polymath German instrumentalist has an impressive back catalogue. Simon Broughton examines his wealth of recordings to date

10/7/2021 12:00:00 AM

Alim Qasimov | A Beginner's Guide

Simon Broughton surveys the impressive career and beguiling back catalogue of the classical Azeri singer Alim Qasimov, including his extensive collaborations with his daughter Fargana Qasimova

8/24/2021 12:00:00 AM

Kora Albums | The Essential 10

The kora has become the defining instrument of West Africa. Simon Broughton picks his ten top albums, including Ballaké Sissoko, Seckou Keita, Sona Jobarteh and more

10/16/2018 12:00:00 AM

Sufi Music | The 10 Essential Albums

Sufi music occurs all across the Islamic world. Simon Broughton chooses the standout recordings, going for the more traditional and spiritual examples

9/16/2021 12:00:00 AM

Qawwali Albums | The Essential 10

Qawwali is a devotional music in Pakistan and popular around the world. Simon Broughton picks the best recordings of traditional qawwali, plus some interesting fusions

10/11/2021 12:00:00 AM

Essential 10: Buena Vista Global Club

Buena Vista Social Club made such an impact since its release that countless similar projects revisiting nostalgic styles or reforming veteran bands have followed in its wake. Simon Broughton selects the best of them

2/14/2022 12:00:00 AM

South Korean Instrumental Albums | The Essential 10

South Korea boasts a wealth of artists who are performing both time-honoured and progressive music on traditional instruments. Here Simon Broughton selects ten of the country’s finest instrumental albums

6/16/2021 12:00:00 AM

Introducing... Ánnámáret

The Sámi singer and educator speaks to Simon Broughton about her latest release and the importance of breathing new life into the joik tradition

10/13/2021 12:00:00 AM

Angélique Kidjo | My World

The West African superstar talks about growing up in Benin, her various musical influences and her creative practice

10/22/2021 12:00:00 AM

Swiss Music: Global & Folk (Sponsored article)

FONDATION SUISA, Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and artlink have put together an extensive 93-track spotify playlist to showcase Switzerland’s impressive music scene. Simon Broughton highlights some of his favourites.

1/10/2022 12:00:00 AM

Noam Vazana: Ladino Life

Israeli-born vocalist Noam Vazana composes songs in the Jewish Ladino language and speaks here to Simon Broughton about her fascination with this dying tongue

1/26/2022 12:00:00 AM

Marja Mortensson: The Sámi Way

Around half of the 80,000 indigenous Sámi people live in Norway. Simon Broughton talks to one of the country’s rising musical stars, Marja Mortensson, about how she’s invigorating the joik tradition. Photos Knut Åserud & Tom Askew-Miller

8/26/2022 12:00:00 AM

Georgia Mann: My World

BBC Radio 3 presenter Georgia Mann takes Simon Broughton on a sonic trip through her world music highlights and the sounds that have moved her

1/12/2023 12:00:00 AM

Spotlight: Jerusalem Orchestra East & West

Tom Cohen, conductor of the Jerusalem Orchestra East & West, previews the collective’s forthcoming performance at the Barbican with Moroccan multi-instrumentalist Mehdi Nassouli

5/4/2023 12:00:00 AM

Love, Lyre and Lingua Obscura

We speak to Puuluup, the mischievous Estonian duo reviving their native wooden lyre and inventing a new language for curious tales of cross-country skiing

2/29/2024 12:00:00 AM

Zakaria Ibrahim (1952-2024)

Founder of Egyptian band El Tanbura, champion of the simsimiyya and an important icon of the Egyptian revolution, Zakaria Ibrahim has passed away

3/5/2024 12:00:00 AM

Mamadou Diabaté: master of the balafon

The West African xylophone is steeped in the mythology of the Mali Empire. Simon Broughton meets balafon player Mamadou Diabaté, who is helping to keep the instrument’s 800-year history alive

7/18/2024 12:00:00 AM

Introducing... Gambiana

Simon Broughton speaks to a group combining West African traditions. “We want to share our musical history while giving people an amazing, danceable yet educational, musical experience,” he finds out

7/18/2024 12:00:00 AM

Exploring Malta's Resurgent Local Music Scene

In the centre of the Mediterranean, Malta sits between the European and Islamic worlds. That dual heritage is reflected in its Indigenous music, reports Simon Broughton, and it deserves to be better known

12/12/2024 12:00:00 AM

Introducing Amir Amiri

Simon Broughton profiles an Iranian santur player who has faced trauma but now focuses on paying respect to his ancestors and raising the profile of his instrument

10/18/2021 12:00:00 AM

The Music of Iran: A Rough Guide

Laudan Nooshin reports on the revival of Iranian classical music since 1979 and Simon Broughton takes the pulse of the folk and pop scenes

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