Introducing the April 2025 issue of Songlines, featuring Ichiko Aoba

The April 2025 issue of Songlines is out now, and it features our first Japanese cover star, Ichiko Aoba. With a headline show at the Royal Albert Hall just announced, Aoba is one of music’s fastest-rising stars, the world falling in love with her dreamy, fantastical, serene and sublime songs.

We are also in conversation with Abel Selaocoe, the South African cellist and singer, following up his knock-out debut; speak to English improv-poet Alabaster DePlume about dealing with grief through music; report from Cambodia’s new rap scene and the censorship it faces; find out Seu Jorge’s favourite Brazilian albums; dive into the life of one of the world’s great mystics with Armenia’s Gurdjieff Ensemble; and chat to Andy Irvine, a legend of Irish trad, about his stellar career. Plus, we preview some of the most exciting albums coming out this year – from the likes of Femi Kuti, 47SOUL, Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson, and Madalitso Band – and still have space for Ashley Hutchings, Amayo, Ewan MacColl, Eddie Kadi, Park Jiha, Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver, as well as all the usual news, listings, reviews, competitions, and more.

Print and digital subscribers will also receive our accompanying Top of the World compilation featuring our pick of the month’s best new music – Jim Ghedi, Jupiter & Okwess, Piers Faccini & Ballaké Sissoko, Guy Buttery, The Baltic Sisters and more – as well as five bonus tracks to accompany our feature articles from Ichiko Aoba, Alabaster DePlume, Andy Irvine, Mahsa Vahdat & Marjan Vahdat and The Gurdjieff Ensemble.

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