Madison Quinn

4 days ago | worldmusiccentral.org | Madison Quinn

Fancy Fingers and Winyo – Jawaya Jathum (Delicious Tunes, 2025)Jawaya Jathum (“The Guitarist and The Music Lover”) is a 13-track Luo-language album that penetrates your soul. It interweaves traditional East African instrumentation with contemporary global styles. The collaboration between Kenyan musicians Fancy Fingers and Winyo brings together the sparkling sounds of the nyatiti (lyre) and orutu (fiddle) from Kenya as well as a lovely mix of Afropop, Benga, jazz, and zouk.

2 weeks ago | worldmusiccentral.org | Madison Quinn

Ozan Baysal – Tel ve Ten (ARC Music EUCD2976, 2025)Ozan Baysal’s debut album, Tel ve Ten (String and Skin), spotlights the ancient Anatolian baglama (or bağlama) technique of şelpe: a plectrum-free style relying solely on hand techniques. This album presents a fusion of tradition and innovation, positioning Baysal as a key figure in the contemporary evolution of the instrument.

3 weeks ago | worldmusiccentral.org | Madison Quinn

Ra di Spina – Vocazioni (Agualoca Records, 2025)Vocazioni, the debut album by Ra di Spina (King of Thorn), is a project deeply rooted in the enthralling folk traditions of Southern Italy. Drawing on a broad range of archival research and oral histories, the album presents a collection of deeply grounded traditional songs that speak to themes of devotion, memory, and cultural identity.

3 weeks ago | worldmusiccentral.org | Madison Quinn

Various Artists – Born in the City of Tanta: Lower Egyptian Urban Folklore and Bedouin Shaabi from Libya’s Bourini Records 1968-75 (Sublime Frequencies, 2025)Throughout much of the 20th century, Egypt’s mainstream popular music was a structured, sophisticated art form, shaped by professional musicians and centered in Cairo. It catered primarily to the middle and upper classes, blending Arabic traditions with select foreign influences.

1 month ago | worldmusiccentral.org | Madison Quinn

Various Artists – Tsapiky! Modern Music from Southwest Madagascar (Sublime Frequencies, 2025)This compilation introduces a raw and electrifying portrait of tsapiky, the high-energy music of Southwest Madagascar. It captures the frenetic pulse of a genre shaped by ritual, competition, and sheer sound force. Tsapiky thrives in ceremonies, funerals, weddings, and coming-of-age rites, where musicians perform for days on end, fueling ecstatic dances and communal revelry.