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field recordings of starlight
We arrive in Tchin-Tabaradene at sunset. It’s a calm village, one of the innumerable places throughout West Africa and the “under” developed world, places that lie off the paved roads and power grids,...
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Niger Guitars Pt. 1
Mohamed Karzo – C’est La Vie Guitar music in Niger is curiously distant from its Malian cousins. Looking at a map of the Sahara and following the roads, it makes sense – though the two countries share...
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Mammane and his Electronic Organ
Lost in a music archive in the capital of Niger was the first I heard of the legendary Mammane Sanni Abdoulaye. The space was overflowing with dusty CDs, cassettes, and Nagra reels, and hunkering down...
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Niger Guitars Pt. 2
Haïdara and Abdoulaye live with their friends in a compound on the fringes of Niamey, the capital of Niger. The two concrete buildings house perhaps thirty students who have come here to attend the...
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Mamane Sani et Son Orgue 2012
Mamane Sani et Son Orgue, recorded live on his workstation, Niamey, 2012. Mamane Sani – Lamru (2012)The post Mamane Sani et Son Orgue 2012 appeared first on sahelsounds.
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remembrance
Japonais – Piyano 1 Back in 2012, I found a few incredible instrumental piano tracks in Niger. This trip to Agadez, I asked around and friends were quick to identify them as the work of a young man...
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Libyan Reggae and the frauders of Agadez
Regue Lybie – Zira Am While in Agadez, we dip out of town for a wedding. There’s a very vanilla, somewhat boring, festivity at the bride’s village – a handful of people sit under a tree while the band...
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Mamman Sani Eurovision
Just returned from Niger, where I’ve been working with Mamman Sani in preparation for his first international tour (on a few dates, joined with the incredible Lonnie Holley). We’ll be heading to...
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medium and the message
Super Onze – Gao Around the fall of Gao in 2012, I met a cassette vendor in Niamey’s grand market. For years he has sat on a bench in a busy corridor with stacks of cassettes and an array of...
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mariam ahmed
Mariam Ahmed is a guitarist in Agadez, which in itself is not spectacular. With so many guitarists in the city, one needs not to search far. However, there are practically no female guitarists in...
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all gold everything
Before the Kickstarter finished, we left for Niger to shoot the footage that will eventually become the film “Akounak.” The windy season was fast approaching, which would be followed by a blistering...
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tuaregs in paris
Tonight we begin our first stop on for the Mdou Moctar summer tour across Europe. Lot’s of dates, from Sweden all the way down to Portugal (Paris date coming soon)! For more details, check here.The...
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Mdou Fall Tour 2014
Fresh off the last tour, Mdou and the band are planning another one, with stops in Norway, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. I wont be joining them, as I’ll be back in the Sahel...
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stars of agadez
Etran d’Aïr – Agrim Agadez The members of Etran live together in the neighborhood of Abana, across a wadi in the outskirts of Agadez. It was once here that the caravans stopped to rest before the...
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on the regional variation of id3 tags in the western sahel
Bus field recording, Ansongo, Mali The first time I heard the music was (naturally) on a cellphone. It was March of 2012, and I left Gao in a rush as the Northern cities fell to the rebellion. I...
View Articledesert psychedelia
Music video treatment for “Ataraghine”, Hama’s synth composition featured on the new LP. A cover of a song by Agalay Bekaye. Featuring footage of Hama in action with images from Niger’s Cure Salée,...
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Akounak Premiere
After nearly a year from our shoot, we’re pleased to announce the premiere of our film. Starring Mdou Moctar, a longtime Sahel Sounds artist and collaborator, Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai (“Rain the...
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mdou moctar spring tour
Spring is upon us, time to come out of the house and put on your dancing shoes. Tuareg guitarist and virtuoso Mdou Moctar has a mini-spring tour, and will be traveling around for a few shows in the EU...
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azna de l’ader
Mona – Hey Joe Mona is an imposing figure. He once stood much taller than he does today – age has taken it’s toll, and he walks slowly, slightly hunched over. But when he steps out of the shadows in a...
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tuareg autotune
Abdoul Kader (Tanoutetanoute) Abdoul Kader – Alhadi Autotune, the notorious pitch correcting vocal effect, has seemingly found its way into every perceivable genre and style of music in every corner of...
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