music

The power of the intro… (no not that one)

Posted on by Brian Loffler

If you’ve ever played in a band you’ll be familiar with the MD calling “last 8 bars intro”. It’s an easy sure-fire way of getting a song started in the right key and at the right tempo. But it’s also a bit lazy and boring.

A truly great intro can be so much more.

So what are your favourite intros?

I’m going to jump straight to an intro that for me ticks every box: it’s stunningly beautiful; it epitomises the song without giving it all away at the start; it powerfully reappears as an outro; in a handful of bars it deliciously melds the collaboration of arranger, rock artist and orchestra.

Read More

Fatoumata Diawara on Mali, music and militants

Posted on by Brian Loffler

I had a chat with Fatoumata Diawara ahead of her appearance at WOMADelaide 2019.

Brian: First of all, many congratulations on your nomination for this year’s Grammy Awards for your album Fenfo. Will you be attending the Awards Ceremony?

Fatou: Yes, I’m going to go, definitely. Last year it was the Victoires de la Musique in France, so I’m familiar with the significance of the ceremonies.

Read More

Nano Stern on Chilean musical heritage and the revolutionary act of kindness

Posted on by Brian Loffler

Ahead of his appearance at WOMADelaide 2018, I spoke with Chilean singer, multi-instrumentalist and song-writer Nano Stern about cultural heritage, his hopes for the future and the incomparable instrument, the human voice.

Brian:  It’s been six years since we last saw you perform at WOMADelaide, and eight years since your Live in Concert album was recorded in Mullumbimby. What are the main changes we can expect at WOMADelaide 2018? Different instruments and band line-up? More influence of rock and jazz or stronger influence of Chilean roots since your return to live in Santiago?

Read More

Respect and activism – music’s power unleashed at WOMADelaide

Posted on by Brian Loffler

I have a confession.  Each year when I look at the WOMADelaide program and study the list of artists I draw a blank.  Well, not quite a blank.  There are always a few celebrities – the likes of Baaba Maal and Lo’jo who make welcome return visits.

But each year I head to WOMADelaide confident that these will be the best four days of the year for music, culture and dance, as the artists whose names mean little to me, then burst onto the stage; so colourful, so rich a mix of traditional and modern culture.

Read More