Category Archives: Interview

Interview with musicians

Interview: George Barba Yiorgi and Dervisi…Greek Gangsta Blues and PunkRembetika

Text by Richard Bennett

DervisiGeorge Barba Yiorgi first appeared on the New York music scene as co-leader of the wildly successful Greek-rock band Annabouboula. When the group disbanded in 1994, he mysteriously disappeared for around twenty years. Rumours abounded; the most credible being that he was working as a merchant marine based out of Piraeus Greece. Barba Yiorgi reappeared in NYC in 2014, leading two groups, The ByzanTones (surf-rock) and Dervisi, a rembetika trio in which he sings and plays the tzouras, which is a thin string instrument related to the bouzouki.

Dervisi on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/barba-yiorgi/sets/dervisi-live-2014-3-songs

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INTERVIEW: SALIF KEITA SPEAKS OUT ON HIS CAREER, MALI’S CRISIS AND RETIREMENT

Photo by Banning Eyre

Photo by Banning Eyre

Posted by Banning Eyre (Afropop Worldwide), December 22, 2014:

Mali’s pre-eminent singer/songwriter/bandleader came to New York this fall with an unusual act. In the past, he has brought blazing electric ensembles from Paris or New York, and, in recent years, a superb, mostly Malian band featuring acoustic African instruments. This time, the group was smaller still, even more acoustic, and they performed seated, like court musicians entertaining royalty. The music was transcendent, mixing Keita hits like “Tekere” and “Mandjou” with Mande traditional songs like “Sunjata,” the praise song for Salif’s 13th century ancestor, Sunjata Keita.

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Introducing Iran’s KIOSK: interview, live information and new video

Being the pioneer of Iran underground music movement, Kiosk is praised for its quite unprecedented yet unpretentious lyrics – described by BBC as “stinging political satire hidden within the blues and folksy sound” – that highlight the paradoxes of Iranian society and the incompetent political system. Its unique blend of musical styles, from rock n’ blues to gypsy jazz to Iranian folk, keeps Kiosk an inexhaustible force of the alternative in contemporary Persian music.

Catch Kiosk’s 2014 north American tour premiere on Sunday September 28th (live information below), where you will have the chance to experience the band’s live performance of their fresh released album, Call a Cab (Zang Bezan Azhans).

Ali Kamali (bass)
Arash Sobhani (vocals, guitar)
Ardalan Payvar (accordion, keys)
Mohammad Talani (guitar)
Tara Kamangar (violin)
Yahya Alkhansa (drums)

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Interview: Lautaro Burgos – Ambassador of Argentina: An In-Depth, Four Part Video Interview.

Interview by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi (February 16, 2014)

Lautaro face shot, DSCF1725

Lautaro Burgos (photo by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi)

What do you know about Argentina? What do you about her history and culture? Have you heard of Argentinian musicians, such as Mercedes SoSa, Astor Piazzolla, Gato Barbierei, Lalo Shifrin,.. or Lautaro Burgos?

Lautaro Burgos is a drummer from Argentina who lives in Williamsburg and has been playing in New York for some time He’s not only a great drummer, but also a very bright and enjoyable person to speak with. After watching this video, dear reader, I’m sure that you want to see Lautaro in one of his next concerts. You may also be inspired to travel to Argentina!

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Interview: John Pietaro – musician, activist & producer of the Dissident Arts Festival 2013 – speaks out!

Interview by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi (DooBeeDooBeeDoo’s chief editor), August 20, 2013

All photos by John Pietaro

946305_10201375067076280_1897149628_nSohrab Saadat Ladjevardi (S): John, let’s talk about your festival “baby” first: the annual Dissident Arts Festival 2013. Why and when did you start this festival?

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