Interview by Parisa Eshrati

Emerging from the underground Afro-Arab music scene, Bab L’ Bluz are reclaiming the blues of North Africa on their debut album, Nayda! Fronted by an African-Moroccan woman in a traditionally male role, Bab L'Bluz's music nods to the revolutionary attitude of the Moroccan "Nayda" youth movement. The album is rooted in traditions of the Maghreb and ancient Gnawa music, but incorporates modern influences of rock, funk, and psychedelic fusion. In this detailed three-part interview, we spoke with vocalist and multi-instrumentalists Yousra Mansour and Brice Bottin on the evolution of the Nayda movement, the instrumental and spiritual connection to Gnawa music, as well as the various lyrical themes expressed throughout the album.

Interview by Parisa Eshrati

tētēma is the cross continent tour-de-force project featuring composer and songwriter Anthony Pateras and vocalist Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, etc.), Their recently released second LP, Necroscape, is a synthesis of musique concrète, analogue tape loop recordings, industrial noise, complex time signatures, and heavy experimental grooves. The result is a brilliant avant-garde release brimming with intricacies that create a challenging yet buoyant mood. In this interview, we caught up with Pateras to discuss the five year recording process, techniques used to create tabula rasa soundscapes, and finding optimism through experimentation.

Interview by Parisa Eshrati

CHAII is the pseudonym for genre-bending New Zealand-based Persian rapper, producer, and videographer. Her latest single in the three-part Safar video series, "Digebasse", harmoniously blends influences of traditional Southern Iranian music with contemporary styling of trap rap, experimental electronica, and heavy global dance beats.  We caught up with CHAII to discuss finding the balance between Eastern and Western melodies, representing for the Iranian underground music scene, and fighting against social pressures through her raps.

Interview by Kurt B. Reighley

Interview by Parisa Eshrati

Upon the release of Nile's ninth studio album, Vile Nilotic Rites, we spoke via email with founding member Karl Sanders on the rebirth of the band. We discuss the parallels of the band's journey to ancient Egyptian literature, drawing from The Book of the Dead to understand how the tumultuous path ultimately led to the new lineup, new album and re-invigoration of his musical passion.