A-List: Beach House, the Postal Service and Bassekou Kouyaté?
Yup, you heard that right. Malian musician Bassekou Kouyaté is making a big splash in the world music scene, both here in the US and abroad. He’s on Sub Pop, the same record label as Beach House, the Postal Service and the Shins, and just last month he was nominated for Best Traditional World Music Album at the Grammy Awards.
His latest album, “I Speak Fula,” incorporates the banjo-like sounds of the ngoni — a traditional West African string instrument — into a danceable beat accompanied by beautiful vocals. His music has earned recognition from the likes of Bonnie Raitt and Eric Clapton, and on his international tour, Kouyaté was dubbed the “Jimi Hendrix of ngoni.”
Kouyaté and other Malian musicians are helping to make the country a musical powerhouse. Mali’s prowess may come from the country’s historical role as a meeting point for nomadic peoples, said the New York Times in a recent article.
Check out Kouyaté’s album below and take a look at his profile on Sub Pop’s website.
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