Songlines

Launched in 1999, Songlines is the leading magazine covering traditional, contemporary, folk and fusion music from around the world. Each edition is packed with the latest album reviews, artist interviews, festival profiles and travel adventures from every corner of the globe. Music is about culture, politics, history and the environment and Songlines is your essential guide to it all.

If you’re new to Songlines, download our Aug/Sept 2014 issue (#102) for free. Features include an interview with Afrobeat pioneers Tony Allen & Orlando Julius, as they both celebrate 50-year careers with new albums.

There is also an interview with Scottish author, avid music consumer and vinyl addict Ian Rankin, who speaks to Jo Frost (Songlines editor) about how he’s always willing to take a punt on new music, especially if there’s a good story behind it.

Also featured in the trial issue: a feature on Israeli musician Idan Raichel and his collaboration with Malian musician Vieux Farka Touré; Malian jeli singer Kassé Mady Diabaté; and violinists Anna Phoebe and Jyotsna Srikanth. We also pick our Essential 10 Afrobeat albums that you must own, plus Chris Moss provides a Beginner’s Guide to salsa superstar Rubén Blades.

The digital edition of the October 2023 issue of Songlines (#191) is now available to access. Our cover artist, Yungchen Lhamo, recounts her journey, from humble origins in Tibet to a globe-spanning career; London’s Mande jazz collective, Balimaya Project, dismiss the notion of second-album syndrome; Goran Bregović discusses the past, present and future of Balkan music. We also tell the story of Burkina Faso’s former president Thomas Sankara and how he used music to unite the nation; we take a visit to Bali to witness gamelan in its devotional glory; and salute Gilberto Gil, who will soon be playing his last-ever London show, by asking fellow Brazilian musicians to pick their favourite songs of his. British poet Raymond Antrobus reveals his musical influences, we take a detailed look at Rhiannon Giddens’ discography, speak to Puerto Rico’s iLe and discover all-female Nana Benz du Togo’s vibrant electro-vodoun sound. Plus, all the usual news, listings, reviews, competitions and so much more.

 

As well as streaming excerpts from the ten Top of the World albums, digital edition subscribers can download all tracks, which this issue include Rhiannon Giddens, Jason Singh & The Banwasi Collective, Luzmila Carpio, Enji, Balimaya Project and Haïdouti Orkestar, plus an extra five bonus tracks featuring music from Amadou & Mariam, Elder Jack Ward, Yungchen Lhamo and Goran Bregović to accompany our features.