Smithsonian Folkways

“People often associate the harp with Celtic or Western European classical music, but it’s one of the world’s oldest instruments, and its presence spans the globe… I hope this playlist offers a glimpse into the wide-reaching beauty and versatility of the harp—from Cameroon to Scotland to the United States, its voice is as varied as it is powerful.”

Brandee Younger, harpist, composer, and bandleader known for blending spiritual jazz, classical training, and the soulfulness of R&B and hip-hop, curates this People’s Picks playlist exploring the harp’s many voices. Recently, she brought her dazzling artistry to Meklit’s new single “Tizita” on Smithsonian Folkways.

Take a sonic journey and read more from Younger: folkways.si.edu/peoples-picks-brandee-younger

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 24

Smithsonian Folkways

Today we celebrate the release of the album ‘Songs of Truth: Music and Song from the Kobzar Tradition of Ukraine’ by Ukrainian American musician Julian Kytasty, one of the world’s premier players of the bandura.

On ‘Songs of Truth,’ Kytasty brings expressive clarity and vibrancy to the centuries-old kobzar repertoire through skillfully retold historical epics, timeless philosophical songs, biting satire, and joyful dance tunes. The album illuminates the legacy of the kobzari—blind bards who traveled the Ukrainian countryside until the early 20th century, sharing news and history through sung storytelling accompanied on the bandura, a plucked-string instrument that has become a symbol of Ukrainian identity and culture.

As a performer, recording artist, composer, and band leader, Kytasty has redefined the possibilities of the bandura. Serving as the musical director of the New York Bandura Ensemble, he also founded and curated ten years of Bandura Downtown, an innovative music series based in New York’s East Village that provided a home for creative explorations of traditional and contemporary sounds and themes. He has performed and recorded as a soloist, with the ensemble Paris to Kyiv, and in his own Experimental Bandura Trio, bringing his passion and artistry to stages and studios worldwide alongside musical innovators like John Zorn and Derek Bailey, as well as such artists as Chinese pipa player Wu Man, klezmer revivalist Michael Alpert, and others.

“It was my good fortune to be born into a family and community of these players, who had come to Detroit as displaced persons in 1949,” Kytasty writes. “Among the bandurists I grew up with, performing songs from the ‘kobzar’ repertoire was a mark of prestige and conveyed a sense of connection to an ancient tradition. I was captivated by this music and went on to explore the tradition documented a century ago and to seek out its echoes in later recordings and the work of living players.”

To learn more about Kytasty, the history of the bandura, and the kobzar tradition, see the ‘Songs of Truth’ liner notes on our website. Now available on CD and digital formats, you can listen to the album and pick up your copy here: orcd.co/julian-kytasty-songs-of-truth

‘Songs of Truth’ marks the second release in our Sound Communities recording series, a collaboration between the Centre for Sound Communities at Cape Breton University and Smithsonian Folkways that highlights artists who tell stories of the lands, waters, and peoples of Turtle Island.

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4 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 26

Smithsonian Folkways

The world-renowned vocalist, songwriter, composer, and cultural strategist Meklit will release her new album and Smithsonian Folkways debut, ‘A Piece of Infinity,’ on September 26.

‘A Piece of Infinity’ is an invitation to think, to love, and to groove. Celebrating the rich musical traditions of Ethiopia, the Addis-born, San Francisco-based artist molds folk tunes from a multitude of communities and cultures throughout Ethiopia into jazz-inflected fantasies imbued with warmth and reverence. At its center is Meklit’s voice, which soars and whispers, intoning strength and devotion in Kembatigna, Amharic, Oromigna, and English.

From songs of longing and love to children’s riddles and original compositions, Meklit traverses expansive sonic ground that offers just a glimpse at the beautiful complexity of Ethiopian culture.

Today, Meklit has shared a dreamlike original video for the album’s first single, “Tizita,” directed by Sophiyaa Nayar. Meklit’s “Tizita” recasts one of Ethiopia’s most popular traditional songs as a poignant jazz ballad, featuring the expressive harp playing of composer and performer Brandee Younger.

Listen now, watch the video, and pre-order the album:
orcd.co/meklit-a-piece-of-infinity
https://youtu.be/RQ05UI0cAlc?si=rBfUW...

Photo by Alexa Treviño / Design by Caroline Gut

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1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 21

Smithsonian Folkways

Long before modern communication and before the days of highways and railroads, ships and waterways connected communities near and far. As sailors traveled from one port to another, they brought their songs with them and learned new ones from the people they met, spreading maritime folklore and traditions across the world.

Folkways Goes… to Sea features songs from the English-speaking maritime world, with origins in the United States, the Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and the United Kingdom. Lyrics commemorate shipwrecks and storms, famous figures from maritime history, the indignities of shipboard life, the loneliness of being far from loved ones, the follies of sailors in port, and the joys of being homeward bound.

These are songs sung by sailors, whalers, fishermen, shipyard workers, and more, including singer-songwriters and broadside balladeers who may never have set foot on a ship. Some are true sea shanties—work songs that set the rhythms for maritime labor—while others are songs that would have been enjoyed during sailors’ leisure time at sea and ashore. Whether centuries old or contemporary, all tell us something about the seafaring cultures from which they came.

Read more about the playlist and listen on your preferred platform → folkways.si.edu/playlist/folkways-goes-to-sea

1 month ago | [YT] | 15

Smithsonian Folkways

Julian Kytasty is celebrated around the world as a master of the bandura. This plucked-string instrument has become a symbol of Ukraine through its association with the deep tradition of the kobzari—blind bards who traveled throughout the Ukrainian countryside until the early 20th century, sharing news and history through sung stories accompanied on bandura.

On ‘Songs of Truth: Music and Song from the Kobzar Tradition of Ukraine,’ Kytasty’s 2014 album being reissued by Smithsonian Folkways on August 1 and available for pre-order now, he brings expressive clarity and vibrancy to the centuries-old kobzar repertoire through skillfully retold historical epics, timeless philosophical songs, biting satire, and joyful dance tunes.

Released digitally today, the title track “Про Правду (Song of Truth)” is at the heart of the kobzar tradition. The song likely originated in the late 17th century, a time of widespread turmoil and social upheaval in Ukraine. Kytasty’s arrangement draws on the 19th-century transcription by Ostap Veresai, who was arrested for singing the song in public after performing for the tsar’s family in St. Petersburg, and on the performance of Heorhiy Tkachenko, one of the most respected traditional bandurists of the mid-20th century and a direct link to the music of the blind kobzari.

As Kytasty reminds us with this song, “it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between truth and falsehood, and sometimes, those with power try to convince us that a lie is actually the truth.”

This album marks the second release in our Sound Communities recording series, a collaboration between the Centre for Sound Communities at Cape Breton University and Smithsonian Folkways that highlights artists who tell stories of the lands, waters, and peoples of Turtle Island.

Pre-order ‘Songs of Truth’ and listen to the first single on YouTube or your preferred platform → orcd.co/julian-kytasty-songs-of-truth

1 month ago | [YT] | 20

Smithsonian Folkways

Out Today: Limited Edition 7” Vinyl – “Zydeco Sont Pas Salés” by Clifton Chenier & The Rolling Stones feat. Steve Riley

To celebrate the centennial birthday of zydeco legend Clifton Chenier, The Rolling Stones joined forces with a supergroup of Louisiana musicians—including Cajun accordionist Steve Riley, longtime Chenier drummer Robert St. Julien, and producer CC Adcock—to put their stamp on the song that birthed a genre, “Zydeco Sont Pas Salés.”

“Clifton Chenier was one of the most influential musicians to come out of Louisiana,” state The Rolling Stones. “He turned so many people onto the wonderful free spirited dance music of Zydeco, including ourselves back in the day. Although the development of any music style can seldom be attributed to one artist, there is not a zydeco band who has not followed the template Chenier created.”

Recorded in 1965 with Arhoolie founder Chris Strachwitz, Chenier’s version of the song became a cornerstone of the zydeco tradition. The title nods to a Creole phrase, “les haricots (zarico) et pas salés,” or “snap beans and no salt,” meaning “just getting by.” This 7” single pairs the Stones’ raucous 21st-century tribute with Chenier’s original recording, featuring his brother Cleveland on rubboard and Madison Guidry on drums.

In addition to the 7” release, Chenier’s recording appears on the upcoming box set, ‘King of Louisiana Blues and Zydeco,’ arriving in November via Folkways, while the Stones’ track opens the new Valcour compilation ‘A Tribute to the King of Zydeco’ and is available to stream now.

The Rolling Stones have designated the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship Fund at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as the recipient of the royalties from this recording. Sales from this 7” benefit Smithsonian Folkways’ nonprofit mission to preserve the legacy of Clifton Chenier and Arhoolie Records.

Listen & Purchase → linktr.ee/cliftonstones

Cover artwork by Francis Pavy
Photo by Susan Antone
Design by Josh Hartley, In The Shop, LLC.

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2 months ago | [YT] | 21

Smithsonian Folkways

‘Achai,’ the Tuvan word for ‘father,’ reflects a deep paternal role in the upbringing of a new generation—a fitting title for Alash’s 2017 album honoring Kongar-ool Ondar, a musical father to both the ensemble and an entire generation of Tuvan musicians.

As Ondar shared memory and tradition, so too does Alash with spirited performances and forward-thinking collaborations that beautifully illustrate the adaptability of Tuvan music. Featuring master beatboxer Shodekeh, alongside time-honored styles of Tuvan throat-singing (xöömei), the songs on this album recognize the importance of fathers in passing down traditions, as well as Alash’s own place in the continuum as fathers who share the music with their sons.

Watch Alash demonstrate various throat-singing styles: https://youtu.be/eHdOT64Ycwc
Learn more: folkways.si.edu/alash/achai

Illustration by Jabari Weathers
Photo by Vladimir Mongush

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2 months ago | [YT] | 20

Smithsonian Folkways

Listen to Clifton Chenier’s rendition of “Mr. Charlie,” the first single from the box set ‘King of Louisiana Blues and Zydeco,’ out November 14th. Chenier recorded this groove-forward blues classic with his Red Hot Louisiana band in San Francisco in 1971 to broadcast live on KSAN radio. Written by his cousin and Arhoolie Records labelmate Lightnin’ Hopkins, this previously unissued recording of the song from the Arhoolie Foundation’s archive is now available on digital platforms. The track is one of many live gems on the upcoming release that trace Chenier’s evolution as a powerhouse performer whose blending of blues, R&B, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and Louisiana Cajun and Creole music defined the genre now recognized as zydeco.

Pre-order the four-CD or six-LP box set and stream Chenier’s performance of “Mr. Charlie” through the link here: orcd.co/clifton-chenier-king-of-louisiana-blues-an…

📸 Cleveland and Clifton Chenier. Photo by Chris Strachwitz, Arhoolie Foundation Archive.

2 months ago | [YT] | 23

Smithsonian Folkways

“As I immerse myself in the soulful melodies of my forefathers’ homeland, an overwhelming wave of emotion floods through me.”

Salar Nader is one of the leading tabla performers of his generation. A percussionist, composer, and producer, Nader studied under Ustad Zakir Hussain from the age of seven and is recognized as a global ambassador for weaving South Asian arts into the musical traditions of his Afghan heritage. He curates our latest People’s Picks playlist, inviting listeners to join him in celebrating the captivating elegance of Afghan music through selections from the Smithsonian Folkways catalog.

“In this collection, my own esteemed guru, Ustad Zakir Hussain, graces the tracks, bridging the deep-rooted musical traditions of Afghanistan and India. From the rhythms of the city of Herat’s poetry to the exquisite interpretations of Ustad Sarahang—who masterfully transmits the lyrical beauty of the poet Hazrat Beydil—it’s a journey that transcends borders. Dive into the extraordinary artistry of Ustad Mohammed Omar, whose celestial rubab and nimble dexterity will leave you spellbound.

And let’s not forget the enchanting Nightingales of Afghanistan: Khanum Djila, the radiant Farida Mahwash, and the mesmerizing Mermon Parwin, whose voices soar with an ethereal beauty that resonates deep within the soul.”

Read more from Nader on our website and listen on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, YouTube, or Pandora → folkways.si.edu/peoples-picks-salar-nader

2 months ago | [YT] | 16

Smithsonian Folkways

June 25th marks one hundred years since the birth of the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier. To celebrate, we’re releasing the first-ever box set devoted to the visionary artist, and a limited edition vinyl 7” featuring The Rolling Stones covering Chenier, both available for pre-order now.

Coming November 14th, ‘Clifton Chenier: King of Louisiana Blues and Zydeco,’ a 4-CD/6-LP box set produced by Adam Machado, the GRAMMY-winning writer and Executive Director of the Arhoolie Foundation, presents unreleased live material from the Foundation’s archive and a chronology of Chenier’s landmark work with Arhoolie and other labels. The set is the first release on Arhoolie Records since the label became a part of Smithsonian Folkways and includes a 160-page book with photos, track notes, and essays by Machado, Nick Spitzer, Herman Fuselier, and CJ Chenier. A recording of the song “Mr. Charlie,” broadcast live on KSAN in San Francisco in 1971, is out digitally today.

On June 27th, Smithsonian Folkways, Arhoolie, and Valcour Records will release a 7” record featuring a new recording of Chenier’s signature tune “Zydeco Sont Pas Salés” by The Rolling Stones, produced by acclaimed musician and songwriter CC Adcock. Mick Jagger, who has been a lifelong fan of Chenier since seeing him perform live in 1965, sings entirely in French, Keith Richards provides his signature rhythm guitar, while Ronnie Wood contributes lead guitar parts, combining their talents to bring a rock and roll edge to the zydeco classic. The recording also includes Cajun accordionist Steve Riley and longtime Chenier drummer Robert St. Julien, grounding the song in its Louisiana roots.

On the single’s flip side is Chenier’s version from his 1965 sessions with Arhoolie founder Chris Strachwitz, which offers a contrasting take on the rollicking shuffle heard on his debut album. The Rolling Stones’ track also appears on the upcoming Valcour compilation ‘A Tribute to the King of Zydeco.’

The Rolling Stones have designated the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship Fund as the recipient of the royalties from this recording. Sales from this 7” benefit Smithsonian Folkways’ nonprofit mission to preserve the legacy of Chenier and Arhoolie Records.

Visit the links below to pre-order and learn more:

orcd.co/clifton-chenier-king-of-louisiana-blues-an…

linktr.ee/cliftonstones

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2 months ago | [YT] | 32