Amanda Ekery to release fourth LP, Árabe, in May; shares first single ‘Stitching’

13 March 2025
Photo: Ross Wightman

Photo: Ross Wightman

Vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Amanda Ekery has announced the release of her fourth full-length album, Árabe, a deeply personal and culturally rich exploration of Syrian and Mexican shared history and identity along the El Paso border. Drawing from her own life, lineage, and the blending of cultures, Árabe is a labour of love that spanned over five years and saw Ekery spend countless hours conducting interviews with her family and members of the Syrian Ladies Club of El Paso, collaborating with Yale SWANA scholar Dr. Mark Eggerman, and exploring the shared migration stories between Syria and Mexico. The album was also shaped by an artist residency she did at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, which has the largest Arab population outside the Arab world.

With music and storytelling intertwined, Árabe delves into an array of themes, “from food, gambling, and evil eyes, to immigration law, biracial identity, and the fraught relationship between immigrant entrepreneurship and workers’ rights.” In addition to the twelve original tracks featured on the album, Ekery’s meticulous research is also reflected in an accompanying essay for each song, offering insight into the story and history behind each track.

Musically, Árabe showcases her diverse influences, including country swing, mariachi, jazz, and improvisation. The album blends different genres, from free jazz to Americana folk, all highlighted by Ekery’s heartfelt lyrics and unique voice. To bring the album to life, she enlisted the help of longtime collaborator Andrew Boudreau on piano, Jess Tsang on percussion, Jhoely Garay on guitar, Emily Johnson-Erday on mandolin, and Hannah Marks on bass.

We’ll have to wait until May 9th for the album’s release but Ekery has already shared the spellbinding ‘Stitching’ as a first single and you can hear it below.

Joan Arnau Pàmies pays tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto with new track ‘AN + RS’

12 March 2025

Last month, Joan Arnau Pàmies announced the release of his new album Guidelines/Fonaments, and shared two enthralling singles, ‘Esperança’ and ‘Pes’. Ahead of the album’s release on April 4th through Protomaterial Records, the Catalan composer and multi-instrumentalist is teasing the album again with a new single, ‘AN + RS’. The track serves as a heartfelt tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto, honouring his work with Alva Noto, ahead of the two-year anniversary of Sakamoto’s passing. Speaking about it, Pàmies shares:

“Their live electronics and piano duo has a very particular sound that I always found very attractive. This improvisation for electronics and piano is my attempt to reconstruct something similar, and a way to show my gratitude to the late Sakamoto, whose music I find beautiful and emotional in ways that are not cliché.”

‘AN + RS’ is offered with a video recorded live earlier this year. Watch it below.

Max Walker shares first glimpse of new album, Chronostasis, with lead track ‘Petrichor’

07 March 2025

Photo: Daniel Zetterstrom

Seattle-born, Los Angeles-based guitarist and composer Max Walker has announced the release of his highly anticipated second album, Chronostasis, arriving May 2nd through Orenda Records. Brimming with intricate guitar playing, and a strong sense of rhythm and composition, on Chronostasis Walker wears his jazz and rock influences on his sleeve, as well as being influenced by guitar pioneers like Allan Holdsworth, Tim Miller, and Ben Monder. An album “about the transient moments between two major chapters in one’s life”, Chronostasis reflects his move to LA.

To bring the album to life, he enlisted the help of drummer Remy Morritt, bassist Tim Carey, saxophonist and flutist Rex Gregory, and pianist Matt Williams.

Heralding the release of Chronostasis, Walker has shared the album’s first single, the absorbing, atmospheric and brilliant ‘Petrichor’. Take a listen now.

Sheldon Agwu announces debut LP, Kintsugi, and shares title track

06 March 2025

Photo: Karolina Wieolcha

We weren’t familiar with Sheldon Agwu up until recently but the London-based guitarist, producer and multi-instrumentalist caught our ears on first listen. He has announced the release of his debut LP, Kintsugi, arriving on April 11th. While this will be his first full-length album, Agwu has been active in the London music scene for a while now performing, collaborating, teaching and also as musical director for known London venues like Jazz Cafe or XOYO. Kintsugi takes its name from the Japanese art of pottery repairing without hiding the damage but highlighting it, thus embracing the beauty of imperfections. On the upcoming album, Agwu conjures that philosophy, believing that by accepting the imperfections of oneself and one’s creativity, “the celestial begins to show itself, and so, quite organically the elements of the influences are made apparent.”
Drawing inspiration from artists like Andrew Pekler, Jon Hassell, Rick Rubin, and Madlib, combined with virtuosic guitar-playing and a soulful flair, Agwu has created an absolutely beautiful, emotive and sublime album.

To usher in Kintsugi is the album’s title track, a tantalizing hint of what’s to come. Take a listen now.

Nadah El Shazly previews forthcoming album, Laina Tani, with first single ‘Ghorzetein’

04 March 2025

Eight years on from the release of Ahwar, Egyptian-born, Montreal-based composer, producer and vocalist Nadah El Shazly has announced its follow-up. Entitled Laina Tani, her upcoming album arrives on June 6th through her new label, One Little Independent Records, and Backward Music in Canada. Known for her sultry and soul-stirring vocal abilities, on the upcoming album Nadah weaves between classical Egyptian improvisation, voice manipulation and electronic beats. An album of contrasts, Laina Tani “captures not only the chaos and beauty of urban life but also the private battles and triumphs within it that define the human experience”, as the press release describes, “inviting the listener to lose themselves in its enchanting rhythms while deciphering the deeper truths woven into its fabric.”

Nadah enlisted her long-term collaborator Radwan Ghazi Moumneh to record the album and Sarah Pagé on harp and electronics, as well as 3Phaz as co-producer and Heba Kadry on mastering duties.

Album closer ‘Ghorzetein’, which means ‘Two Stitches’ and “explores the double wound of a heart that has loved and been broken twice”, is the first single to emerge. A riveting and rousing track, it comes with an accompanying video directed by Selim El Sadek. Watch it now.

Geir Sundstøl to release new solo album, Sakte Film, in May; shares new single ‘Beveg’

28 February 2025

One of Norway’s most esteemed and beloved guitarists, Geir Sundstøl, who’s also a instrument collector, has appeared in hundreds of albums as a session player and sideman before stepping into the spotlight in 2015 with his first solo album. He has announced the release of his sixth solo album, Sakte Film, arriving on May 23rd through Hubro. Speaking about it, Geir comments:

“While working on Sakte Film, I first built the framework for each track. I played my instruments —on Beveg, for example, you’ll hear National guitar, marxophone, timpani, pedal steel, bass harmonica, and optigan. Then, I tweak and edit until it sounds right. After that, I invite musicians whom I believe can add that little extra touch.”

“For this album, I got help from the band Spirit In The Dark—or rather, I got help from Anders Engen, David Wallumrød, and Audun Erlien. I’m not sure what happened to that band during the holiday party season, but they offered to play for cheap if they could switch instruments and record separately. The result was… decent. In the end, they came back and played their usual instruments —though with a week’s break between sessions. It turned out great, but next time, I hope we can play together!”

Geir has shared the absolutely gorgeous and shimmering ‘Beveg’, and his own words, “is a good representation of what you’ll find on the album.” He continues:

“Sakte Film moves even slower than my previous records. Despite my young age, my finger dexterity is in decline—which I’m totally fine with. Instead of trying to hide this fact, I ‘embrace the limitations of my joints.’ The music gains an unintended, yet ever-increasing, sense of calm.”

Listen to ‘Beveg’ below.