Lucrecia Dalt announces new album, A Danger to Ourselves

29 May 2025

Following her magnificent 2022 sci-fi bolero album ¡Ay!, which was one of our Albums Picks of the Year, Lucrecia Dalt is back with A Danger to Ourselves, her ninth solo album and perhaps her most emotionally open work to date. Out on September 5th through RVNG Intl, the new record finds the Berlin-based, Colombia-born composer and sound artist shedding the fictional and fantastical narratives of past works to chart a more intimate sphere, delving into the uncertain territory where love, longing, and vulnerability meet. “In the past, I often turned to movies and texts as mirrors to shape my stories, guiding me away from revealing too much from within, inventing isolated fictions,” she explains. “This time, I wanted to create music that flows cinematically and sets a landscape to tell a love story that flirts with improbability, the miraculous and the mysterious.”

Written during and after touring ¡Ay!, and shaped in the early days of a new relationship, the upcoming A Danger to Ourselves is a deeply personal reflection. To bring the record to life, Dalt enlisted the help of a remarkable cast of collaborators, including Juana Molina, Camille Mandoki, and Eliana Joy, alongside musicians Cyrus Campbell and Chris Jonas, and most notably the legendary David Sylvian, who joins as co-producer and guitarist.

Ahead of the album’s release, Dalt is enticing us with first single ‘divina’, a glimmering reverie of piano, guitar, finger snaps and cascading rhythm, sung in both Spanish and English. ‘divina’ emerged from “spending enough time in the abyssal realm of erotic delirium”, as she describes. “For me, the lyrics function as declarations, or odes—like those of Sharon Olds—and the most personal truths I have explored to date are found within those lines.” The single is offered with a beautifully strange accompanying video, directed by Tony Lowe and conceptualized by Dalt, featuring Dalt alongside multidisciplinary artist Lucia Maher-Tatar. It takes inspiration from the words of Sufi mystic Rumi: “Love is a mirror… you see nothing except your real face.” Watch the video below and mark your calendars for September.

Franz Von shares final single, ‘Nah Beg’, ahead of debut album

23 May 2025

Following the powerful first single ‘We Live‘, Franz Von has shared ‘Nah Beg’, the last single before the release of his highly anticipated debut solo album Take What You Want. Teaming up with Ghanaian vocalist Quabena Cepha and longtime collaborator TC on drums, the new track blends futuristic afrobeat with gritty hip-hop, and is pulsing with energy and intent. Rooted in a Jamaican proverb, ‘Nah Beg’ is a playful yet pointed track about self-reliance and putting in the work to claim what’s yours. Franz explains:

“Nah Beg aims to capture the juxtaposition of inner stillness against the external everyday hustle. I wanted to emphasise the importance of cultural pride and spiritual growth. The lyrics and the tone of the track are rebellious – I want the listener to embrace the mindset of hard work and claiming what’s theirs without apology.”

Listen to it below and grab the album when it drops on June 20th through Bridge The Gap.

KAU unveil new single ‘dive_deep’

23 May 2025

Following last year’s Kaugummi / Mad Kau 7-inch single release, and 2023’s The Cycle Repeats, which was one of our Album Picks of the Year, Brussels trio KAU return today with a new single, ‘dive_deep’. Stripping back the high-energy urgency of previous releases in favour of a more more introspective and spacious approach and refined production, the new track signals a striking evolution in their sound and songwriting. “We wanted to challenge ourselves to explore what lies beneath the surface — in music, in relationships, in life,” the trio explain. “It’s about digging past the noise of everyday life and holding on to what truly matters.”

The track also hints at what’s to come, with more music expected later this year, and we’ll be keeping a close eye on what comes next. Now listen to ‘dive_deep’.

‘dive_deep’ is out now through Sdban Ultra

Le Guess Who? unveils initial line-up and guest curators for its 2025 edition

22 May 2025

Le Guess Who? is back this November 6 – 9th for its 18th edition, and the first major announcement for 2025 has just landed. The revered Dutch festival affirms once again its unparalleled commitment to sonic exploration, inclusivity, and radical artistic vision, uniting artists and audiences from around the world through the transformative power of music. The festival has always championed a groundbreaking and genre-defying programme, and 2025 will be no different, offering a platform for both emerging and established artists.

One of the standout features of Le Guess Who? is its curated programs, where incredible artists handpick their favorite musicians and collaborators to showcase their musical influences and vision, in addition to also performing themselves. This year’s constellation of guest curators is as daring as it is eclectic, with eight singular voices from across disciplines and continents shaping bespoke programmes. Among them is visionary and virtuosic South African drummer, composer, writer and activist Asher Gamedze whose work navigates jazz, Afro-futurism, and experimental sounds. Digging into the musical language of resistance and liberation, his curation promises a powerful mix of experimental and political sounds. Highlights from his selection include a performance by himself, alongside his new jazz ensemble A Semblance, DEAD SYMBOLS, and Dirar Kalash’s Sonic Front. Also on his bill is Usta/Olgun/Ekincioglu, a collaborative project who explore Turkish and electronic music, creating a dynamic space for new ideas to emerge through sound.

Another exciting guest curator who will help enrich the festival is drummer, composer and experimentalist Valentina Magaletti, who invited a mix of avant-garde, electronic, and noise artists. Magaletti’s curation will be a thrilling exploration of rhythm, sound, and the unexpected. Among her selections are Al Wootton & Youmna Saba, Klein, and Ancient Indigenous Africans. Her programme also includes Able Noise, Voice Actor and Alpha Maid, as well as Kat Válastur – Dive Into You, and PRAM. She will also perform in collaboration with PHEW and in a duo with upsammy.

Singer, composer, bandleader and community organizer Amirtha Kidambi conjures a borderless sonic world under her Outernational banner, an exploration of global soundscapes and cross-cultural experimentation, combining influences from jazz, noise, Middle Eastern music, and beyond. Kidambi’s curated programme brings together an international roster of performers, including her own band, Elder Ones, along with the experimental group Ghadr غدر, who explore themes of resistance and identity, and One Leg One Eye. Saint Abdullah & Jason Nazary will also be part of this exciting lineup, pushing boundaries in the world of contemporary avant-garde and improvisation.

Celebrated improvisational artist Lonnie Holley brings a fascinating curation to Le Guess Who? 2025, drawing on a rich blend of soul, improvisation, storytelling and spiritual exploration. Artists on his bill include ingenious and thought-provoking spoken word artist, bandleader, composer, saxophonist and activist Alabaster DePlume, Assiko Golden Band de Grand Yoff, and Kankawa Nagarra, as well as a powerful collaboration from Lonnie Holley & Friends. Holley is also bringing Saul Williams & Carlos Niño, The Cosmic Tones Research Trio, Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore and the deeply moving The Space Lady.

Berlin-based Colombian DJ, producer, and curator Edna Martinez, known for her deep ties to Caribbean sound systems, brings the rhythms and soul of PICÓ, a genre deeply rooted in Caribbean music traditions, to the festival. Martinez has invited a vibrant range of artists like electronic music producer BCLIP and Wilfred Guerrero, who will undoubtedly bring the dancefloor to life with intoxicating rhythms and sounds that cross borders and genres. Her curated bill will also feature the infectious La Saramuya Soundsystem, and Nayi Lokura.

Hong Kong-born, Netherlands-based artist gyrofield curates an immersive, electronic-driven programme that combines deep techno, dub, and bass-driven atmospheres. Their curated bill will include performances from heavyweights like Calibre, Ciel, and Objekt.

Chinese contemporary artist Tianzhuo Chen, known for his multidisciplinary works that blend performance art, electronics, and immersive visuals, brings an adventurous programme to the festival. Highlights include the collaborations of 333EMYBW & Joey Holder, DIEMAJIN present 陰陽 (Yin and Yang), and performances by GOTH-TRAD, ZAÄAR, and Moyang 先祖 & Seaman 漁師. With this curation, lucky attendees will be immersed in mind-bending, visually stunning, and sonically experimental performances.

Experimental producer/musician Ziúr will bring a curatorial programme steeped in experimental sounds, hyperreal aesthetics, and boundary-pushing sonic ideas. With artists like Attila Csihar & Iggor Cavalera, Luisa Almaguer, Lady Lykez, and DJ Marcelle, her curation promises to delve into the darker, more experimental side of electronic music and sound art, showcasing a variety of genres from industrial to avant-garde and everything in between.

Beyond the curated programs, the general lineup is stacked with a stunning array of artists. Returning to the festival is the monumental drone outfit SUNN O))), legendary Jamaican reggae group The Congos, Columbian-Canadian musician and Polaris Prize-winning artist Lido Pimienta and the heavy and beautiful music of drone metal band Divide and Dissolve performing their new album Insatiable. Also newly announced is composer and producer Adrian Younge, known for his work in soul and hip-hop, Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali, the Pakistani qawwali ensemble led by Rizwan and Muazzam, nephews of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who will perform across three nights, Nicolás Jaar & Ali Sethi, Attila Csihar & Iggor Cavalera, KeiyaA, mighty Montreal trio BIG|BRAVE, Mark Ernestus’ Ndagga Rhythm Force, the project of techno pioneer Mark Ernestus with a revolving cast of Senegalese sabar musicians, and the cosmic rhythms of Gary Bartz and NTU Troop. Other standout performances will come from performer, teacher and researcher of traditional Galician oral music Carme López, DJ Haram & Aquiles Navarro, electronic music duo emptyset, the fast, quirky, driving, and catchy synth punk sounds of Goblin Daycare, young Kurdish Iranian tanbur player Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian, Katokye, known as the master of Banyankole traditional songs from Western Uganda, and Dublin based post-punk feminist four-piece M(h)aol. The collaborative project of Peruvian artist and researcher Alejandra Cárdenas aka Ale Hop & Congolese guitarist Titi Bakorta, are also added to the bill today, as is Índio da Cuíca, the Brazilian multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer and dancer active for more than 50 years, award-winning Native American composer and artist Raven Chacon, Oakland-based experimental electronic folk artist Kathryn Moh, legendary Peruvian cumbia band Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, Tanzanian music ensemble The Zawose Queens, whose music incorporates traditional Wagogo styles and electronic production, and Palestinian musician and composer Maya Al Khaldi & Palestinian qanun player Sarouna featuring visual artist and filmmaker Dina Mimi. Kikagaku Moyo frontman Tomo Katsurada, multi-instrumentalist, producer and artist Tomoki Sanders, child of the late saxophone legend Pharoah Sanders, and South African drummer and composer Tumi Mogorosi are also amongst some of the thrilling additions unveiled today.

Le Guess Who? remains an invitation to listen deeply to art, to each other and to the world. This year’s edition builds on the festival’s mission to centre voices from the margins and create transformative collective experiences. The COSMOS platform returns too, continuing to spotlight global music communities, this time with contributions from Istanbul’s IDGK, Iceland’s Seyðisfjörður Community Radio, Malaysia’s Align.Online, Panama City’s River Down Records, and Berlin’s Refuge Worldwide.

As we’ve come to expect, Le Guess Who? is setting the bar for festivals around the world with its ambitious and diverse programming. A gathering where borders blur and traditions reshape, Le Guess Who? continues to offer one of the most compelling global stages for unclassifiable music. The full list of names and curated programmes already announced is vast and essential reading and listening, so head over to leguesswho.com for more details, including ticket information and full lineup so far. A very limited number of 4-Day festival passes and individual day tickets will go on sale Tuesday May 27th, so stay tuned.

Grandbrothers announce new album Elsewhere, out in September

21 May 2025

Photo: Dan Medhurst

Following 2023’s stunning Late Reflections, Grandbrothers have announced their new album Elsewhere, set for release on September 26th through __and__others. The German-Swiss duo of pianist Erol Sarp and engineer/software designer Lukas Vogel are striking out in a bold new direction, stepping beyond the sound they’ve so meticulously built over the course of four albums. “The concept had become our identity,” explains Vogel. “Letting go of it brought questions: are we losing something – or discovering something new?”

On Elsewhere, and for the first time, Grandbrothers have introduced drum samples, analogue synths, and fresh rhythmic structures into their palette, allowing sound to become a more immersive and physical experience. Collected sounds from over the years now form the backbone of their compositions, rather than sitting as layered additions. This evolution extends beyond the studio, as their upcoming live tour will see them leave behind the traditional seated format in favour of venues where the audience can connect more viscerally with the performance, all accompanied by a newly developed light and stage show. “The music is physical,” says Sarp. “It’s meant to be heard loud.”

The album is introduced by first single ‘We Collide’, a beautifully dense piece. Listen to it now.

Ben LaMar Gay shares new single, ‘John, John Henry’, from upcoming album Yowzers

16 May 2025

Photo: Shannon Marks

With his much anticipated new album Yowzers arriving in three weeks, and following the powerful and poignant title track, the inimitable Ben LaMar Gay has unveiled a second stirring track, offering another glimpse into what might be one of our favourite albums of the year. Titled ‘John, John Henry’, the new track finds the Chicago-born composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer and storyteller reimagining a cornerstone of American folklore with profound emotional and political resonance. ‘John, John Henry’ is his interpretation of the American folk myth ‘The Ballad of John Henry’, a late 1800s song previously performed by the likes of Lead Belly, Dave Van Ronk, Songs: Ohia, and Rhiannon Giddens. Speaking about it, Gay shares:

“The intriguing thing about folklore is how it allows you to experience the depth of time, and the beauty of spreading information by word of mouth… The fact that only certain folk songs survive the test of time makes me wonder about the coded gems that live inside this information and the necessity of the eternal whisper in which it travels. I was young the first time I heard the name, “John Henry.” It was blasting from a cartoon on T.V. “JJJJohnnn Henryyyy!” echoed through the house and stayed. My experience with the legend up to now has been similar to playing telephone, the game where people form a circle to relay a quiet whisper of a message sent from another side of the circle. My version of the John Henry legend is me dealing with the moment when that eternal whisper finally finds my ear, inside the circle. “John, John Henry” can be heard as an extension of the perpetual theme “Man vs Machine” or “Man vs System”. One American moment. One American crossfire. It’s also an ode to the big cousin we all have who somehow believes in us and vows to protect us.”

If these first two singles are anything to go by, we’re in for an absolute treat. Take a listen to ‘John, John Henry’ now.

Yowzers is out on June 6th through International Anthem