Episode #5 - International Interpretations

Buenos Dias! Throughout the next 90 mins I, DJ Shaxx, shall lead you on a trip around the world, exploring interpretations of your favorite songs in alternate languages and innovative arrangements. I’ll spin songs from The Clash, Lou Reed, The Smiths, Beatles, Stones, Neil Young, Dolly Parton, Pink Floyd, Radiohead and more…. in Arabic, Spanish, Punjabi, Ukrainian, French, Portuguese and more.

This is Sonic Latitudes and today is International Interpretations.

I think I first became interested in foreign language covers (as they’re called) when I was in the 4th grade. My dad bought me the Police Record, GHOST IN THE MACHINE. I loved the whole thing start to finish. But what really stood out to me was a song called "Hungry for You (J'aurais toujours faim de toi)." Sting was singing in French. My 4th grade mind couldn’t fathom this “How did Sting speak French?” I think this was the first time I realized that people could be bilingual. After this, I was on the continual hunt for versions of songs in alternate languages or even songs sung by artists in their 2nd language.

Here's my playlist of favorite cover songs from across the globe:

1. Maná - Tonto en La Lluvia
2. Albert Pla - El Lado Mas Bestia De La Vida
3. Cornershop - Norwegian Wood
4. Ananda Shankar - Jumpin’ Jack Flash
5. Sachal Studios Orchestra - Take Five
6. The Police - Hungry For You (J'aurais Toujours Faim De Toi)
7. David Bowie - Ragazzo Solo, Regazzo Sola
8. Beck - Burro
9. Rachid Taha - Rock El Casbah
10. Mohamed Amer - Let’s Get It On
11. Mashrou' Leila & Nile Rodgers - Get Lucky
12. Vieux Farka Toure - Bullet the Blue Sky
13. Bebel Gilberto - Harvest Moon
14. Easy Star All-Stars - Human Nature
15. Chiara - The Final Countdown
16. The Ukrainians - Batyar (Big Mouth Strikes Again)
17. Gypsy Kings - Hotel California
18. Seu Jorge - Life On Mars?

Episode #4 - Afrobeat Legacy

In 2011, I saw Seun Kuti and Africa 80 perform at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA. This was one of those shows that changed my life. At the time, I didn't have a lot of information about Seun. I knew he was the son of Fela. I knew that his music was known as Afrobeat. However, I didn't have the deeper context for this music and its origins in Nigeria. Seun Kuti's performance was visceral, righteous and full of funky fury. He played for a club of 300 people. His energy was enough to ignite a crowd of thousands. Seun, along with his brother, Femi, carry on the torch ignited by their father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Their music's purpose it continually shine a light on and raise criticism of the corruption and violence controlling their country. Today's show will focus on Afrobeat, a genre of music championed by Nigerian, Fela Anikulapo Kuti in the late 1960s: Afrobeat. Afrobeat. The improvisational character of jazz. The raunchiness of funk. The flavor and soul of Yoruban tradition and the political fury of punk rock. Today I’ll play cuts from the progenitors of this genre Fela Kuti, Tony Allen, Ebo Taylor and Orlando Julius. Then, I’ll spin some of my favorites from artists who keep the torch of Afrobeat burning brightly around the globe: Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Antibalas and more. Many of Seun's musicians were a part of Fela Kuti's ensemble, Africa 80. Their sound is a polyrhythmic sledgehammer of furious funk and Yoruban style. Seun stands center-stage with his mighty saxophone.

Seun Kuti at The Belly Up Tavern (Solana Beach, CA) in 2011.

Episode #03 - Circumnavigating the Atlantic

This week we circumnavigated the Atlantic, starting in South America: Uruguay, Brazil and Colombia. Next we jumped up to New England and Quebec for two songs. At last, we sailed across the Atlantic to the British Isles, then spent some time in Galicia (Northwestern Spain) before heading to Paris and Romania. The journey concluded in Senegal, Sierra Leone and Angola. This playlist was fun to put together. All of the tracks were pulled from my personal collection of global music. Some of them have connections to moments and people in my life (which I note below).

My intention was to concoct a playlist of upbeat and accessible music to appeal to listeners during WMPG's Begathon (the station's annual pledge drive). The music, matched with some expert pitching by fellow DJs and volunteers (Kate, Jessica and Rick) helped bring in 10 donations. A special thanks to all listeners who called in and donated during my show! Thank you for keeping WMPG alive. As long as she sails, free speech and community access to the airwaves shall thrive.

Here's a rundown on three of today's special tracks:

Jorge Drexler - Polvo De Estrellas
A good friend of mine (Ryan Suarez) first introduced me to Drexler on a holiday visit to San Diego, while I was living in Guanajuato, Mexico. He immediately struck me as a Caetano Veloso-like songwriter. I quickly integrated this music into 'mi vida Mexicana.' Many of the tunes on Eco define a very special time in my life. Although I had learned Spanish in high school and college, in Mexico I began to discover the nuances of the language. Drexler's lyrics gave me accessible imagery, metaphors and idiomatic expressions. It was perfect Spanish Language Learner music. Drexler ponders life's meaning through lyrical, galactic poetry. In this song, Polvo De Estrellas (Stardust), he builds on a quote from Ernesto Cardenal:

"Que hay en una estrella? Nosotros mismos. 
Todos los elementos de nuestro cuerpo y del planeta 
estuvieron en las entrañas de una estrella. 
Somos polvo de estrellas." 

What is in a star? Ourselves.

All of the elements of our bodies and the planet

Were in the beginnings of a star

We are stardust.

The pre-chorus really sticks with me. Drexler frames life in a galactic perspective.

"Toda la gloria es nada 
Toda vida es sagrada 
Una estrellita de nada 
en la periferia 
de una galaxia menor."

All of the glory is nothing
All life is sacred
A little star of nothing
in the periphery of a minor galaxy

David Wax Music - Harder Before It Gets Easier
When recording drums with my brother at Sam Kassirer's Great North Sound Society in Parsonsfield, ME, I discovered this wonderful group. Just a year earlier they had recorded their album, Knock Knock Get Up, at the very same location. Lead singer, David Wax and fiddler, Suz Slezak, build their songs around Son Jarocho rhythms and melodies (a traditional music from the Veracruz region of Mexico). This is one of those songs that I can never get enough of. Struck me like lightning the first time I heard it. I can't help but hear this tune and remember the wonderful days and evenings I spent at Great North Sound Society.



Seth Lakeman - The Hurlers
Seth Lakeman takes English folk and injects it with rock & roll energy (not unlike Jethro Tull or Fairport Convention). The song calls our attention with a war-like floor tom that gets the heart pumping. Lakeman is well-known for singing tales of regional British history on his albums. This tune explains the presence of mysterious, pre-Christian monoliths that form circles in Cornwall, England (not unlike Stonehenge). According to ancient lore, a group of men were playing Cornish hurling on a Sunday (avoiding the call of the village's church). They were cursed by the Lord for ignoring the church bells and turned to stone. What an idea for a song!

Episode #02: New Global Releases

Had an absolute blast putting the show together this week. So many great new releases from artists across the globe this year: India, Thailand, the Marshall Islands, Brazil, Honduras, Quebec, Ireland, Scotland, England, Sweden, Mali, Nigeria and Tunisia.

Since this is only my second Sonic Latitudes show, I've been working on this setlist for quite some time. It's exhilarating to discover songs (little by little), throw them into your little playlist satchel (not knowing how you'll use them) and then release them all in one concentrated broadcast.

The tune that was a standout for me was Dengue Fever's "Ghost Voice." This track took me by total surprise. They've got something very unique and hypnotic going on. The synergy between the guitarist, saxophonist and vocalist is gorgeous! They neatly straddle the threshold between 60s Cambodian psych-pop and contemporary indie rock. Here's a live version of the tune.

The Premiere of Sonic Latitudes

Last Friday afternoon, a lifelong dream came true for me. As I refreshed the inbox of my e-mail, I caught a glimpse of news that I had been anticipating for 48 hours: "Congratulations! You are our pick for the Sunday morning show." At long last, I got my own FM radio show.

After attending classes, building a demo and passing a test, I qualified for "on-air" in February of last year. Since then, I've been volunteering at WMPG - Southern Maine Community Radio (90.9/104.1 FM) - taking every substitute opportunity I could fit into my schedule. I've cut my teeth as a beginning disc jockey, playing jazz, blues, rock, metal, Latin and world music on a variety of shows.

One of the first international albums I owned seemed
like a perfect pick for Sonic Latitude's premiere show.

One of the shows which I created and enjoyed the most was "Around the World in 90 Minutes." The basic idea was to take the listener on a musical trip around the globe. Sometimes I'd play one tune per city, region or country and then fly to the next. I tried to play the songs in an sequence that related to the journey one would make while actually visiting these places. As I discovered, this takes an immense amount of planning. Shortly afterwards, I modified the show to be more sustainable. Each time that I was given free license to play "Around the World," I would try out new ideas. Finally, I began featuring two or three spotlighted genres of music (much more sustainable). This allowed me to go deeper with the selected songs and develop themes that might tie the genres together. This type of show not only gave me the chance to share my musical knowledge of genres around the globe, but it also pushed me to learn more about them. I love projects that inspire me to expand my understanding of subjects.

When the announcement went out that the 10:30-12noon Sunday slot was open for a year (while the regular DJ took a sabbatical), I jumped at the opportunity and auditioned with "Around the World in 90 Minutes." I got the call on Friday that I would be doing my first show on Sunday. I streamlined the name to Sonic Latitudes and began preparing for the first show. The short turn-around actually presented itself as a creative opportunity. I decided to use this premiere as a platform for sharing some of my early favorites from artists around the world and introduce myself to listeners. I did the whole thing with CDs from my trusty music collection.

The following is an excerpt from my opening monologue and the complete playlist from Sonic Latitude's first show.

Enjoy!
DJ SHAXX

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

"To kick off the set, I’m going to share a starting point for me as a world music listener. Maybe you can relate to this experience.

Two albums really helped broaden my musical horizons as a kid. When I was twelve years old, (in 1986) Paul Simon released his opus, Graceland (a record exploring the music of various African traditions). My father bought the vinyl the week of it’s release and we played that record endlessly in our house. Even now, when I hear these harmonies of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, sweet memories of my childhood home in San Diego, CA fill my mind.

In 1990 Paul Simon expanded his musical focus to South America with his album, “Rhythm of the Saints.”

Both of these Paul Simon records peaked my curiosity for things distant and unfamiliar. They helped me develop an appetite and appreciation for rhythms, melodies and words beyond my own world and culture.

I want to take this moment to thank my father, Tom, for buying those records and changing my life.

I remember the first time I heard Shaking the Tree - a collaboration with Peter Gabriel and Senegalese singer, Youssou N’Dour. Youssou’s vocals took me to new places as a listener. His range and the beautiful words he sang in Mbalax. This single song helped open the doors to so much West African music... Senegal, Mali, Gana.

This being my first show, I thought it would be interesting to browse my personal collection of music <stuff on tangible compact discs> and share some of my favorite songs. What you’ll hear are the foundational tunes that opened my eyes to music being made outside the United States. Outside of the lens of Western commercial music. This is regional music extending from cultural traditions and sometimes mixing modern sounds. Today, You’ll hear tunes from Ali Farka Toure, Waldemar Bastos, Salif Keita, The Melodians, Césaria Évora, Talvin Singh, Vijiya Anand and Tom Zé."

Sonic Latitudes #1 - 5/8/15

1. Dama & D'Gary - The Fisherman's Return
2. Paul Simon - Homeless
3. Paul Simon - Born At The Right TIme
4. Sting - Love Is The Seventh Wave
5. Peter Gabriel & Youssou N’Dour - Shaking The Tree
6. David Byrne - Make Believe Mambo
7. Cesaria Evora - Sodade
8. Salif Keita - Tekere
9. Waldemar Bastos - N Gana
10. Ernest Ranglin - Up On The Downstroke
11. Badmarsh & Shri - Mathar
12. Vijaya Anand - Neeve Nanna
13. Talvin Singh - Butterfly
14. Chico Science and Nacao Zumbi - Rivers, Pontes and Overdrives
15. Tetes Raides - Un Ptit Air
16. Bertrand Burgalat - Ma Recontre
17. Sulo - Burhan Ocal and the Trakya All Stars