Né So
Rokia Traoré sings in quietly compelling tones on *Né So*, an album informed by her personal experience of Mali\'s descent into war. \"A house, habits, a future,\" she sings ruefully on the refugee lament \"Né So\" (\"Home\"). Like a West African Joni Mitchell, Traoré traces her relationship with Mali through good and bad times. While acoustic guitars and a two-stringed ngoni accompany her on \"Kolokani,\" other tracks contain lilting arrangements of understated rhythmic complexity. And Traoré\'s take on Billie Holiday\'s \"Strange Fruit\" drives the horror home.
The Malian singer/songwriter returns with another album produced by John Parish. The music is an intimate and minimalistic mix of Mandingue and Western pop/rock influences, and Devendra Banhart guests.
The Malian singer/songwriter returns with another album produced by John Parish. The music is an intimate and minimalistic mix of Mandingue and Western pop/rock influences, and Devendra Banhart guests.
The Malian singer’s sixth solo album glides from desert blues to a reworking of Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit
The Malian singer’s sixth solo album glides from desert blues to a reworking of Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit
In contrast to her previous album, Rokia Traoré’s latest is a darker, sparser beast, and full of powerful moments
In contrast to her previous album, Rokia Traoré’s latest is a darker, sparser beast, and full of powerful moments
If you want to propel a world music act from niche success into mainstream popularity, give them a production makeover that's big, bold and upbeat.
If you want to propel a world music act from niche success into mainstream popularity, give them a production makeover that's big, bold and upbeat.