Ranjana Ghatak is a singer and composer embedded in the classical and devotional Hindustani vocal tradition. Born and raised in London, Ranjana has collaborated and performed with a host of celebrated artists including Nitin Sawhney, Jason Singh, and recently alongside James Yorkston and Jon Thorne (as Yorkston/Thorne/Ghatak). Her debut solo album, ‘The Butterfly Effect’, was […]

Born in Tehran and based in Belgium, Shahab Azinmehr is a vocalist and virtuoso player of the tar – a long-necked, narrow-waisted lute-type instrument (from Persian: تار, literally “string”), found in many cultures in Iran, Azerbaijan, and further afield. With a background in the restoration of historical monuments, Shahab began his music career as a singer, later […]

Iona Lane is a Leeds-based folk singer and songwriter. Fascinated by folklore and folk stories, Iona’s music is inspired by natural landscapes, scientific discoveries, human relationships and the supernatural, all tied together by a strong sense of place and a love for being in wild places. Her long-awaited debut album, ‘Hallival’ (2022) – named after […]

Cherif Soumano is a rising star of the kora. Based in Paris, Cherif’s music is of its time, while being deeply and clearly rooted within the traditional Mande kora repertoire that his father passed onto him in his homeland of Mali. He has performed alongside renowned musicians including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tiken Jah Fakoly, and […]

Malin Lewis is a musician, composer, instrument maker, educator, and musical director from the Scottish Highlands. They play a range of instruments including various bagpipes, fiddle and whistle. Malin performs regularly across the UK with their trio, Malin Makes Music. Their music draws inspiration from piping traditions across Europe and features self-penned tunes as well […]

Lucie Hendry is a Scottish lever harpist and composer, based in Denmark. Interested in exploring the possibilities of the lever harp, Lucie is currently going about intertwining her folk music roots with influences from the Nordic jazz and wider music scene. Lucie’s upcoming debut solo album aims to take her instrument in new directions, with […]

Anna Ekborg is a member of Sweden’s exciting new generation of talented young fiddle players. Drawing inspiration from her country’s rich fiddle playing traditions, Anna has built up an extensive and varied repertoire. In 2021, she released her critically-acclaimed debut album, ‘SOLO’. Nominated for a Swedish Grammy, the album has cemented Anna’s position as one […]

Alaa Zouiten was born in Casablanca, Morocco, where he began his career as a master performer of the oud. Alaa moved to Germany in 2009, where he continued to experiment with the stylistic, technical and aesthetic possibilities of his instrument. In his compositions and arrangements, Alaa constantly seeks new musical perspectives. As a curator, he has […]

Ahmet Ozan Baysal is a Turkish bağlama (saz) player, composer and performer, specialising in şelpe – an Anatolian bağlama performance technique that dispenses with a plectrum. Having played the instrument from a very early age, much of his music is a synthesis of traditional bağlama şelpe performance practices and harmonic practices in tonal and jazz music. Ozan has performed […]

Liz Hanks is a cellist, composer and collaborator based in Sheffield. While she has worked with an impressive array of high-profile artists across many different genres, she is particularly drawn to folk, Indian classical, and other music traditions. In recent years Liz has performed and collaborated with, among others, Martin Simpson, Jasdeep Singh Degun, and […]

Thamires Tannous is a Brazilian singer and songwriter. She hails originally from the state of Mato Grosso do Sul in the central area of Brazil, home to the world’s largest tropical wetland, the Pantanal. Her style blends the musical heritage of her home state with contemporary Brazilian music, as well as occassionally paying subtle homage […]

Robert Bisha, originally from Shkodra in northern Albania, is a pianist, improviser and composer who plays an array of other instruments including accordion, çifteli (a stringed instrument found in Albania and some surrounding countries), frame drums and guitar. While much of his music is improvisatory, with avant-garde and jazz leanings, Robert is also heavily influenced by traditional […]