Welcome to 2024, a year that already holds so much promise for huge releases, epic tours, and exciting festivals. There are already some fine candidates for albums of the year, and it isn’t too early to start chalking up some top contenders for end-of-year lists. We review some amazing new albums in this issue as well as well as looking back at some recent performances and festivals.
Continuing our exploration of interesting and amazing festivals from around the world, this time we focus in on Iceland and its now legendary Airwaves Festival. Staying with the festival theme, In Hindsight, we take a look back at Afropunk, the iconic festival from Brooklyn that celebrates black culture and diversity through music.
Our two feature articles in this issue both demonstrate the importance of collaboration. Firstly, with the incredible Andy Schiaffino of Body / Negative who with the help of artist and friend Midwife, produced her achingly beautiful new record. Marred by tragedy and loss, the album shows the strength of music and the cathartic power that can be harnessed from within. The second article with Church Chords showcases the enduring legacy of friendships made across cities and how collective creative processes can carry over into musical projects, even at times when it doesn’t seem logical or possible.
Not to forget our regular features; we hunt out new and emerging artists in The Radar, discover some cool podcasts and documentaries to catch, as well as get an insight into each track off Montreal psych-rockers Elephant Stone’s new album in Making Tracks.