Music
From shipwreck to symphony: Prisoners in Italy turn migrant boats into violins
Every year, thousands of migrants risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean Sea in fragile wooden boats, hoping to reach the shores of Europe. Many arrive on the Italian island of Lampedusa, where the vessels are left abandoned. In a prison on the outskirts of Milan, inmates are transforming those discarded boats into something unexpected: musical instruments.
Salsa is a Latin music style that found its footing in NYC
On Aug. 23, 1973, the legendary salsa label, Fania, gathered together all its stars for a concert to end all concerts — in New York’s Yankee Stadium. Around 45,000 people attended, many of whom were recent immigrants from throughout Latin America. They’d never seen their music represented on such a big stage. Reporter Miguel Santiago Colón brings us the story from New York.
‘Bone music’ brought Western tunes to Soviet fans by recording songs onto X-rays
Stephen Coates began collecting contraband Soviet bootlegs, known as “ribs,” over a decade ago. He also researched the Soviet-era “art” of recording Western music records using discarded X-rays. Coates discussed this topic and his book with The World’s Host Marco Werman.
Ukrainian jazz pianist pays homage to the fallen
For many Ukrainians living abroad, Russia’s invasion of their country became a moment of reevaluation. Some began to rethink where they felt most at home. For others, though, their connection with their Ukrainian identity strengthened. For one New York-based jazz pianist, it wasn’t really one or the other — everything felt like it was in flux.
A rapper finds peace and a channel for his activism through hip-hop and Islam
Brother Ali hit fame for his hard-hitting critique of racism and inequality in the US. His rap songs mix the political with the personal. Today, the rapper is in Istanbul on a spiritual journey as a Muslim. He says his political views are making it harder for him to get his music out there.