music
The Bambir, one of Armenia’s biggest rock bands, is still going strong after 40 years
The Bambir is a rock band from Gyumri, the Armenian “city of artists.” The band was founded during the Soviet Union in the late ’70s, and it’s now in its second generation. Some of the current band members are the children of those who started the band. They remain one of the most popular bands in Armenia. The Bambir’s sound is a mix of traditional Armenian folk music, rock and other genres.
Kalush Orchestra brings Ukrainian folk music to the world stage
Kalush Orchestra has a unique sound that blends rap with traditional Ukrainian folk music. In 2022, the band, representing Ukraine, won Eurovision. The victory was a huge boost for a country at war and propelled the band to massive success. From Kyiv, The World’s Daniel Ofman speaks with the group’s flute player about how he went from folk music aficionado to arena rockstar.
Iranian rapper receives death sentence for his work and support of human rights
The work of 33-year-old Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi is as poetic as it is technically challenging — covering topics ranging from government corruption to the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests, he channels the voice of Iran’s disillusioned youth. This week, a revolutionary court in Isfahan overruled a previous court decision granting leniency for Salehi, and sentenced him to death.
