Tracks From Abroad

Italy #2 -- Tracks From Abroad Ep.60

Tracks From Abroad crosses the 60 episode mark tonight as we visit Toronto's Little Italy neighborhood. TFA has met dozens of new faces during the last 10 episodes while amplifying diverse voices on UofT’s campus every step of the way. 
Our show features interviews with Lenny Lombardi of CHIN radio and Italian exchange student Tommaso from Università di Macerata. You can watch TFA's full interview with Lenny Lombardi on Tracks From Abroad's Youtube page.
Lenny discusses how the founding of CHIN radio by his father, Johnny Lombardi, played a role in developing a vibrant community in Little Italy. He gives recommendations on where to get the best espresso and gelato on College Street, and shares some wisdom on the importance of soccer matches to Italians. 
Italian exchange student Tommaso kindly recorded a walking tour of Little Italy with TFA's host, Jesse McDougall. It was Tom's first time in Little Italy, and he appreciated the subtle touches that made him feel at home. 
TFA also desperately needs student volunteers to keep the show running for the next season. Upcoming shows include Pakistan with Razzak, Bolivia with Itzel and Imanol, and Zambia with Vanessa of ASSA. If interested, you can email the show at TracksFromAbroad@ciut.fm
So tune in for a rich cultural experience, every Monday at 6pm on CIUT 89.5 FM.

The India Feature -- Tracks From Abroad Special Edition

This episode is a combination of the best moments of India on Tracks From Abroad. TFA has done 3 episodes about India with various guests and musical styles, so we combined the best moments into 1 hour!

India #3 -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 59

This week @matrix.msngr joined TFA to discuss southern India where he grew up on Cape Comorin. At @uoft Markus is finishing his masters as a mechanical and industrial engineer.On the show you'll hear Markus's custom playlist which includes 'soup songs' made specifically for the heartbroken. Who knew? Markus also talks about the cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan, the astounding amount of languages in India, and the Snake Temple: a sacred building containing holy snakes which gave his town its name.TFA also played music by Toronto’s own @ozzylyall !Listen to TFA Mondays at 6pm on @ciut895fm , and follow the show @TFA.radio on Instagram.

Argentina -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 58

This week Tracks From Abroad took a trip to Argentina, the winner of the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament. On the episode you’ll also hear a live performance of Argentine folk music recorded in the CIUT 89.5 FM studio by El Ceibo Folklore.
First on the show is U of T student Abril, a 4th year political science student who tells us about her home of Mar del Plata and the several other Latin American countries where she’s lived.
At the halfway point you’ll hear our interview with Patrick and Patricio , a guitarist and percussionist in El Ceibo Folklore. This Toronto band embraces the traditional sounds (and dances) of the Argentine countryside.
Keep it locked on TFA for more international music and edutainment brought to you by members in our community!

Lithuania -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 57

Finally, the day you’ve all been waiting for…Tracks From Abroad is visiting Lithuania with a full hour of music and discussions including a chat with the Ambassador of Lithuania.
First on the episode is Elžbieta. Elžbieta is a theater student, kick boxer, and world traveler who talks on TFA about identity and superstitious Lithuanian holidays.
TFA’s diplomat guest Darius Skusevičius called in from Ottawa to discuss how he got into the foreign service and what his work is like day to day. Darius mentions a marathon he ran in close proximity to polar bears, and if that doesn’t catch your interest, nothing will.
Catch this week’s episode of Tracks From Abroad Mondays at 6pm on CIUT 89.5 , or anytime on Spotify.

Peru -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 56

This week on Tracks From Abroad we visit the beautiful nation of Peru which remains locked in a political crisis over its government's leadership. TFA managed to get a first hand source on the show calling from Lima, Peru to comment on the day to day scenes in the city and the experiences of political protestors.
That was Matias Recharte, percussionist of the band band Kuné, Canada's global orchestra. Several weeks ago before the unrest had claimed the lives of 50 Peruvians, Matias came to the studio to talk about Peruvian folk music and to play two special instruments, the cajon and quijada. The cajon is an unassuming wooden box, and the quijada is the striking jaw bone of a donkey--teeth and all. You will hear both on this episode along with music by Kuné, a Toronto band comprised of 10 immigrant musicians and a Métis Canadian.
Also on the episode is U of T first year student Deb. Deb shares her favorite Peruvian-reggae music with us and explains Peru's must-visit locations. Deb has a high-profile political connection too, but our interview was recorded before the Peruvian president, Perdo Castillo, was removed from office in December of 2022.
You can listen to Tracks From Abroad any time online for our full archive of international radio episodes, and the show is live on CIUT 89.5 FM in Toronto Mondays at 6pm. See you next week!

Grenada -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 55

They're gonna remember this episode of Tracks From Abroad as we ditch gloomy Toronto and find our way to the shores of the Caribbean.
TFA welcomes Zoei, a violinist in the music department, to tell us about her home country of Grenada. Zoei describes the controversy around ethnomusicology, the wonders of Grenadian Jouvert, and the best crowd surfer in the Caribbean: Lavaman.
Also on TFA this week is Treson of The Human Rights Band, a Reggae group in Toronto that knows how to rock the house. I saw them open for Meta and the Cornerstones this summer at Lee's Palace. Treson tells us about the legend of Bob Marley and how Jamaican slang was created by escaped slave rebels called Maroons. This is an interview to remember.
We will catch you Monday at 6pm next week, but in the meantime you connect with Tracks From Abroad at TFA.radio on Instagram or at TracksFromAbroad@ciut.fm

Romania -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 54

Tracks From Abroad is back in our 6th season, this week featuring a handful of guests on a show about Romania. TFA has new episodes from all around the world scheduled for every week, so stay tuned and follow us on IG!
Dorian and Diana joined TFA to talk about their experiences as Canadian-Romanians, and the heavy metal bassist of Pero Defformero gave TFA's friend Andrej a call all the way from Eastern Europe! It is a heavy episode all the way around.
Lastly, TFA checked in with Alex, host of Dreaming in Stereo on CIUT. Alex was born in Romania, and hosts her show Fridays at 6pm on the station.
If you want to contribute to our show with songs, graphics or ideas, email us at TracksFromAbroad@ciut.fm or hit up @tfa.radio on IG. Until next week!

World Foods -- Tracks From Abroad Special Edition

Feeling hungry?
This week Tracks From Abroad reaches back into the catalogue to all the times that student guests talked about their favorite international foods. From Indonesian Indomie noodles to the Barbadian flying fish to Egyptian chicken panne, TFA has amassed quite the menu.
TFA season 6 will begin in the 2023 new year. Thanks for listening in 2022.

Hip Hop Genre Spotlight -- Tracks From Abroad Special Edition

From Jamaica to the Bronx, and then to the furthest parts of the globe, the Hip Hop genre has made its mark in cultures around the world. This week on Tracks From Abroad we hear about the origins of Hip Hop from Toronto rapper PHATT Al, before tracing Hip Hop's influence to Palestine, Japan, Poland, Iran, Haiti, and finally back to Canada. You'll hear interview clips from PHATT AL, Professor Skye, Milad and even a relative of mine who is studying abroad.
Keep it locked on TFA, and hear this show played live Tuesday at 9pm on CIUT 89.5 FM.