Tracks From Abroad

Bike Touring Lake Simcoe -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 40.5

Just like last time after episode 30, Tracks From Abroad is pausing our normal programming to spend one episode testing the boundaries of radio show structure and seeing what Jesse can get away with on air. In this show you will find the familiar themes of travel and adventure but this time fit into a story about Jesse and Zoe attempting to bike around Lake Simcoe in July.
The show features thematic music selected by the two bikers as they worked through their multi-day tour around the lake as well as spontaneous audio logs recorded as the trip progressed. Having biked in Ontario in places like Niagara and Collingwood, Jesse and Zoe rolled their bikes on to the Union Station GO train thinking this would be a trip like any other. But as you will discover on in the show, the trip took an unexpected turn they never saw coming.
Will the wandering bikers make it back to civilization? Will they ever step onto a bicycle again after this 200km journey? Press play and find out!
Next week TFA will be back with a return to Egypt featuring our friend Ramzy, and as always, thanks for listening. -Jesse

Italy -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 40

Tracks From Abroad has just reached 40 episodes since we started the show last October. So we’re celebrating with a pizza party! Just kidding, but we are going to visit the home of pizza and pasta in Italy.
On this celebratory show we have Gabriella for our first student interview. She talks about living in Italy as a teenager and the recent heatwave that’s engulfed the country. Soon we will link with the Italian department at UofT to hear more from the boot-shaped nation.
Our second interview is with do-it-all DIA who has just released a new song in Toronto. With two musical Italian families, Dia grew up performing music before getting into film and makeup. She will soon move to Italy where we might have to give her a call for a woman-on-the-scene type experience.
So enjoy our two interviews with some hot Italian music, and keep listening to Tracks From Abroad Tuesdays and Saturdays on CIUT. Peace!

Guyana -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 39

Tracks From Abroad GUYANA is a hot show coming off our return to Ukraine last week. The show has stellar music with two superb guests!
Our UofT student guest is Alyssa who talks about the Caribbean Studies Student Union, costal flooding, and Guyana's Independence celebration. She and I study the same subjects at UofT, and Alyssa was great on air.
Next we welcome Danny Adhim of Folk'n Comedy, an open mic show I've been watching on Mondays throughout the summer. Danny had humble beginnings in Guyana but now directs films and elevates local comics in Toronto! His show continues at the Pour House restaurant at 182 Dupont street, and you can expect more diverse comedians on TFA in the weeks to come.
I present to you another Caribbean episode of Tracks From Abroad, and you can listen live Tuesdays and Saturdays on CIUT 89.5 FM.
-Jesse

Returning to Ukraine -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 38

For this 38th episode of Tracks From Abroad we return to Ukraine to speak with a whole cast of people. To start the show we have U of T student Alex and Rick Palidwor of Hart House together for a discussion of the band Dakhabrakha, a band whose pronunciation alludes me.
Rick brings extensive research of Dakhabrakha to the show and we play corresponding tracks to get to know the band. Alex adds another level of sophistication giving us translations and stories to illustrate how this band fits into the Ukrainian music scene.
Later in the show you'll hear two abridged interviews with Sofiya of Zapovid and Orest of Hloptsi Z Mista, two Ukrainian bands based in Toronto. The full video interviews will soon be on the TFA Youtube page, and you can find this show's track lists at TFA.radio.
Thank you for listening to the show and the great bands Toronto has to offer!

St. Vincent -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 37

This week's Tracks From Abroad episode is perfectly timed to coincide with Toronto's Caribbean Festival. We present to you an episode about Saint Vincent and the Grenadines!
Previously we've visited Haiti, DR, St. Lucia and Trinidad, and this time the show is just as stellar.
Thandi talked with TFA about playing squash, volcanic eruptions, and code switching. Also on the show is Drew Gonzales of Kobo Town. We caught Drew on Toronto Island at an Island Cafe performance to talk about his new music and the Caribbean Carnival.
Stay with TFA this weekend during Toronto's Caribbean festival, and we've got more Caribbean shows on deck soon!
-Jesse

Mexico #3 -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 36

Mexico now ranks as the most visited country on Tracks From Abroad, and I have no problem with that. This week Victor, a student at U of T, tells us about his time in Mexico and his travels across the continent.
I was so interested to hear about his experience running a candy business with his family, cooking mole, and finally returning to U of T to get himself another degree. There is a lot to learn about Mexico, and I hope you'll take a listen on TFA.
Next week we have a special artist interview coming from the Caribbean, and let me know your comments about the show on @TFA.radio on instagram or at TracksFromAbroad@ciut.fm
-Jesse

Singapore -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 35

Tracks From Abroad Singapore was a great show with some challenging questions and interesting answers. Genevieve gave was our U of T student rep from Singapore, and her playlist was diverse across the board.
We talked about Gum chewing, economic development, and the future of the island nation.

Kurdistan -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 34

Take a trip to Kurdistan this week on Tracks From Abroad, a disputed region spread between the nations of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. To help us better understand this part of the world we welcomed Milad to the show who put together a great playlist of music.
He says music is essential to the Kurdish culture, and together we talked about Kurdish dances, their fragile governance, and their language.
TFA will return next week with a show for the ages that will change the world. Is anyone even reading these descriptions? asfdfaederfa srgaesfdaedhszz - Jesse

Israel -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 33

This week on Tracks From Abroad is stacked with good interviews!
First U of T student Hagar discusses Israel from her home in Tel Aviv. We talk about the Israeli army, Israel's beaches, and the holy city of Jerusalem.
Next two members of the Toronto band Queen Kong join TFA with intern Quinn Carlisle, and Aaron of Jaffa Road ends the show with a bang. You can hear both band's music in the episode, and their full video interviews are up now on Youtube. See them play in the Toronto Jazz Festival this weekend!
Next week TFA will return to Iran, and maybe hit the Caribbean by mid-July. Keep tuning in to hear music and stories from folks around the world. -Jesse

Egypt -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 32

This week on Tracks From Abroad we visit the 'cradle of civilization' to hear music from Egypt. Our student interview with Karim covers Egyptian beaches, potato chips, and how best to enjoy the pyramids of Giza.
Next week for the start of Toronto's Jazz Fest we'll do a show in Israel featuring local band Jaffa Road. Have any suggestions for the show? Send us a message or email tracksfromabroad@ciut.fm
And rock on! -Jesse