Tracks From Abroad

Morocco -- Tracks From Abroad Ep.17

In the fall I met a first year student named Ali on the soccer field as we were trying out for a campus team. For months afterward I didn't see him, but from our short conversation it was clear that our interests overlapped. He liked soccer, he knew all kinds of music, and he wanted to come on Tracks From Abroad to talk about Morocco!
This week TFA travels to Morocco to hear music from the country that combines Arab, African, Spanish, and French cultures into its rhythms. We hear stories from Ali and music from Faouzia, a Canadian Moroccan with a lot to say. Did you ever think Kelly Clarkson would sing in Arabic? I sure didn't.
We have crossed 100 subscribers on Instagram and it's just the first of many milestones. After I've graduated UofT and moved on to some fun job with incredible benefits, TFA will continue, fueled by the passionate and hard-working international students who travel to Canada and make the best of it. I salute you. -Jesse

Lebanon/Syria -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 16

It has been 12 episodes since we featured Lebanon on Tracks From Abroad, and this week's show  includes a Syrian twist with an interview from the band Kazdoura. Band members Leen and Johnny talk about their Arabic-fusion music, the challenge of making art during war, and their plans for future projects.
Also on the show is my economics TA, Suzanna, who describes her life in Lebanon--a city that never sleeps. She traveled from Lebanon to California at 19, and now works for the University of Toronto teaching classes in the middle of the night from Beirut.
The day after this TFA show is released Kazdoura will be performing in Kensington at Supermarket, February 27th at 7:30. Tickets are available in their Instagram bio, so show up and listen to Lebanon and Syria in your own back yard. Thanks for listening, and have a great weekend! -Jesse

Ghana -- Tracks From Abroad Ep.15

Tracks From Abroad returns to Africa for episode 15 on Ghana, and for the second time we have a double student interview with Maame and Enam.
Also on the show is Zamani, an artist from Nova Scotia who talks about her creative process and a music video she filmed in Ghana for the song Outside.
Thanks so much for listening, and happy reading week to all you students out there.

St. Lucia -- Tracks From Abroad Ep.14

I surprise myself every week with just how much I can pack into one hour of Tracks From Abroad. This week on St. Lucia has two interviews, one with U of T student Charran Auguste, and a second with U of T professor Kevin Edmonds. The small island of St. Lucia is revealed to be a beautiful and dynamic community under which political conflict and the drug trade exist.
 
I discovered the genre Dennerey Segment from Edmonds who's family comes from the Dennerey part of the island. I can't think of a better way to learn about the Caribbean.
 
Enjoy the show, and check back next week when Tracks From Abroad visits Ghana.

Dominican Republic -- Tracks From Abroad Ep.13

TFA Dominican Republic is another stacked episode with Caribbean music, a student interview, and an interview with Néstor E. Rodríguez, the director of Caribbean Studies at the University of Toronto.
In this episode we discuss Dominican slang, corruption, baseball, and we touch on the country's African heritage derived from the slave trade. Rodríguez himself immigrated from DR to Georgia, USA before arriving in Toronto, and he shares stories from his research and experiences within the Latin world.
It's warm in the Caribbean, so we going back next week too St. Lucia with another professor interview and more danceable music. Thanks for listening to Tracks From Abroad -- we'll see you on the next episode. -Jesse

Serbia -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 12

This week, Tracks From Abroad had Andrej Askovic in the 'studio' to talk all things Serbia. I don't think Serbia was mentioned during the entirety of my education in the US of A, and Andrej helps fill in the gaps.
The show has some great music from late 70s to the present day, and we threw in some Canadian tracks by the Lemon Bucket Orchestra and Rush to give Toronto some props.
You can listen to the show live on CIUT 89.5 FM, Saturdays at 8am, and be back here this time next week for another great show. -Jesse

Haiti -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 11

We've now begun season 2 of Tracks From Abroad, and this episode on Haiti is a perfect show to start with. It features interviews with Mathis Roy Vigne as well as Professor Skye of Professor Skye's Record Reviews.
You can find all of the songs on this episode through our instagram page @TFA.radio, and listen live on CIUT 89.5 FM, Saturdays at 8am. Next week we've got a show on Serbia, and the tracks just keep coming. Until next week, Jesse

Latvia -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 10

On the 10th and final episode of season 1 for Tracks From Abroad we visit Latvia with Anna.
Did you know Latvia is known for its historical folk songs? Or that the University of Toronto music department had a Latvian professor teaching for 32 years? Take a listen and learn about the eastern European country that has everybody talking.
TFA will be taking a break next week, and the next episode on Haiti will arrive on January 13th. If anyone is still reading this, thank you for listening, and if you or someone you know wants to come on the show, just drop me a line.

Mexico -- Tracks From Abroad Ep.9

This week Tracks From Abroad visits Mexico with a playlist from Isai Gutierrez. Isaí tells us about learning English in Toronto, seeing homeless youth in Mexico City, and the experiences that contributed to his cultural identity. The Canadian music this week comes from Nelly Furtado with her 2009 Spanish-Language album, Mi Plan, and there's lots of good Latin music throughout.
 
Next week will mark episode 10 of Tracks From Abroad! Thank you for listening. -Jesse

Nigeria -- Tracks From Abroad Ep. 8

Tracks From Abroad visits Africa for the first time on episode 8 -- Nigeria. We interview Ehiko, an arts student from Nigeria, and talk about Nigerian patois, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) protests, and as always we get recommendations on Nigerian food in Toronto.
This week TFA is happy to have Shopé on the show to spread some wisdom about the music industry and introduce some of his new music. Shopé talks about the moment he decided to become an artist while listening to a lecture in convocation hall at the University of Toronto. You can listen to the full video interview at the 'Tracks From Abroad' Youtube channel, and keep up with Shopé at allofshope.com
Thank you for listening to Tracks From Abroad in 2021, and you'd better believe we're going to keep working through the new year into 2022. Where in the world should we go next?