Tracks From Abroad

Bulgaria – Tracks From Abroad Ep. 99

This week Tracks From Abroad visits Bulgaria. We talk to Mina and, having lived in Bulgaria, Switzerland, and now Canada, she provides a well-rounded perspective on Canadian culture.
Mina contrasts Torontonian hustle culture with Bulgarian slow living, and she discusses how, in Bulgaria, it's not what you do, but who you do it with. But there is also much that Bulgaria and Canada share, as we talk about both countries' love of the outdoors and how Mina has been making time to enjoy nature with her fellow students.
Imagine hiking through the woods to the sound of traditional Bulgarian folk... or power walking as we play contemporary club tunes. Tune into CIUT 89.5FM each Monday at 6PM to catch our episodes!

New Brunswick – Tracks From Abroad Ep. 98

This week, Tracks From Abroad stays local, in the sense that our guest comes from inside Canada. We talk to Cedric, a classical guitar student who hails from New Brunswick.
We hear all about the interesting places he’s performed, the difference between playing classical and electric guitar, as well as his experience being in two bands. Across the episode we listen to a smattering of music from the small maritime province, everything from folk to heavy rock is in the cards.
Tune in Mondays at 6PM to hear this episode, and more, on CIUT 89.5FM !

The Bahamas – Tracks From Abroad Ep. 97

During one of the coldest weeks of the winter, Tracks From Abroad takes you to the temperate Bahamas.
We kick back with Adam Knowles, a student at U of T who enjoys both the complexities of neuroscience and the thrill of spear fishing. He tells us about what it's like to live in a popular tourist destination and how life on the archipelago is so closely tied to the climate, with hurricanes and climate change frequently posing a threat.
We also discuss how Bahamian music varies across the islands - from rural rake-and-scrape to contemporary calypso, you'll hear it all on this week's episode of Tracks From Abroad. Tune into CIUT 89.5FM next week at 6pm EST for another trip abroad!

Estonia – Tracks From Abroad Ep. 96

Back from the winter break Tracks from Abroad returns with episode 96 on Estonia. We speak to a daughter-father combo of Kaisa Kasekamp and her dad, Professor Andres Kasekamp.
First, Kaisa talks about growing up in Estonia and teaches us about the vibrant Estonian community here in Toronto. She speaks about slow Estonian living and the natural beauty of bogs located in the country.
Professor Kasekamp comes on later in the show to teach us some Estonian history, specifically about the 'Singing Revolution', which helped gain Estonian independence in the early 1990s. Tune into Tracks from Abroad Monday nights at 6PM on CIUT 89.5FM and join us next week for episode 97!

Meet the Team – Tracks From Abroad Ep. 95

Happy New Year from the team at Tracks From Abroad! On episode 95 we take you behind the scenes and into the minds of the wonderful people who work on the show. As Tracks From Abroad is a fully student-run show, we thought it would be nice to turn the spotlight inwards and hear what the crew has to say about the show they produce each week.
First we hear from editors Simon and Rosa, as they debate how long it should take to cut down an episode, and then from board tech Matthew and promotional manager Akshita, who is the only high school student in the team. We get to hear from directors Jesse and Elzbieta and finally, the tables are turned on our hosts as they are the ones being interviewed for once!
We look forward to bringing more episodes to you in 2024, and can't wait to travel around the rest of the world with Tracks From Abroad!

Best of Season 9 – Tracks From Abroad Ep. 94

As the year comes to an end during this wonderful holiday season, enjoy our highlights from Season 9 of Tracks From Abroad!

Colombia – Tracks From Abroad Ep. 93

On the latest episode of Tracks from Abroad, we stay put in South America and travel across one border, to Colombia. First we sit down and chat with Nathalia, who studies linguistics and shares about her upbringing watching dubbed Spanish tv shows as a kid. She speaks about Colombian artists becoming more Americanized and also educates us about the many differences between Spanish spoken all around latin America.
 
We then got the chance to talk to Colombian-Canadian artist Natasha Roldan and learn about her latest EP "Ya no Estoy Aqui". She explains how the songs on the project stem from her Colombian culture and touch upon topics like migration, revolution, and the Colombian Conflict.
 
Join us next Monday at 6pm for a special highlight episode, as we wind down and get ready for the new year.

Venezuela 2 – Tracks From Abroad Ep. 92

After a week in the Middle East, our Tracks From Abroad team is bringing you to South America on episode 92!
For the first interview, our hosts speak to Giovanna from Venezuela. After moving to Canada at 16, she first studied architectural drafting and is currently completing another degree in architecture at the University of Toronto. Growing up in the music capital of Venezuela, Barquisimeto, she studied classical piano, and tells us about some of the teachers she shared with world renowned Venezuelan composer, Gustavo Dudamel. We learn about traditional Venezuelan folk music played around Christmastime, "Gaitas", and shares stories about a personal connection to global superstars Chino y Nacho.
Later on the episode we play out interview with Eliana Cuevas from our visit to Global Toronto presented by Small World Music. Eliana is interviewed by TFA team member Isabella Milano who asked about Eliana's most recent project, Sere Libre. Eliana blends jazz with Latin music, and it won her a Canadian Folk Music Award in 2018.
Tune in at 6pm on Monday nights to hear these stories and more, on CIUT 89.5 FM (CIUT.fm). 

Sudan – Tracks From Abroad Ep. 91

Tracks From Abroad is beginning our 10th season this week with a new country! Today we visit Sudan with two U of T students who joined our hosts for a double-interview. 
Omar speaks to his Sudanese culture regarding food, as well as his upbringing in Dubai, and the differences he finds living now in Toronto. Omar's friend Aly tells us about his father, a tour guide, and mentions his dream to open a global tourism business along with him. Aly has had the good fortune of touring the pyramids of Giza countless times! 
On the episode we feature both Sudanese and Egyptian music, from dance hits to more traditional tunes. Join us next week on Tracks From Abroad as we take a trip to Colombia in South America. Mondays at 6pm on CIUT FM!
 
 

Kurdistan – Tracks From Abroad Ep.90

10 episodes down and new hosts Alex and Seth have traveled all across the world, listening to unique stories from the community at the University of Toronto. Today, landing in Kurdistan for episode 90, we hear from PhD student Sinem and learn about the field of Ethnomusicology.
Focusing on non-western frame drums, Sinem studies the significance of these instruments in female led circles across North America. The Kurdish people are one of the largest stateless nations and Sinem explains the differences and similarities of modern Kurdish people living across four separate countries.
Join us next week on Tracks From Abroad when we visit Sudan!