Rokia Traoré is the subject of a feature on PRI's weekday news magazine The World, in which she discusses her new album, Tchamantché, particularly her decision to include the American Gretsch guitar, with its unmistakable signature sound, throughout the record. "I wanted something electric but sweet at the same time," she says. "Electric, but not aggressive in the same time. The day I tried it, the Gretsch guitar, I knew very quickly that that was the sound I was looking for."
Rokia Traoré is the subject of a feature on Public Radio International's weekday news magazine The World. She speaks with the show's senior producer, Marco Werman, about her new album, Tchamantché, particularly her decision to include the American Gretsch guitar, with its unmistakable signature sound, throughout the record.
"I wanted to come back to the guitar, which is my first instrument," Traoré tells Werman. "I wanted something electric but sweet at the same time. Electric, but not aggressive in the same time. The day I tried it, the Gretsch guitar, I knew very quickly that that was the sound I was looking for."
The two also discuss Rokia's rendition of Gershwin's "The Man I Love," a song made famous by Billie Holiday, and the political message behind some of the album's tracks.
Listen to the segment at pri.org.
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TED, the organization behind the world-renowned Technology, Entertainment, Design conference, which has featured such esteemed participants as Al Gore and Jane Goodall, recommends the new album from "the wonderful Rokia Traoré" on its TEDBlog. The site includes video from her performance of "the stunning" album track "Kounandi" at the TEDGlobal 2007 conference in Arusha, Tanzania. Watch at blog.ted.com.
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