I may be way late to this so forgive me, but I just discovered there's a nonprofit record label within the Smithsonian as part of the Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage, and its amazing. They have a bunch of great curated albums and playlists, and sell vinyl represses. I found an album from 1976 by David Nzomo called "Gospel Songs From Kenya: Kikambo Hyms" and have been listening to it all week. There's also some weird fun ones like an album of frog sounds or city soundscapes.
Found a cheap vinyl in a market, labelled jazz and blues but definitely folk in actuality, but was not disappointed. Second album release has tripled the monthly listeners, proud of my boy!
i discovered her on togo soul 70, a really great compilation album from togolese musicians (so i would recommend that one too), and since then she has become one of my favorite voices probably ever. if you like soul/folk/funk you will like this! “kimumbu” and “i tcho tchass” are my favorite tracks. really beautiful album
School made us think reading is a holy act. It is not. Its just something to do. Like watching a movie or sports. You aren’t going to be tested by anyone. Read high. Read drunk. Read 2 pages. Read half awake. Remember nothing or just some of it. It really doesn’t matter
I feel like growing up every band or musician besides super huge pop stars was just normal looking. Not weird in a cool way and not perfectly curated. Just actually weird or actually normal. I miss that. Everyone is too hot now. To quote Silver Jews, "What's with all the handsome grandsons
In these rock band magazines?
What have they done with the fat ones?
The bald and the goateed?" We need more normals in music.
