7 Amazing Francophone Musicians for the Start of Summer

Summer is starting. And there’s nothing more freeing that the windows open and some great music on your stereo or in your ear buds. The francophone music scene runs across a spectrum of genres, from R&B and psychedelic rock to experimental pop and Parisian rap. Here are some of the artists you should be adding to your “je kiffe bien ça” playlist.

Amadou & Mariam

Amadou & Mariam is a music duo from Bamako, Mali. In an interview, the band members Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doubia, who are both blind, agreed that, “People are surprised by the quality of our music, and the way we are able to play with other musicians, to fit into other kinds of music – that is what amazes them. It helps them realize that no matter whether you are blind or not, you can work, you can make music.” Their album, Welcome To Mali, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album in 2008, and they have continued to release and experiment across the spectrum of musical style. What especially draws listeners to Amadou & Mariam is their unique and constantly evolving sound. Despite remaining rooted in traditional Malian music, Amadou & Marian are constantly integrating international cultures into their songs, from rock guitars, Syrian violins and Cuban trumpets to Egyptian flutes and all forms of percussion. The only genre that truly categorizes this duo is “world beat.’’

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