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The Triangle of Texture, Mood & Rhythm with Xefer
Xefer is joined by Apashe, Kovacs, and Raja Kumari.
Xefer, who hosts the programme, was born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and her journey in music started on YouTube where she would upload covers of herself performing songs in English by the likes of Bruno Mars, Jessie J and Paramore. She released her first single Judge in 2016, followed by her debut album Uncaged in 2017. Since then her style has changed and evolved, writing hit singles in Bengali such as Nei Proyojon, Jhumka and Harbo Na.
She’s joined by a selection of artists from around the world who have inspired her.
First up, a Belgian electronic music producer who is known for his bass-heavy anthems and expert sampling skills. His cinematic sound blends electronic music with elements of orchestral and classical music and has soundtracked the trailers for blockbuster films including John Wick: Chapter 2 and Fast & Furious: Hobbes and Shaw. What’s more, he’s currently touring the world with a live brass orchestra! It’s Apashe.
Next up, a singer from the Netherlands who spent her early years performing at open mic nights and wowing audiences with her powerful yet vulnerable sound. Her debut single ‘My Love’ became a number one hit across Europe in 2013 and this year she released her album Child Of Sin, featuring Rammstein’s lead singer, Till Lindemann. It’s Kovacs.
And finally, an Indian-American rapper and singer who originally trained as an Indian classical dancer before discovering hip-hop through The Fugees’ album The Score. She’s since become a star in both the US and India, collaborating with everyone from Gwen Stefani to Sidhu Moose Wala, headlining huge festivals and founding her own label, Godmother Records. It’s Raja Kumari.
Together they’ll be talking about singing in English or their native languages, overcoming obstacles due to where you live, and how to evolve as an artist through songwriting.
In part 2 Kovacs takes us through a playlist she’s called Fragility, featuring music from Nina Simone, Other Lives, Soap&Skin and more.