Clara Ponty’s successful career as a classical and jazz composer and pianist could have continued without interruption, but her inner voice called her to enter the world of voice. Into The Light is her first album as a vocalist and marks her close collaboration with other great musicians, including her father, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Nigel Kennedy.

In this podcast Clara talks about the importance of authenticity both in life and in music, how she approached composing for voice, and why she loves to get out of the studio and perform live.

Photo Credit: Kimberly Wright

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With a cast of San Francisco’s most diverse musicians, LoCura mixes Latin styles like rumba flamenco and cumbia with ska and funk, making a global mosaic that brings together the connections and rhythms of the world.

In this interview we talk with LoCura vocalist Katalina Miletich about how the band started, their inspiration that fuels lyrics about social justice and their new album “Semilla Caminante”.

Bonus: see a video promo for “Semilla Caminante”

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American-born Ladino singer and songwriter Sarah Aroeste has spent a decade expanding the possibilities of contemporary Ladino song.

In this interview we talk with her about her Sephardic heritage, her new album to be released in May 2012 and the woman that inspired it and plans to tour with her brilliant pan-Mediterranean melodies.

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Canadian DJ collective A Tribe Called Red take the urban aboriginal experience to the electronica scene. Their signature style is called powwowstep, a mix of traditional pow wow vocals and drumming with cutting-edge electronic music that is taking the urban club scene by storm. To see and hear some of their work, watch the video for Electric Pow Wow Drum.

In this podcast we talk with Bear Witness, one of the trio of artists that also includes DJ Shub and DJ NDN. Bear Witness talks about the monthly club nights in Ottawa featuring native artists, the new ATCR album which is available for free download, and plans to tour the United States and Europe later this year.

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San Francisco-based band Sleepy Sun have come very far in a very short time. Just off their third appearance at SXSW and with a new album — Spine Hits — they go deeper and further into the music.

In this podcast we talk with Bret Constantino about the new album, the craziness that is SXSW and a year of touring non-stop.

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