Music show: Katy J Pearson on making a debut comeback album

British grime artist Slowthai is known for his provocative live performances and politically aware lyrics. His first album, the outward-looking "Nothing Great About Britain", was greeted positively by critics and music fans alike and propelled to the top of the UK's urban music scene. FRANCE 24 caught up with him to discuss his new introspective offering, "Tyron".

In 2015, childhood friends Victor Solf and Simon Carpentier formed the neo-soul duo "Her". The band enjoyed a successful run on the French music scene but Carpentier tragically passed away in 2017, just before the release of the band's self-titled debut LP. After leading a tour for the record, Victor Solf decided to move on. He's just released his first solo album in his name, entitled "Still. There's Hope". He tells FRANCE 24's Florence Villeminot about his desire to celebrate life and why he decided to go solo.

She's a beloved voice in the Canadian music industry. Multidisciplinary artist TiKA has a lot of tricks up her sleeve: singer-songwriter, DJ, model, film composer, actor and advocate for the empowerment of female artists. Earlier this year, she added another feather to her cap with the release of her hotly anticipated debut LP "Anywhere But Here", which is full of 1980s-inspired synth pop anthems.

Norwegian singer-songwriter Sigrid shot to fame in 2017 following the release of her debut EP "Don't Kill My Vibe". The 2019 release of her debut album "Sucker Punch" confirmed her place in pop stardom. She's been described as iconoclast, rewriting the rules of what it means to be a pop star – especially a female pop star.

Blufunk legend Keziah Jones, who became a global superstar at the turn of the 1990s after he was noticed busking in the streets of Paris and London, is back in the French capital to take part in a series of artistic events at the Pompidou Centre over the next three weeks. Along with choreographer Qudus Onikeku, a fellow Lagos native, Jones popped by the FRANCE 24 studios to tell us more about the "Fly by Night" events that celebrate African art, dance and music with creatives from Nigeria, Rwanda and DR Congo.

Fans of ABBA in Stockholm outside a museum dedicated to the group say they are thrilled after the Swedish superstars announced a musical comeback with a new album and a London show featuring their performances captured by digital avatars.

British electronic duo Jungle appeared out of nowhere in late 2013 as a mystery group, but their slick funk-pop singles quickly propelled them to fame. Their 2014 self-titled debut album was certified Gold in the UK and their follow up album "For Ever" confirmed their success around the world. This summer, they released their third studio album "Loving in Stereo", a collection of wall-to-wall bangers bursting with life. Josh Lloyd-Watson sat down with FRANCE 24's Florence Villeminot to talk about what inspired this 13-track bundle of love.

Quebec-based singer-songwriter Hubert Lenoir shot onto the scene with his debut solo album "Darlène", a glam rock psychedelic postmodern opera that was shortlisted for the 2018 Polaris Music Prize. He’s back with a very personal sophomore album entitled "PICTURA DE IPSE : Musique directe". This musical autobiography is a tribute to the "cinéma direct" movement, which started in Québec at the end of the 1950s.

Hailing from the Netherlands, artist Tessa Douwstra performs under the name Luwten, which means "a place without wind" in Dutch. Her music channels traditional indie songwriting through a kaleidoscope of modern pop and experimental R&B. She recently released her second LP entitled "Draft", which features 11 complex and well-crafted tracks. She tells FRANCE 24’s Florence Villeminot about wanting to writing about the transition from introspection to a more outward-focused life.

This week, we chat to Australian jazz singer, pianist and composer Sarah McKenzie, who is currently touring France with a mini residency at the prestigious Duc des Lombards jazz club. She tells us more about the creative way in which she connected with musicians from around the world at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. We also meet young Parisian artist Yoa, whose bedroom pop-filled debut EP "Attente" has just been released.

This month marks the fifth anniversary of the death of Canadian poet and musician Leonard Cohen. French indie rocker H-Burns has paid tribute to him in his latest album "Burns On The Wire", which focuses on Cohen's folk era and features guest appearances from Lou Doillon, Kevin Morby and more. H-Burns joined us in the studio to tell us more.

Hailing from Belgium and Cameroon, singer-songwriter Lubiana plays the kora, an ancestral West African instrument traditionally played exclusively by men. She's just released her first album "Beloved", mixing upbeat pop and afro tunes. She tells FRANCE 24's Florence Villeminot about how playing the kora helped her reconnect with her roots and embrace her mixed heritage.