On the low – Burna Boy

Tucked away in an indoor market in Manchester, northwest England, lies the last shop in Britain dedicated to selling cassettes. Mars Tapes, founded in 2019 by a group of music lovers, is tapping into a nostalgic trend in cultural consumption accentuated by the coronavirus pandemic.

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.

We start by looking at how the German papers are covering the upcoming coalition talks. We then focus on disgraced US singer R. Kelly’s conviction for sex trafficking. Variety wonders if his music should be banned from streaming sites. We also see how the fight for the right to an abortion continues in France. Finally, we take a look at the non-fairy tale coverage of Japan's upcoming royal wedding.

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.

Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) has started hosting its five-day dance music festival after the Dutch government lifted restrictions on the entertainment sector, as well as clubs and bars. The event has been scaled down compared to previous years, while measures are in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including on-site testing.

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.

Anni, Benny, Bjorn and Agnetha are back. Four decades after they were last in the charts, the Swedish superstars are releasing their new album "Voyage". The foursome will also be staging a virtual concert in a custom-built arena in London in the spring of 2022.

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.

US singer-songwriter Natalie Bergman has just released "Keep Those Teardrops From Falling", a follow-up EP to her debut solo album "Mercy" on Jack White's prestigious label Third Man Records. She tells Marjorie Hache why writing this gospel folk music was cathartic following her father's death and about taking her music on the road. We also check out new tracks by Sting, Tanzania's SinaUbi Zawose and Beyoncé.

Dominating airwaves in 2011 with his hit song [and second release] “Dami Duro”, David Adeleke made a bold statement by leading with his affluent origin story in a time when the more accepted narrative for artistes was one of coming from nothing. The uptempo song with rattling drums and electric melody on which Davido announced himself as “Omo Baba Olowo” burned his name into the minds of listeners and highlighted his individuality, energy, and sheer will to entertain. Davido talks to GuardianTV about his music, legacy, and philanthropy