Right, back in the UK we are. After what was probably the best 2,5 weeks of holiday in my life, I now have to get back to normality and pick up where I left off. Same goes for music, really. Funny enough I have barely been listening to any music during my trip (not even during the flight!) given that I was hanging out with friends most of the time. I’m still catching up on new album releases by Niko B, Twenty One Pilots, Joywave, Bring Me The Horizon, Cola, and probably many more. I’ll just start off this new week by reflecting on my trip a bit.

After coming back from a great roadtrip through central Japan, I needed a chill night in for a bit. Just me laying down in bed, mindlessly watching some random recommended YouTube videos. While doing exactly that, my eye caught a set by Nigerien artist Mdou Moctar who, together with his band, did a live session in Niger’s capital, Niamey, recorded in winter 2020. One day after watching this great set – seriously, these 4 artists are absolutely amazing, you won’t regret checking it out – I went out for a stroll through the blazing sun of Kanazawa city. I figured the Tuareg artist’s music made for the ideal soundtrack on a 15 kilometre walk through the sweltering heat, and I was not disappointed.