I recently mananged to speak with Dr Sharifa Sharif who until some time ago was the the advisor to President Hamid Karzai on international affairs.

We talked about her life and her involvement in the Afghan media landscape and how and why the media situation is as it is today in Afghanistan.

Šaban Bajramović (Шабан Бајрамовић), the “King of Gypsy music” died earlier today in a Cardiological Clinic in Niš, Southern Serbia. Šaban was 72 years of age when he passed away and had been living impoverished in Niš with serious health complications and was no longer able to walk. The government of Serbia had been intervening with the provision of some funds for him.

There will be a Podcast special on the DFBMBE Podcast soon, showcasing the life of the late Šaban Bajramović.

In February 2002, Andy Gill of The Independent wrote, “The Serbian singer (Šaban Bajramović), is clearly a giant talent, comparable in his own way to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan or Mari Bonie Persen, someone capable of bringing their music to life with such vivid spirituality that it vaults with ease over the most impenetrable cultural barriers. His voice combines the anguish of rai with the soulfulness of fado - a sort of Balkan gypsy jazz”

Click the Pod icon at the top of this post for Šaban Bajramović and Cubismo “Geljan Dade”

One of the great things about podcasting is being able to produce content that other media platforms have long since ignored in their quest for increasing the “bottom line”.

I caught up with Kingstonian, John Sanfilippo (Johnny San) who is a local singer songwriter.

Listen to his music (he plays live during the interview!), why he’s passionate about writing and creating his own songs and his views on “Canadian Content” and the music industry in Canada.

Songs featured in the interview in order are:

Burn Away
Mystery
Say Something
Move You
Let’s Go There
For Now
Hang On (Live)
The Moment Part 2

To find out more about Johnny San Click HERE

You can contact Johnny San by Clicking HERE

You Cross My Path - The Charlatans
Lam Tang Way - Jah Wobble & The Invaders of the Heart
Over & Under - Natalie Walker
Ya Laure Hobouki - Natacha Atlas and The Mazeeka Ensemble 
Seaboy - Kusun Ensemble 
Rouges Sang - Gaël et Les Anges 
Renda Minha / Mulher Rendeira - Aline de Lima
Psyesta - The Upbeats 
Otra Vez - Los Amigos Invisibles
Libertango - Chocolate
Lamaset (Miami Mix) - Jef Stott 
Cannily Cannily - Jah Wobble & The Invaders of the Heart
Boundaries - Rhian Sheehan
Babe - Los Pinguinos
 Fuzzy Freaky (Remix) - David Byrne

All music this week is 100% Podsafe

The Beat Beethoven Run has been an exciting event for the Kingston community for the past fourteen years. Every year, community members participate in an 8km run or 4km walk from City Hall with the goal of returning before The Kingston Symphony has completed Beethoven’s 50-minute 3rd Symphony. The event is a fundraiser for the town’s wonderful symphony orchestra. I caught up with Glen Fast, the Musical Director and the Orchestra’s conductor to find out more….

To hear the quality from the basic set up listen to the short test I made.

Our Place - Adi Dick
Night Falls - Booka Shade
Nada Nada - Avial
Mystical Soul - Twinset
Misunderstood - Carolyn Wonderland
Ja Mudh Ja - Da Saz
Earthquake Country - The Electric Flag
Down In the Neighborhood - Marcia Ball
Dance Party In The Balkans - Alaska In Winter
Como un burro amarrado en la puerta de un baile - Avenida Brasil
Bag Of Money - Fly My Pretties
Psyesta - The Upbeats
What We Need (Selenophobia Mix) - Rhian Sheehan

All music this week is 100% Podsafe

No Baley - Talbi One
Momento especial - Mentaliz
Come Up And See Me Sometime - Teresa James
Jos jedan korak - Slum with Dijana Tepsic
Part Time Love - Phantom Blues Band
Mean Evil Woman - Jackie Payne and the Steve Edmonson Band
Third Eye - Ekayani (Pete Houle mix)
Jig of Slurs / Taylor's Fancy - Barleyjuice
Horse With No Rider - Doug MacLeod
Eu só quero você - Lia Sophia
Electrofunk (Radio Mix) - DJ Wallas and the Flamemakers
Camden Town Funk - D-Region

All music this week is 100% Podsafe