Damon Albarn – Ian Birrell

Beat perfect until the end

Published by The i paper (4th May, 2020) Last Thursday I received an email from Audrey Gbaguidi, a singer whom I have known for almost a decade. She […]

Arts / Europe / European Union

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye?

Published by Damn (18th April, 2019) It seems strange to recall that when I was growing up in the suburbs of London almost half a century ago, the […]

Arts / Europe / France / Music

Cut down doing the job he loved

Published by The Mail on Sunday (15th November, 2015) It is hard to think of anyone further removed from the fanaticism and hatred of Islamist killers than Nick […]

Africa / Arts / Mali / Music

Kings of the desert

Published in The Independent (December 6th, 2013) Under the blistering midday sun, two young musicians shook hands. ‘Would you like to rap on a track I’ve done?’ asked […]