Episode 106: Creole Soul

Today’s show takes us back to those neighbors of ours who we know so little about… Caribbean islands in our own backyard that we never visit, in fact we almost never even think about them. I’m referring to the French West Indies: in particular, the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, and the nation of Haiti. These are some of the few places in the Caribbean where French is spoken, and they have developed a musical culture that is distinctly different from neighboring cultures speaking Spanish and English. Of all the music I play on Tropicology, I would say that the French West Indies has the music that is least exposed in the United States, and as a result it can be hard music for gringos to place. Today is going to be a nice sampling of the genre… we’ll be kicking off with some arty tracks from the French West Indies, music with lots of African influence, and yet it often feels like something you might hear at a cafe in Paris or Marseille. Then we’ll dip back into the world of Gwo-ka music from Guadeloupe, spare music based around African drumming and vocals. This sounds quite a bit like music for voodoo, santeria, or candomble, but it is not tied to traditional African religion, it is purely popular music. Hour two will move us into the dancehall with funk-infused sounds, and that is the vibe I’ll hold through the end of the show.