On January 11, globalFEST marked its twenty third 12 months at David Geffen Corridor at Lincoln Heart, celebrating 10 eclectic acts from all over the world, spanning Pakistan, Southern Italy, South Korea, Ukraine, and past.
The evening opened with a 2026 Awards Ceremony, honoring key music trade gamers who’ve helped uplift international artists. Among the many honorees was longtime WNYC host and writer John Schaefer.
In his acceptance speech, Schaefer spoke about how studying new musical modes and fascinating with unfamiliar music can stimulate neuroplasticity and strengthen neural pathways, encouraging the viewers to discover a variety of sounds as one thing that isn’t solely enriching but additionally good for the mind.
That sentiment set the tone for an evening of music discovery, inspiration, and awe for the varied sounds and kinds that span the globe.
The evening opened with the famend Pakistani household of vocalists, the Saami Brothers, led by Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, who carried out uncommon types of South Asian classical music rooted within the profound religious heritage of Sufism. Their set was not solely entrancing however deeply calming, unfolding much less like a collection of particular person songs and extra like an open, flowing dialogue, the place a melodic theme could be sung, mirrored on accordion, echoed by the performers, and enhanced by hand drums.
Ustad Naseeruddin Saami led the custom alongside his sons Rauf, Urooj, and Ahmed, as they introduced centuries-old Indo-Islamic musical heritage to life via hypnotic rhythms, intricate vocals, and devotional themes for audiences all over the world.
Dynamic Southern Italian vocalist and artist Maria Mazzotta, hailing from Salento, Italy, surprised with a set that was eerie, dramatic, and actually mesmerizing.
With a voice that carries the uncooked energy and depth of Janis Joplin, Mazzotta was a pressure to be reckoned with. Her songs had been spiritually transferring and packed a punch, leaving viewers members in awe of the richness and grit in her vocals.
Regardless that a lot of the viewers could not have understood Italian, it hardly mattered, as her commanding presence–alongside guitarist Ernesto Nobili and percussionist Cristiano Della Monica–spoke volumes by itself.
South Korean band Insun Park & Generals delivered a enjoyable but enigmatic fusion of shamanic ritual people songs and fashionable rock. The efficiency felt alive and immersive, inviting the viewers into one thing that was each culturally important and deeply celebratory.
Nour Harkati, from Tunisia, introduced infectious Tunisian grooves blended with rock, pop, and digital parts in a approach that felt seamless and highly effective.
It was a visceral set, driving the viewers with rhythms you possibly can really feel via your complete physique.
Hailing from Hawaiʻi, Raiatea Helm, considered a grasp of Leo Kiʻekiʻe (a Hawaiian time period for a particular falsetto singing model), serenaded the viewers along with her beautiful vocals and string preparations that honored her cultural legacy.
Helm’s set was each nostalgic and enchanting, with a voice that glided effortlessly, making a transportive environment the place you possibly can nearly shut your eyes and picture your self on the sands of Hawaiʻi.
All in all, globalFEST was an inspiring journey via tradition and sound, and it was an honor to witness.
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Photograph Credit score: William Helms