Mundial Montreal, the North American world music summit, is back this November for its 2021 edition.  Heading into a new phase for the music industry, Mundial has expanded to a hybrid event, with in-person activities from November 16 to 19, as well as a professional virtual networking platform adapted to the specific needs of the music industry, accessible from November 8 to 26. On the menu for the in-person event : about thirty showcasing artists, conferences, targeted networking activities, networking dinners, the mentor café and the famous Speed Schmooze!   

It is with great excitement that we unveil the first 8 artists who will be showcasing at this 11th edition of Mundial Montreal!   

Al Qahwa Ensemble is Maryem Tollar on vocals, riqq and qanun; Ernie Tollar on wind instruments; Demetri Petsalakis on oud and Naghmeh Fahrahmand on percussion. They perform original compositions, as well as popular traditional Arabic repertoire, from Sufi Devotional Love songs from the Arab World to popular folk songs and classic Egyptian songs made famous by the stars of Egypt (the Hollywood of the Middle East). 

Boi Akih has developed a distinctive repertoire, one in which cultural roots form the basis for composition, improvisation, text. They continually develop a unique musical vocabulary, through which sounds and elements from various traditions acquire new meaning.  The combination of European, Austronesian and West African background makes them special-dynamic.
 

Mateo is an author and composer, but above all an atypical singer who transforms the image you have of Latin music. He is inspired by Colombian music, Salsa and Afrobeat to develop his new solo project: Afro-Latin, electric… CANDELA! On February 14, 2020, Mateo launched his solo project with his very first EP Venue de frente.

Mehmet Polat is a young master of ud and composer from Turkey and living in Amsterdam. With his new project Embracing Colours he brings together outstanding jazz musicians to form a brand new constellation of ud, drums, upright bass and accordion. Their debut album Quantum Leap was released in March 2019.

A pinch of surrealism, modern folklore and talharpa revival! Puuluup directs the vibrations of talharpa’s horsehair strings – a traditional bowed lyre, popular in Northern Europe since the early middle ages – through effect blocks and looper, uses alternative bowing and drumming techniques and sounds. The music may have a dancing beat, or resemble a dark film soundtrack, spy around in the chambers of ancient talharpa players, or travel to far-away lands. 

The Grammy-nominated artist Sara Ajnnak from Sápmi (Sweden) creates something very personal, the traditional yoik mixed with oriental strings, electronic influences in a contemporary and updated soundscape of the north. Her strength as a performer is the way she communicates emotions through her voice. Sara writes her lyrics in ume sami language which are one of the endangered Sami languages. 

Sophie Lukacs is one of the few female musicians in the world who plays the kora, the 21-stringed Mandingue instrument from West Africa. While the kora is usually heard in its African context, Sophie blends it with her various musical influences, combining her five years of study in the Mandingue and Bambara traditions in Mali with a lifetime of classical violin and folk, while singing in English, Bambara and French. Sophie is accompanied by Montreal’s finest, Assane Seck (guitar and vocals) and Elii Miller Maboungou (percussion).
 

Taraf Syriana is dedicated to folk music of the Romani and other minority groups in Syria.  The ensemble includes some of Syria’s top musicians that have recently immigrated to Montréal, including Omar Abou Afach on viola and violin, and Naeem Shanwar on qanun, with Noemy Braun on cello and renowned accordionist Sergiu Popa.