Having been absent from the music scene for the past four years or so, Maltese artist Marty Rivers speaks to Michael Bugeja about country music and Maltese Falcon, his ‘comeback’ album, which has practically already re-instated him as a firm favourite in international country circles. It’s not every day that a local artist gets to top an international chart, but that is exactly what Marty Rivers did in the first week of the New Year with his single Why Don’t You. The first ra

Sometime back in 2011, I remember getting an email announcing that a new record label by the name of Alleanza was being launched. The man behind it was, and still is, Maltese musician Jewel Kid, whose dream didn't just become a reality the moment the news was publicly released, but has gone on to become a major techno player at an international level. The label's rise to prominence has been exceptionally swift, boosted by an effective strategy to tap into different markets vi

One World is the title of the debut album from Pon Di Corner, a Malta-based musical collective featuring artists with roots in three continents but, as they like to point out all from the same planet! They all have at least three things in common; a love for music, a positive vibe and they all reside in Malta. The group was recently invited to Michael Bugeja's weekly radio show ROCKNA on Radio 101, to talk about their history, their music and their upcoming Malta tour which

Just days short of releasing their much-anticipated second album, Plato's Dream Machine are busy putting the final touches to this weekend's live performances to mark the official launch. A couple of weeks back, I met with the band for a chat about their latest work. Naturally, the album's marked departure from Għera's introspection towards a more upbeat, optimistic outlook took up most of the conversation but, on a lighter note, I also asked them for a few little-known facts

Formed in 2004, albeit with a different formation to the current line-up, Thy Legion have successfully evolved into one of the prime movers of the Maltese metal scene. With two acclaimed albums under their belt, the band is about to release its third album; a record with a wider perspective in terms of both inspiration and direction. One day short of of the concert launch of new album World Stigmata, here's the interview with Michael Bugeja as featured on Radio 101's weekly

The album itself is yet to come, scheduled for release on April 20, but Malta-based international act Pon Di Corner, fresh from playing last week's Marleyfest, have just rolled out the title track online, giving us a small taste of a record that promises to bring on the noise and spread the love. The song One World is the fruit of a collaboration with Jamaica-based Bajan singer Vanessa Bongo, whom Pon di Corner got together with about two summers ago when the singer was on th

It is rather ironic that a work largely inspired by heartbreak should be released on Valentine's Day. Engaging, melancholic, brittle, expansive, poetic, experimental and certainly different to the band's previous releases, Brikkuni's latest album Rub Al Khali is a slow burner; that kind of record you want to go back to and play time after time and get better acquainted with. And with each play, as the songs sink in deeper, edging ever closer to the bone, comes the gradual rea

Ahead of the launch gig of their debut album Telegram, Michael Bugeja interviewed The Busker during the November 18, 2016 edition of ROCKNA. Click here to read more about the album launch. The album launch will take place at Sagrestia Vault at the Valletta Waterfront on Friday, December 2, 2016. Tickets can be bought from www.ticketline.com.mt.For more information visit the band’s official Facebook page. Telegram will also be available on Spotify, ITunes, while physical copie

Telegram is the title of the debut album from The Busker. Scheduled for release on Friday, December 2, 2016, the 15-track album features a mixture of folk, pop and Blues. Composed and produced by the band members themselves. the album, which was recorded at Sub Studios, is inspired by the sounds of the 1960s, its content delivering an effective vintage quality in both song-writing and overall vibe. Other than the core band members, Telegram also features long-time collaborato

Click below to listen to the interview Teatru Unplugged is one of Malta’s longest standing annual events having had their first edition in 1998. This unique concert combining 5 short, yet diverse acts from difference musical genres is a popular mainstay in the Teatru Manoel's calendar of events. Co-founded by Jonathan Shaw and Nirvana Azzopardi, this event retained the same formula throughout the years but varies in content by having different artists take to the stage. The f

It's been a while in the making, but it is finally here. Angelcrypt's latest album. We Are The Dead , was released locally at the end of October, while its international release will take place this Saturday; the occasion marked by the band's appearance at the lauded Full Metal Mensa festival in Gottingen, Germany. Prior to flying out to Germany, where they will be playing on the same bill as Collapse Instinct, Saxnot, Mortal Terror, Elvenpath and Grave, the band was intervie

Saxophonist Carlo Muscat takes some time out from his busy schedule performing locally and abroad to tell Michael Bugeja about his latest work. Carlo Muscat has always insisted that his musical awakening is an ongoing process. So much so that further to releasing his first solo album, The Sound Catalogues Vol.1 about two years ago, he went on to explore new ventures and collaborations, a number of which would, both directly and indirectly, lead to the formation of the line-up

Thank God for Anton Agius! Not only did the late Maltese sculptor create countless fantastic and inspiring artistic pieces, but his monument in Rabat provides some very welcome shade on this unbearably hot summer morning. Sitting next to me on the steps of said monument is Żdong, co-founding member of the notorious Maltese hiphop crew Sempliċiment Tat-Triq (STT). Between us is a plate with pastizzi from the famous Crystal Palace (just across the road from us), a glass of tea

It has indeed been a long time coming; possibly one of the most anticipated local releases in recent years, and the day has finally arrived. Come Saturday, August 27, Falcon’s Flying Circus will be launching it self-titled debut album with a live performance at Zion, Marsaskala, an event that will also feature Fuzzhoneys playing an opening set. The songs on the album have been written over a number of years, with many of them having been performed live during the countless pe

Without a doubt one of the more prolific artists on the island, Dominic Galea is also rather versatile, but it is perhaps for his deep involvement in the world of jazz that he is best known for. His latest album Jozetta, essentially dedicated to his partner Josette and released under the name of Dominic Galea’s London Quintet, is possibly one of the closest to his heart. It is an album with a special meaning that transcends music. Michael Bugeja speaks to Dominic Galea ahead

He may not be quite a household name, possibly because the music he makes is far from the mainstream but, barely in his twenties, this young composer has already released 6 albums and 3 EPs, all home-recorded and most of them picked up and distributed by international labels. His latest album Tines, released last May, is an engulfing soundscape that is deeply atmospheric, contemplative yet brittle at the same time. Michael Bugeja speaks to Robert Farrugia ahead of his live pe

Last month saw the release of the latest album from Maltese pop artist Clinton Paul. Released on May 19, Samsara is the artist's third full-length offering. 2013's Unbreakable and 2011's I Know Who I Am Now were both elemental in bringing the artist to a wider audience but, according to the flamboyant singer-songwriter, his latest album marks a new beginning. The album has already yielded three singles to date, namely Celebrazzjoni, Tnax and Beautiful Day, which were released

Maltese band Mistura recently released a new album. Titled U l-Kotra Għajtet f’Daqqa, the album features the band's live performance during this year's edition of Kotra, which took place at Razzett L-Ahmar, Mosta last March. This latest release marks another milestone for Mistura, being their first live album, and is a welcome addition to the band's acclaimed 2014 debut full-length release, U d-Dinja Tkompli Ddur. In a comment Maclolm Bonnici, the band's frontman and co-f

It almost seems like a long time, but it's really only five years ago that I first interviewed Chess for this very same newspaper, just months after she had just moved to the UK, where she'd gone to pursue her studies and a career in music. Five years on, she's still UK-based and, with several recorded tracks, an acclaimed covers album and 2 EPs under her belt, she's about to launch her debut album proper, 1869. The album, an effective balance of pop and soul reflecting an a

It's not that unusual these days to hear of a Maltese artist moving abroad in the hope of pursuing a career overseas. In the 1970s and 1980s however, when the local music scene was very different to what it is now, things were different, opportunities less available, and the risks higher too. Bassist Gino Micallef and vocalist Joe Mizzi were among those who took the big step into the unknown back in the day, their overseas experience culminating in a fruitful experience as pa