DJ Ritu, pioneering international turntablist & BBC Radio presenter, hosts/produces A World in London at SOAS Radio, University of London, and at Resonance 104.4FM. In the ‘90s she co-founded Outcaste Records, signing Nitin Sawhney and Badmarsh & Shri. She has toured extensively in over 30 countries with her bands Sister India and the Asian Equation, performing at major venues and festivals including The Big Chill, WOMAD, The Royal Festival Hall and Trafalgar Square. Joining BBC London in 2006, she inherited Charlie Gillett’s slot, and then expanded it into ‘A World In London’. The show is recognized as an essential meeting point for world music fans and a hub for the industry. It has an unrivalled reputation for presenting a rich cultural mix that truly reflects the diverse musical tastes of London and its people. Guests include international stars such as Tarkan, Angelique Kidjo, Bebel Gilberto, AR Rahman, and Esma Redzepova, though the show aims to champion local up & coming talent. Her other weekly show for BBC Three Counties Radio ran for over 20 years and was syndicated in Germany, Turkey & Sweden. Ritu has also broadcast for BBC World Service, Kiss 100, and other stations. Rough Guides CD compiler, and EBU chart panel member, Ritu manages two London club nights: Kuch Kuch and Club Kali which are the longest running Bollywood events in the UK. A musical chameleon, her repertoire includes Soul, Disco, Motown, Pop, Drum n’ Bass, as well as Turkish, Greek, African, Latin, and Middle-Eastern sounds. She regularly comperes at various festivals and appears often at The Southbank Centre, Rich Mix, and various nightspots!
We were delighted to welcome Hanitra back to our show, just before her concert at Tuned In London.
This time she... See details
Fri, 2019-07-19 13:51
We were delighted to welcome Hanitra back to our show, just before her concert at Tuned In London.
This time she sang live in the studio accompanied by guitarist Jean-Marc Bontemps and the experience of being close-up & personal with her in song was magical. Over the two years since her...Appropriate appropriation with musician/radio producer Sophie Darling & Strut Records CEO Quinton Scott on this A... See details
Mon, 2019-07-15 16:34
Appropriate appropriation with musician/radio producer Sophie Darling & Strut Records CEO Quinton Scott on this A World in London! Click here:https://www.mixcloud.com/SOASradio/awil-308-appropriate-appropriation/
AWIL producer, Sophie Darling, has just compiled a fantastic and innovative...Namibian music & Stolen Moments with curator Aino Moongo on this A World in London! Click... See details
Tue, 2019-07-09 16:40
Namibian music & Stolen Moments with curator Aino Moongo on this A World in London! Click here:https://soasradio.org/music/episodes/awil-307-stolen-moments
A brilliant new exhibition about the music of Namibia opens at the SOAS Brunei Gallery this week and eloquent & distinguished...Sizzling summer sounds on this A World in London! Click here:... See details
Thu, 2019-06-27 18:09
Sizzling summer sounds on this A World in London! Click here: https://soasradio.org/music/episodes/awil-306-sizzling-summer
Scorching hot new global CDs reviewed by artist Alban Low, Norman Druker and DJ Ritu including fresh albums by Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour, Pink Martini’s Thomas...Goddess of soulful & sagely hip hop poetry, Juliana Yazbeck on this A World in London! Click here:... See details
Tue, 2019-06-25 16:43
Goddess of soulful & sagely hip hop poetry, Juliana Yazbeck on this A World in London! Click here: https://www.mixcloud.com/SOASradio/awil-305-juliana-yazbeck/
We were completely bowled over by singer, poet, musician Juliana Yazbeck and her debut album ‘Sungod’, on AWIL yesterday....Talented new trio StringTing made their debut outing on radio with us at AWIL today! Freestyling between jazz &... See details
Wed, 2019-06-19 15:15
Talented new trio StringTing made their debut outing on radio with us at AWIL today! Freestyling between jazz & classical this experimental set of string sisters met at Sheffield University before joining Gary Crosby & Janine Irons’ pivotal pipeline of jazz new bloods, Tomorrow’s...One of the campaigns singer/songwriter Angie Paice is passionate about concerns Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has... See details
Thu, 2019-06-06 11:35
One of the campaigns singer/songwriter Angie Paice is passionate about concerns Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has suffered three, long, lonely years of inhumane incarceration, separated from her young child, husband, and extended family. Angie Paice is relentless in her mission to break down walls...A kaleidoscope of new global music on this A World in London – previewed by Norman Druker & DJ... See details
Thu, 2019-05-16 14:10
A kaleidoscope of new global music on this A World in London – previewed by Norman Druker & DJ Ritu!
Everyone’s talking about Tomorrow’s Warriors, the brilliant organisation pivotal in changing the face of UK jazz,... See details
Mon, 2019-05-13 11:24
Everyone’s talking about Tomorrow’s Warriors, the brilliant organisation pivotal in changing the face of UK jazz, so we decided to find out more about its founders, Gary Crosby OBE & Janine Irons MBE.
Both are gifted musicians, though Gary is the frontman for artistic vision whilst...The Yehudi Menuhin School is renowned for its world-class expertise in music tuition for gifted children, and named... See details
Tue, 2019-05-07 11:43
The Yehudi Menuhin School is renowned for its world-class expertise in music tuition for gifted children, and named after its iconic founder.Yehudi Menuhin was innovative beyond classical music and one of his other lasting legacies is the charity Live Music Now. The idea came to him in a lightbulb...London’s very best musicians make up the trio assigned to take you on a beautiful Aegean journey via your ears.... See details
Thu, 2019-04-18 12:10
London’s very best musicians make up the trio assigned to take you on a beautiful Aegean journey via your ears. Bagpipe queen, Cassandre Balbar, lyra king Thodoris Ziarkis, and laouto prince Nikos Ziarkis are known collectively as Bonnendis, who launched their superb debut album, From the...We love exclusives at AWIL especially when they’re as excellent as Fiona Fey’s forthcoming CD, Naïve Wisdom.... See details
Tue, 2019-04-16 12:07
We love exclusives at AWIL especially when they’re as excellent as Fiona Fey’s forthcoming CD, Naïve Wisdom. It’s a triumphant debut in every respect, beginning with her exquisite voice, which has such rare qualities of depth and tone, plus multiple personas ranging from sultry to smooth,...Last November a concert took place at The Barbican which EVERYBODY wanted to go to. Windrush: A Celebration, was... See details
Fri, 2019-04-05 11:39
Last November a concert took place at The Barbican which EVERYBODY wanted to go to. Windrush: A Celebration, was curated by poet, novelist, and musician, Anthony Joseph, and putting modesty aside for a moment, even he describes it as ‘epic’. The concert collected local & international...Singer, songwriter, and rock guitarist Shuva Das is set to break the mould as a new talent in the world of music.... See details
Mon, 2019-04-01 14:17
Singer, songwriter, and rock guitarist Shuva Das is set to break the mould as a new talent in the world of music. Merging Indian classical & English vocals into her songs which are life-centred and spiritual, London-based Shuva has just released her debut album, ‘Out of the Shadows’, and is...AWIL 293Thu, 2019-03-21 17:43
We caught sensational saxophonist, composer, and band-leader Branford Marsalis between dates on his current tour across... See details
Thu, 2019-03-21 17:43
We caught sensational saxophonist, composer, and band-leader Branford Marsalis between dates on his current tour across Europe and the USA. A brilliant raconteur, Branford delighted us with tales about life on the road with his quartet, his Classical ensemble work, and collaborations with fellow...On Saturday Diana Lwanga will perform at Camden’s Green Note with the superlicious Seby Ntege band, but on this AWIL... See details
Mon, 2019-03-11 11:25
On Saturday Diana Lwanga will perform at Camden’s Green Note with the superlicious Seby Ntege band, but on this AWIL we heard her voice sweet & solo as she sang lullabies from her Luganda Nursery Rhymes CD.
Luganda is becoming a lost language in the Ugandan diaspora, and Diana is on a...Lucas Keen & DJ Ritu explore a global warming mix of CDs during the UK’s Winter-Summer on this A World in London! See details
Mon, 2019-03-04 12:17
Lucas Keen & DJ Ritu explore a global warming mix of CDs during the UK’s Winter-Summer on this A World in London!Aga Ujma is one of the most exciting newcomers to join the AWIL in the last year. Between Masters degree studies at... See details
Thu, 2019-02-21 13:44
Aga Ujma is one of the most exciting newcomers to join the AWIL in the last year. Between Masters degree studies at SOAS she’s performing at key venues in the capital including Greenwich & Young Peoples Theatre this Saturday Feb 23rd as part of the Sounds of the World series.
Aga plays...Every date with Joji Hirota on AWIL is a blessing and on this occasion we caught him in a reflective mood. Joji is just... See details
Thu, 2019-02-14 11:26
Every date with Joji Hirota on AWIL is a blessing and on this occasion we caught him in a reflective mood. Joji is just back from Genoa where he’s been producing a debut album for Taiko group Kyo Shin Do. He’s full of praise for them and thoroughly excited about ARC Music releasing their CD...It’s surprising that more books haven’t been written about London’s musical history given that we live in a city... See details
Fri, 2019-02-08 12:20
It’s surprising that more books haven’t been written about London’s musical history given that we live in a city which is such a creative hub. Hence, ‘Whitechapel Noise’ is special for many reasons, partly because books like this don’t come around often, nor are they always written by...A brand new creativity & culture magazine has just been launched and it’s rather brilliant! SHADO which stands... See details
Thu, 2019-01-31 14:43
A brand new creativity & culture magazine has just been launched and it’s rather brilliant! SHADO which stands for ‘See’, ‘Hear’, ‘Act’, and ‘Do’, was dreamt up by SOAS graduate Hannah Robathan and a team of friends who realised that there’s been a disconnect between...AWIL 285Fri, 2019-01-25 14:27
It's a Sophie Darling and Norman Druker take-over this week as they play some upcoming CDs for 2019, and remind us of... See details
Fri, 2019-01-25 14:27
It's a Sophie Darling and Norman Druker take-over this week as they play some upcoming CDs for 2019, and remind us of their pick of the best of 2018.
Arsen Petrosyan & Jenny Bliss synchronise as one outstanding voice for early music and ancient instruments, yet... See details
Thu, 2019-01-17 14:48
Arsen Petrosyan & Jenny Bliss synchronise as one outstanding voice for early music and ancient instruments, yet they live oceans apart.
Child prodigies turned virtuosos, they met on Facebook and co-opted Skype as a rehearsal studio linking Charentsavan with Glastonbury. Jenny originally...Fri, 2019-01-11 10:51
Norman Druker & DJ Ritu peruse the best new global music offerings for 2019, including CDs by Dub Colossus, Kel Assouf,... See details
Fri, 2019-01-11 10:51
Norman Druker & DJ Ritu peruse the best new global music offerings for 2019, including CDs by Dub Colossus, Kel Assouf, and Zaz! Plus there’s the essential Goin’ Global Gigs Guide to Londontown!
ARTIST TRACK COUNTRY
Joji...You know those ‘wow’ faces made by the judges on Britain’s Got talent when they see something special? Well that... See details
Thu, 2018-12-13 13:58
You know those ‘wow’ faces made by the judges on Britain’s Got talent when they see something special? Well that was us on AWIL when we heard The Sages play live in our studio. We’re not judges nor celebrities but we know when we’re in the presence of greatness! The Sages may be young...On the Tube between SOAS Radio and Resonance FM, the AWIL team were discussing exactly what it takes to compose a... See details
Fri, 2018-12-07 11:39
On the Tube between SOAS Radio and Resonance FM, the AWIL team were discussing exactly what it takes to compose a symphony.
The Google results make eye-watering reading, and we were convinced that not even a combined effort between the three of us could produce such a gargantuan feat. Shirley,...We highlighted some all-important events in the capital’s calendar on this show, and first up was the Focus Africa... See details
Mon, 2018-12-03 12:42
We highlighted some all-important events in the capital’s calendar on this show, and first up was the Focus Africa 8th Anniversary Festival happening at Rich Mix on December 1st!
Focus Atta came in to tell us about the sensational line-up that includes kora king Sura Susso, and Afro-Cuban...Daemonia Nymphe, the mystical masters of magical, musical mythology, are back with three fresh neofolk-fuelled tracks... See details
Fri, 2018-11-23 11:30
Daemonia Nymphe, the mystical masters of magical, musical mythology, are back with three fresh neofolk-fuelled tracks added to their Bandcamp album re-release which comes out today! Hear an exclusive preview of ‘Psychostasia 2018’ on this AWIL from DM dynamos Spyros G., Thodoris Ziarkas, and...A World In London at SOAS Radio features an interview with Ethiopian singer Minyeshu Kifle.
AWIL's Sophie Darling... See details
Mon, 2018-11-19 15:02
A World In London at SOAS Radio features an interview with Ethiopian singer Minyeshu Kifle.
AWIL's Sophie Darling caught up with her for an exclusive interview just before her appearance at Africa On The Square in October. Minyeshu tells us of her life, her rising career in music, and previews...Celebrating and exploring the many xylophone cultures of Africa on this A World in London!
A World in London's Lucas... See details
Mon, 2018-11-19 14:57
Celebrating and exploring the many xylophone cultures of Africa on this A World in London!
A World in London's Lucas Keen spent a decade apprenticing on the pentatonic balafon in Burkina Faso. For this special journey in buzzing gourds he takes Norman Druker and Sophie Darling from Burkina Faso...DJ Ritu, Norman Druker, Sophie Darling, and Lucas Keen review the latest & best international CDs in this Diwali... See details
Mon, 2018-11-12 12:36
DJ Ritu, Norman Druker, Sophie Darling, and Lucas Keen review the latest & best international CDs in this Diwali special, which includes albums by innovative producers Deep Forest & Gaudi, conscious Reggae giants Black Roots, and field recordings by someone called David Attenborough...
There’s a rare chance to catch the most dazzling, daring, and dynamic music collective at Rich Mix this week, when... See details
Thu, 2018-11-01 15:37
There’s a rare chance to catch the most dazzling, daring, and dynamic music collective at Rich Mix this week, when GRRRL launch their debut album, ‘We Work, We Play’, on November 2nd!
Global organisation, In Place of War, teamed up with outstanding female artists from Ghana, Venzuela,...Languages Through Music is the brilliant brainchild of Desta Haile.
After working in music & language teaching... See details
Mon, 2018-10-22 12:40
Languages Through Music is the brilliant brainchild of Desta Haile.
After working in music & language teaching all over the world for 15 years she put the two together and now runs international online courses, workshops in schools, companies, festivals & over Skype. The songs she...London, Oct. 24th at the Vortex - that's when Shirley Smart launches her debut album! Her rich and varied repertoire is... See details
Mon, 2018-10-15 12:43
London, Oct. 24th at the Vortex - that's when Shirley Smart launches her debut album! Her rich and varied repertoire is somehow condensed into thirteen instrumentals on ‘Long Story Short’, revealing Shirley’s magnificent skills. She’s a game changer for the cello, bringing out its beauty,...We caught up with Heather Innes mid-tour and between her travels across the UK to promote her excellent new album,... See details
Mon, 2018-10-08 12:49
We caught up with Heather Innes mid-tour and between her travels across the UK to promote her excellent new album, ‘Here Comes the Day’. Accompanied by talented Ciaran Dorris on guitar and vocals, this is an unmissable AWIL in which Heather had ALL of us singing in the studio! Plus you can hear...Lifetime music lover John Armstrong has been at the forefront of bringing music from around the world to London for... See details
Sun, 2018-10-07 12:46
Lifetime music lover John Armstrong has been at the forefront of bringing music from around the world to London for over thirty years – as a club DJ, reviewer, BBC Radio presenter and record compiler. He's put together many “Rough Guide” CDs and has accessed the vaults of many record labels...Ethio-Jazz for the twenty-first century with Meklit on this A World in London!
When the People Move, The Music... See details
Thu, 2018-07-26 13:24
Ethio-Jazz for the twenty-first century with Meklit on this A World in London!
When the People Move, The Music Moves Too, especially when that music is made by Meklit. Addis-born, San Francisco based Meklit Hadero released her third and near-perfect album on Six Degrees Records earlier this...Spiritual awakenings with singer/composer Kedar Sharma on this A World in London!
Delhi-born, Kolkata-raised... See details
Fri, 2018-07-20 18:30
Spiritual awakenings with singer/composer Kedar Sharma on this A World in London!
Delhi-born, Kolkata-raised vocalist/guitarist, Kedar Sharma, has been at the heart of India’s vibrant Rock music scene for many years, but since moving to London ten years ago, he’s immersed himself in the...Gifted concert pianist & classical music star Ji Liu on this A World in London!
Ji Liu’s professional foray... See details
Fri, 2018-07-13 15:45
Gifted concert pianist & classical music star Ji Liu on this A World in London!
Ji Liu’s professional foray into classical music performance began at the tender age of thirteen in Carnegie Hall, where he encountered his first and apparently last bout of stage fright. His rapid rise to...
