Spaces Between the Beats
After Assad’s fall, Syria’s musicians rebuild from the rubble
Spaces Between the Beats — Following decades of dictatorship and 14 years of civil war, the country’s classical and creative scenes have an opportunity to build from scratch. Andrei Popviciu speaks to the people hoping for a flourishing new era of art and sound.
Written by: Andrei Popoviciu
Deep in the Atlantic Ocean, an underground music scene bubbles
Spaces Between the Beats — Set over 800 miles away from mainland Portugal, the Azores archipelago has historically been well detached from Portugal’s music and culture. But in recent years, a local scene has begun to emerge.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Amid tensions in Eastern Europe, young Latvians are reviving their country’s folk rhythms
Spaces Between the Beats — The Baltic nation’s ancient melodies have long been a symbol of resistance, but as Russia’s war with Ukraine rages on, new generations of singers and dancers are taking them to the mainstream.
Written by: Jack Styler
The rave salvaging toilets for London’s queers
Happy Endings — Public bathrooms have long been contested spaces for LGBTQ+ communities, and rising transphobia is seeing them come under scrutiny. With the infamous rave-in-a-bog at an east London institution, its party-goers are claiming them for their own.
Written by: Ben Smoke
As Tbilisi’s famed nightclubs reawaken, a murky future awaits
Spaces Between the Beats — Since Georgia’s ruling party suspended plans for EU accession, protests have continued in the capital, with nightclubs shutting in solidarity. Victor Swezey reported on their New Year’s Eve reopening, finding a mix of anxiety, catharsis and defiance.
Written by: Victor Swezey
Inside the UK’s first festival dedicated to East and Southeast Asian alternative culture and music
From dancefloor heat to post-punk, Margins United is a showcase of creativity and a bubbling underground community.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Inside the secret club night bringing the party to Pakistan
Meet the party pioneers making space for diverse dance floors in a city with no record shops, night clubs or club culture.
Written by: Daniel Dylan Wray
‘We’re learning by doing’: Inside the Faroe Islands’ new music boom
Tórshavn’s music scene is attracting musicians from all over the world and reflecting cultural shifts at home as young Faroese artists make themselves heard.
Written by: Martin Guttridge-Hewitt
The community radio station broadcasting from war-torn Kyiv
Launched in the midst of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Gasoline Radio is fanning the flames of Ukrainian culture with a taste for homegrown talent and a schedule to rival NTS.
Written by: Paul Hanford
Underground cyphers are helping young Kashmiris reclaim their voices
Set against a backdrop of conflict and crackdowns, rappers in Srinagar are speaking truth to power in secretly organised freestyles.
Written by: Junaid Kathju
Inside Uzbekistan's burgeoning electronic music scene
In a country with an extensive history of censorship, a new generation of artists are building community and fighting for the freedom of expression.
Written by: Diyora Shadijanova
