World

World music refers to music from all over the planet, spanning reggae's upbeat Caribbean rhythms to Scandinavian Joik, from Tuvan Throat Singing to African Juju and everywhere in between. True to its name, world defines itself as an incredibly broad and diverse, serving as an overarching category for anything outside the genres of western music. While reggae broke internationally in the late 1960s, world music caught the attention of western audiences and recording artists in the '80s. However, elements of music from non-western cultures have long influenced their western counterparts in an ongoing, centuries-long cultural exchange. But beyond the effect that global musical styles have had on western music, artists from all cultures are currently producing work -- both tradition-based and innovative -- that explores the infinite possibilities of melody, rhythm and harmony within and across regional frameworks.