Just a quick note.... We'll be taking a break for the next month as I settle into my new apartment and record some new episodes. Be sure to subscribe so you will be alerted of the latest episodes. See you soon....

Carmen Souza was born and raised around Lisbon, Portugal, while her parents had both emigrated from Cape Verde. Just out of her teens, she auditioned for a gospel choir and there met her soon-to-be producer, Theo Pascal, who turned her on to jazz. And for the last quarter century they've been mining an original blend of jazz and Cape Verdean music they've created. But growing up, Souza quickly became aware that in Portugal she wasn't considered to be "true" Portuguese, regardless of what her passport said. Mostly based now in London, Carmen often taps in to these conflicts of identity and acceptance in her lyrics, which she mostly sings in Creole. But she believe the world can get past prejudice and that music serves as a border-busting means to that end.

Please like and subscribe. Also, consider buying some of today's artist music or adding them to your streaming playlist. Or better yet, go see them play live. A playlist of music in this episode, transcript, as well as links to more information about the artist, can be found at our website http://www.hyphenated.eu. It's also where you can find other episodes and discover more hyphenated artists. And if you'd like to support this series, please tell a friend.

Laíz likes to say "she carries many nations on her back." And what she means is that she has absorbed influences from around the globe which has helped her build a wide and all-encompassing worldview. However, she began her life boxed in a very restrictive relgious culture within Brazil. But then at an early age, she was given a choice to change that, and it exploded her worldview. Moving to Berlin as a teenager, she began meeting other immigrants, and started adding pieces of each of their cultures into her concept of "world." These experiences found an expression thru music and rap. Culture became her new word for "god." And when it came time to record her first album, the musicians that came calling, aka the New Love Experience, represented all four corners of the planet. Her mission is to spread what she has learned from others to us, that we should never stop learning, and never stop expanding our understanding of the world, ourselves, and others.

Please like and subscribe. Also, consider buying some of today's artist music or adding them to your streaming playlist. Or better yet, go see them play live. A playlist of music in this episode, transcript, as well as links to more information about the artist, can be found at our website http://www.hyphenated.eu. It's also where you can find other episodes and discover more hyphenated artists. And if you'd like to support this series, please tell a friend.

Welcome to Season 2 of Hyphenated.

When I thought of creating this audio documentary series, I had no idea if anybody out there would be interested. Yet I felt it an important subject to explore.

And with strictly word of mouth – you telling someone who told someone else this series has had over 700 downloads to date..... More than I had imagined.

If you're new here, My goal is to put the spotlight on artists who are contributing to a conversation and our understanding about the global hyphenated culture we live in today, weaving their words and music to create a portrait of their journey to find themselves and their home.

I've decided this season to expand the borders of the project to include artists from all over Europe, not just within the EU.

Also, last season I had hoped to drop episodes every two weeks and it got a bit complicated because I was moving from one city to another. Thankfully I will finally be settled again next month but I didn't want to wait to have all the episodes recorded to launch the new season so I've decided to have a much looser schedule.

I'll be releasing the first two episodes over the next two weeks then take a break come back with a second group of three episodes, then take a break and return for another five episodes.

If that sounded a little bit confusing, well, I highly recommend you subscribe on whichever platform or app you use for podcasts to ensure you always receive word of the latest episode when it drops. You can also subscribe via our website and get updates by liking our Facebook page.

In a few days, I'll drop the first episode of the new season just before I head to WOMEX, the annual World Music Conference, where I'll hopefully be meeting and recording several artists for the season while there.

The first episode of season 2 spotlights Brazilian, German, MC and rapper Laiz, who at 25 years of age has seemed to have accumulated more insight into the world than many twice her age.

Then in two weeks, you'll meet Capo Verde, Portuguese jazz singer Carmen Souza. Souza and her partner Theo Pascal have been making an original style of Creole flavored jazz for nearly two decades now.

So thank you for letting me into your ears and I hope you enjoy this new season.

As always, the best way to support this endeavor is to please tell a friend. So stay tuned and thank you.

Please like and subscribe. Also, consider buying some of today's artist music or adding them to your streaming playlist. Or better yet, go see them play live. A playlist of music in this episode, transcript, as well as links to more information about the artist, can be found at our website http://www.hyphenated.eu. It's also where you can find other episodes and discover more hyphenated artists. And if you'd like to support this series, please tell a friend.