Rokia Traoré Gets NPR First Listen, Reveals New Video, Debuts at Radio 200 and Lands at #2 New World

Rokia Traoré‘s Né So was honored this month with an NPR First Listen. The album can still be streaming from NPR.org, which calls it “a sonically beautiful project” while saying “it’s easy to get lost in the lilting rhythms and Traoré’s smoky voice.” Yet, writes NPR, the record is not one to listen to while just sitting back. Created with a backdrop of Mali’s continuing civil war and released not long after a major terrorist attack in the singer’s hometown of Bamako, Né So deals with heavy themes and is dedicated to people suffering during the ongoing international refugee crises. Read the detailed review, and check out the album, here.

Traoré’s label, Nonesuch, has the video for her song “Ilé,” which was directed by Romain Carciofo. Revolving around her dancing and emoting, the simple video focuses on Traoré’s charismatic delivery. Watch it below. Her Né So record made the jump from #9 to #2 at CMJ New World, and debuted at #136 at Radio 200. Help it crack the top spot at New World and the top 100 at Radio 200 next week!