Listen: COSMOS on Refuge Worldwide with LE 18 and Underground Music Academy

COSMOS News snacks

Every first Monday of the month, COSMOS broadcasts episodes of their radio show on Refuge Worldwide, highlighting their deep-running network of partners from around the world. On Monday, 7 October, from 2-4 PM, COSMOS returns with two new episodes.

LE 18

For the first hour, we tapped our 2024 Embassy partners LE 18 for a guided tour through the sounds of Marrakech. LE 18 is a multidisciplinary cultural and residential space established in 2013 and located in the medina of Marrakech, Morocco. It aims to provide time and space for research, creation, encounter, mutual learning, and the cross-pollination of knowledge. Engaging with a fluid network of collaborators and a variety of formats including exhibitions, residencies, conversations, workshops, and publications, LE 18 has become a collective learning platform.

"This mix is a selection of residents and programs that rocked LE 18. Through this compilation you’ll feel the vibe of this vibrant country and the delicate balance between tradition and modernity." – LE 18

The second hour is curated by our Detroit friends from Underground Music Academy (UMA). This mix goes by the name of "Taproots" and was put together by 313-artists and UMA cohorts Na Bonsai and Skinny Trell.

"This mix is a celebration of music exclusively from emerging Detroit artists with a focus on the wide variety of musical styles being produced in the city, from jazz to electronic to alternative and everything in-between. Detroit is full of untapped creativity, and this curation of songs showcases the sonic wave of our present and future. We're also excited to debut multiple unreleased songs from Skinny Trell, Na Bonsai, Monalyse and Ahya Simone." – Na Bonsai & Skinny Trell

Underground Music Academy

Detroit’s Underground Music Academy is a place to learn about the history, creation and business behind electronic music. A utopian space for the city's aspiring musicians, created by a team of idealists brought together by Detroit’s own Waajeed. The team behind UMA use their skills, resources and contacts to create a space for knowledge-sharing and community. Shortly before the pandemic, UMA grew from an idealistic dream into a reality. Based on the legendary Berry Gordy Boulevard (named after Motown’s founder), the academy hosts workshops and educational programs, a studio, and space for people to get together and collaborate.