We’re kicking off Season 5 of Travel Notes with a true global music visionary—Jacob Edgar! As an ethnomusicologist, cultural explorer, and world music tastemaker, Jacob has spent his career uncovering the sounds that shape cultures around the globe.

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of ethnomusicology and its surprising breadth, explore how Putumayo World Music transformed global music marketing, and discuss how music influences our understanding of culture. Jacob also shares insights on the evolving role of music appreciation in different cultural contexts and how the digital age has shifted us from communal listening experiences to hyper-personalized curation.

Join us as we celebrate the power of music to connect, educate, and inspire—one note at a time.

Today on Travel Notes, we are featuring the American Railroad project by the Silkroad Ensemble in anticipation of their show at the Charleston Gaillard Center on November 19th. Today’s special guest, celtic harpist Maeve Gilchrist takes us behind the scenes of this monumental project.

Silkroad’s American Railroad project highlights untold stories and amplifies unheard voices from the communities who actually built the transcontinental railroad, addressing past injustices and providing a more truthful account of global diasporic contributions to the creation of the American Empire.

We also listen to two tracks off of their upcoming album, The American Railroad album which comes out on November 15th.

Tickets to American Railroad at the Charleston Gaillard Center

Silkroad Website

Maeve Gilchrist Website

Travel Notes Webpage

Travel Notes Instagram

Today on Travel Notes, we talk to musician and songwriter, Eljuri. Eljuri is a New Yorker, immigrant, Latina, woman, singer, and guitarist. Her greatest passions are songwriting and activism. Her music is a fusion of Latin, reggae and global rhythms with rock and funk. Her bilingual songs are socially conscious and about current global issues.

In her world, music and activism are positively intertwined. She seeks to empower not only the Latino community but all champions for human rights. She is an artivist (activist meets artist) whose bilingual songs are stories about resilience, resistance, civil rights, and saving the planet.

We talk about her musical influences, mission as an artist and activist and her most recent tour and project, Concerts for Democracy.

Eljuri Website - https://www.eljurimusic.com/

Concerts for Democracy - https://www.eljurimusic.com/tour-1

Travel Notes - https://www.gracemcnallymusic.com/travel-notes