Episode 1 - Ahmoudou Madassane + Mikey Coltun (of Mdou Moctar)

Hollie Beaumont

December 2024

Ahmoudou and Mikey discuss the origins of each of their music careers, how they met, the history of Mdou Moctar, their latest and upcoming Mdou Moctar albums, and Mikey’s new label Purplish Records.

Listen to full episode:

Ahmoudou Madassane

Age: 32

Location: Agadez, Niger

5 Favorite Albums

• Kel Tinariwen (1992) - Tinariwen

• Anar (2008) - Mdou Moctar

• Anou Malane (1995) - Abdallah Oumbadougou

• Niafunke (1999) - Ali Farka Toure

• Moussolou (1990) - Oumou Sangare

Mikey Coltun

Age: 32

Location: New York City, United States

5 Current Favorite Albums

• Grim Iconic…(Sadistic Mantra) (2024) - J.R.C.G.

• I’m Just Say’n (2025) - Joe McPhee

• The Way Out of Easy (2024) - Jeff Parker

• Sentir Que No (2024) - Mabe Fratti

• Clouds carry me to the sky every morning (2025) - Ipek Eginli

5 All-Time Favorite Albums (mikey’s note: “always changing”)

• Kind of Blue (1959) - Miles Davis

• Spirit Echo (2021) - Curved Light

• Moondog (1969) - Moondog

• First Two Seven Inches (1981/1984) - Minor Threat

• Naked City (1990) - John Zorn