Global Beats kicks off in Asia, and includes musicians from Vietnam, China, India, Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia. Klantink, for example, are winners of Indonesia’s national TV talent show. They wowed audiences with their joyful energy and creative use of improvised instruments. Yet they started life in poverty as street performers.

Others have very different stories. Le Cat Trong Ly from Vietnam gave up her classical music studies to mine her country’s folk tradition. Yuna, from Malaysia, counts herself lucky as a Muslim woman to have been encouraged to express herself and develop her talents. Yuna now divides her time between Kuala Lumpur and Los Angeles – she is the first Malaysian artist to be breaking into the US pop market. Suhail Yusuf Khan has played the Indian stringed instrument - the sarangi - since childhood, but he collaborates with Adi Balani to create electronic trip-hop with a uniquely Indian flavour.

(Photo: From left to right, Suhail Yusuf Khan and Aditya Balani from India, Le Cat Trong Ly from Vietnam, Wawan of group Klantink from Indonesia) Show less