Learning is a lifelong process, with Thomas Attar Bellier, Dina El Wedidi, Alsarah, Alain Johannes, and Ali Güçlü Şimşek

Thomas Attar Bellier, Dina El Wedidi, Alsarah, Ali Güçlü Şimşek and Alain Johannes discuss collecting sound memories from birth, Egypt's rich tradition of melodies, the power of modal music, why folk music is fundamentally old-school pop, and adapting traditional instruments for modern listening.

Thomas Attar Bellier is a French-American musician and producer from the Arab garage rock outfit Al-Qasar. They combine instruments like the oud and the darbuka with Fender amps and drum kits to create a sound that unites East and West.

Prolific Egyptian singer Dina El Wedidi plays a mixture of folk, fusion and contemporary music. She’s been mentored by Brazilian legend Gilberto Gil, and Time Magazine declared her “a future leader for the next generation”.

Alsarah is a Sudanese-American singer-songwriter and ethnomusicologist. After fleeing from Sudan aged 8 she’s gone on to create music that she calls "East African retro-pop” with Alsarah & the Nubatones.

Musician and producer Ali Güçlü Şimşek has been one of the biggest names in Turkish rock over the last 20 years. His current band Lalalar are making waves in the Turkish psych scene with their fusion of retro basslines, dirty electro beats and old samples from Turkey’s rich psych-rock heritage.

Chilean-American musician Alain Johannes has toured with Dave Grohl’s Them Crooked Vultures and formed the band Eleven. He's also worked extensively with the likes of PJ Harvey and the Arctic Monkeys.

They’ll be talking