What happens when music becomes noise and silence a scarcity? 

In this episode of Music on the Move we find out — and in a more unusual way. We’re stripping down my listening habits, cancelling subscriptions and returning to a non-connected, highly selective way of life. In other words: I’m using an iPod again and have been for the last four months. It’s been great and helped me retone my listening muscle. 

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed with the machine that is now music streaming, if the algorithm is dominating your choices, if you’re feeling like you want to hear the world again – don’t worry, Music on the Move is here to help in full solidarity. 

Join us as we explore how sound and music and silence are yours to choose and build your own world out of. Let’s go! 

In this episode of Music on the Move, we travel back to the Caucasus—this time to the little landlocked nation of Armenia, where history echoes in every melody and innovation hums beneath the surface.

From AI-generated Armenian compositions to soundwalks mapping migration, we explore how music acts as a bridge between past and future, rooted deeply in cultural identity. Along the way, we also visit Yerevan’s underground music incubator and talk to one of the artists reviving traditional sounds through prog rock and metal.

Join us as we explore how music acts as a bridge from the past to the future, in the present.

Are you coming with us? 

Make sure to subscribe and stay tuned for more musical stories and sonic explorations. 

For extended listening check out the complimentary playlist for the episode here: 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4wc4SYldcmcvrbkiVzZr1q?si=980da85db30140bc 

Songs used in this episode: 

Music on the Move theme song - Daphne Farazi

Duduk 1 - Field Recording, Savannah Fortis

Duduk 2 - N/A

Synth beats - Savannah Fortis

Patarag - Komitas Vardapet 

Zhamanakn e - Rozen Tal 

In this special end-of-the-year episode of Music on the Move, host Savannah Fortis reflects on an unforgettable year of music, travel, and storytelling.

From field recordings in Iraq to impromptu polyphony in Georgia, each story shares a unique glimpse into the world through sound.

Listen back to favorite moments from the podcast’s debut year, discover behind-the-scenes adventures, and explore the power of deep listening. Plus, Savannah answers listener questions and shares inspirations for 2025. Join us as we celebrate a year of movement and music!

Are you coming with us? 

Make sure to subscribe and stay tuned for more musical stories and sonic explorations. 

#music, #travel, #MusicOnTheMove, #worldmusic, #podcastlife, #EndOfYearReflections, #storytellingpodcast, #musicandtravel, #globalsoundscapes, #powerofmusic, #travelthroughsound

In this episode of the Music on the Move podcast, join us as we cross the Black Sea via cargo ship from Burgas, Bulgaria to the port city of Batumi, Georgia.

What begins in Georgia as a trip with no plans turns into a blessed encounter stumbling upon a Georgian mountain village where everyone sings to reinforce their identity - during a period when I need to be reminded of who I am.

Are you coming with us? 

Make sure to subscribe and stay tuned for more musical stories and sonic explorations. 

*All music samples used in the making of this podcast were for educational purposes.*

Learn more about Music on the Move at: https://www.musiconthemove.xyz

Listen to this episode's complementary playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2rUMBlxzc82GyXpCI3CrC3?si=b8eacfbcc9dc4eb1&pt=4a9ca792ec787420156578a42d02f714

Producer/Host: Savannah Fortis

A visit to a music store on a quick trip to Barcelona turned into another learning moment, in which collecting vintage cassettes led the way to a deeper understanding of a new place and its tumultuous history fighting for its cultural identity - not to mention cool new additions to my tape collection!

Join us for a reflective mini-story on how music can deepen our understanding of the places we visit, as well as inspire us to listen more closely to the stories and sounds around us.

Are you coming with us? 

Make sure to subscribe and stay tuned for more musical stories and sonic explorations. 

*All music samples used in the making of this podcast were for educational purposes.*

Learn more about Music on the Move at: https://www.musiconthemove.xyz

Listen to this episode's complementary playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5gcA5ZvxskQE1i9RS5rqOH?si=5739d832a8494996

Producer/Host: Savannah Fortis

If you show up in a completely new place and don’t speak the language, aren’t familiar with the culture or customs, or know even a single person - can music be your gateway to an entirely different world? 

From our experience and that of many others the answer is yes. And today we’re bringing you a story of exactly that. 

Join us on this episode of Music on the Move as we travel using sound and music back in time to when the idea for Music on the Move first came to fruition and was tested out in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. Are you coming with us? 

Make sure to subscribe and stay tuned for more musical stories and sonic explorations. 

*All music samples used in the making of this podcast were for educational purposes.*

Learn more about Music on the Move at: https://www.musiconthemove.xyz

Listen to this episode's complementary playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1WEJGj8YaMd6EQEFRhGBMA?si=e7e527ea9f2a4bd1

Producer/Host: Savannah Fortis

Mix/Composition: Daphne Farazi

"How does all the music in the world fit onto one CD?"

That was my question as a four-year-old looking down at the holographic CD-ROM of Microsoft’s Encarta Encyclopedia 99’ I held in my hands.

Join us as we travel using sound the way host Savannah Fortis first learned how. It’s the inaugural episode that marks our journey as a project and Savannah's own, exploring the transportive powers of sound and music in the early days of the internet and CD-ROMs. Are you coming with us?

Make sure to subscribe and stay tuned for more musical stories and sonic explorations. This is just the beginning!

*All music samples used in the making of this podcast were for educational purposes.*

Learn more about Music on the Move at: https://www.musiconthemove.xyz

Listen to this episode's complementary playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5oiN4w7E2HFv5TOxw0Ntf0?si=a80cd2dfe06d4680

Producer/Host: Savannah Fortis

Audio/Composition: Daphne Farazi

Music on the Move is an experimental podcast that uses sound and music to explore and understand the world around us.

Join us on this vibrant audio journey and discover how to really listen to life.

Host/Producer/Audio: Savannah Fortis