Episode One: The Golden Years

Welcome to Live in Kabul, in this series we’ll be looking at the rise and fall of the music scene in the city between 2006 and the present. Across the series, we’ll be talking to five different expats who lived in Kabul at various times between this period. In this episode, we look at what Kabul was like prior to the heightened conflict that penetrated the city in 2014.

Guest Speakers

Elijah Berry

Elijah has worked in private security in some of the most hostile places in the world, including Afghanistan. He first went to Kabul to do close protection and rather than returning home at the end of his contract, he decided to stick around, remaining in the country for a further five and a half years. 

Catherine James

Catherine (AKA Cat) is a journalist who is still in Kabul. She has worked for the ABC and other news outlets and was a member of expat band, The Internationals. Her voice has been likened to that of Florence Welch from Florence + The Machine.

Jennifer Moberg

Jennifer is a talented musician who worked as a teacher at the Afghan National Institute of Music (ANIM). She was a devoted teacher who was admired by her students, many of whom left the country in pursuit of their music dreams.

Adrien Henry

Adrien has been described as the best expat guitarist in Kabul. Originally from the UK, Adrien played worked in insurance and was a member of the renowned expat band, The Internationals. 

Travis Beard

Travis lived and breathed music in Kabul and was behind one of the most successful music festival in the country, Sound Central. He also ran his own music house known as the Jackie Chan guest house, which was popular amongst the locals.

Credits and acknowledgements

Elijah Berry

Catherine James

Jennifer Moberg

Travis Beard

Adrien Henry

Liam Carter

Andy Martin

Zoe Hall

 

Music

Theme song: Dunes – Bifkeki

The Crew – Bifkeki

Crack in the Radio – Kabul Dreams

Bomb Blast – Kabul Dreams

Links

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