Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Edgar

Hi Jacob, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

I’m a music producer, ethnomusicologist, and passionate explorer of global sounds. For over three decades, I’ve dedicated my career to discovering and sharing music from around the world. As the founder of the independent record label Cumbancha and the music researcher for the renowned Putumayo record label, I’ve worked with hundreds of artists from diverse cultures, bringing their unique musical voices to a worldwide audience.

My love for global music began with a deep fascination for how music connects people, tells stories, and reflects cultural identities. This passion led me to work as the head of A&R for Putumayo World Music, where I have curated and produced some of the biggest-selling world music compilations. I’ve traveled to remote corners of the globe, attending festivals, meeting artists, and immersing myself in musical traditions to bring authentic, vibrant sounds to new listeners.

Through my work, I aim to celebrate the beauty of cultural diversity and foster a greater appreciation for the music that transcends borders. Whether producing albums and playlists, hosting the PBS travel series “Music Voyager,” or lecturing on local music as a cultural specialist on National Geographic / Lindblad Expeditions ship journeys, my mission is to help people deepen their knowledge and appreciation of diversity through the universal expression of music.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

For someone who chose a pretty esoteric career path, my journey has been surprisingly easy. Of course, there have been challenges, such as trying to get a mainstream audience for some of the projects I have been involved with, or occasional financial jigsaw puzzling to make things work on a business level. Probably my biggest headaches over the years have involved mundane things such as dealing with US immigration authorities when bringing bands here to tour or challenges with artistic personalities (sometimes it seems that being a creative person and being just a little bit crazy are two sides of the same coin). But on the whole, ever since I decided to pursue my passion for music and culture exciting opportunities have always presented themselves. I also have developed the attitude that the frustrations and challenges are part of the fun, so sometimes, the more insane things get the more invigorated I become.

Perhaps my biggest challenge over the years has been with work-life balance. When you are as passionate as I am, and your work involves traveling the world, being fully present for your family and loved ones has been tough at times. Luckily, I have had the most loving and supportive life partner one could possibly imagine, and she has often been forced to hold down the fort while I have been off galavanting around the globe. Yet, in the 30 plus years we have been together, she has always encouraged me to take every opportunity. Without her love and support none of what I have done in life would have been possible. I give thanks to her every day and am so lucky to share my life with such a special person.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

At a fundamental level, my work involves listening to lots and lots of music, attending concerts and festivals, exploring social media platforms and fielding mounds of demos, submissions and links in an effort to identify outstanding musical gems. From there, I work to let people know about artists and songs that I think they should pay attention to. These days, there is so much music being produced it can be overwhelming to most people. My goal is to simplify things and help people discover their next favorite musician or song.

I also look for artists with great stories, a broader social mission, or who represent the place where they are from through their music. Music is about more than just sound, its also a reflection of the world we live in, our histories, our beliefs, our hopes and dreams. I trey to help people appreciate music not just as a form of entertainment, but as a deeper window into the soul of humanity.

I’ve been working in the music industry for a long time now, and I think I am known for my deep and extensive connections around the globe. If someone is looking for a musician from a particular region of the world, I can almost always help them out. I have a huge list of contacts around the world. I think people know me for the passion and commitment I bring to promoting great music and for giving overlooked artists as much respect and excitement as the biggest pop stars and household names. I think the popularity of a musician has very little connection to the quality of their work, but I am very happy when quality artists become popular.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?

I think difference is something worth celebrating. Diversity is what makes people interesting, be it in music and culture or in how people choose to live their lives. Why would we want everyone to be just like us? Rather than trying to get everyone to conform to a particular belief or value system, we should be celebrating the diversity that makes humanity so special. Step outside of your comfort zone and learn a bit about the world around you. Don’t assume that you have all the answers.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cumbancha.com / www,putumayo.com

Image Credits

All photos courtesy of Jacob Edgar.