KCRW Berlin: Amplified
Amplified is a weekly music show, originally broadcast on KCRW Berlin, featuring interviews with musicians from all genres, hailing from Berlin and beyond.
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Singer-songwriter Michael Brinkworth on how to create this 'Good Old Feeling' (Rebroadcast)
Brisbane-born Michael Brinkworth draws inspiration from Bob Dylan, Neil Young and from the city he now calls home, Berlin, “this weird halfway house that I ended up in.” The 33-year-old traveled the globe before settling down here six years ago. In the past couple of months, Brinkworth has been releasing tracks from his upcoming album, “Wasted Wonder.” We talk to him about his new music and life in Berlin. (Originally aired July 11, 2020) Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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Musician Ian Tilling on writing music in bad times (Rebroadcast)
We feature indie-rock musician Ian Tilling. The 35-year-old Brit moved to Berlin in 2016. After joining and leaving a number of bands, he started his solo project Grief Scene a year ago. Next month, Tilling will release his debut album titled "Bad Times." (Originally aired Oct. 17, 2020) Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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Berlin-based musician Martha Rose on 'diving deeply and emotionally after something that you love' (Rebroadcast)
Martha Rose, a U.K.-born, Berlin-based musician, just released her second full-length album titled “Undress & Dive After.” The 33-year-old multi-instrumentalist talks with us about her songwriting process, what her grandparents have to do with it and what’s behind her intriguing album title. (Originally aired Aug. 8, 2020) Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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‘It’s just the music that I love’: Marlais on coming to folk music as an ‘outsider’ (Rebroadcast)
We spoke with Michael Culme-Seymour — aka Marlais — about his love of folk music and his life in Berlin. The 33-year-old musician often blends old folk songs with modern elements. “Meeting Is A Pleasure,” is his latest single released in mid-September, a preview of the album to come. (Originally aired Sept. 28, 2020)
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James Chatburn: 'It's actually quite a chilled time for me for once'
Musician and producer James Chatburn moved to Berlin in 2015. The 29-year-old toured with well-known alternative R&B artists like Jordan Rakei and the L.A. band The Internet. One of his big idols is American soul legend Donny Hathaway. We caught up with the Australian to talk about his debut release "Faible Teil 1."
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Leitmotifs: Benjamin Hochman: 'In Mozart's music, every note is in the right place'
In this episode of Leitmotifs, host Fredrika Brillembourg talks with pianist and conductor Benjamin Hochman. He has performed in major cities and festivals around the world, both as a soloist and chamber musician. Currently, Hochman is a research associate with Bard College Berlin and concert curator for the American Academy. Fredrika spoke with him about Mozart and Hochman's approach to music.
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How this year's edition of Jazzfest Berlin strives to build a 'transatlantic bridge,' just days after the US election
Jazzfest Berlin has a long tradition in the city. It's been a platform for musicians from around the world since 1964. This year, the four-day festival is scheduled to kick off on Nov. 5 with a focus on the jazz scenes in Berlin and New York. We spoke with Nadin Deventer, the artistic director of the festival about what to expect from this special pandemic edition of Jazzfest Berlin.
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Musician Ian Tilling on writing music in bad times
We feature indie-rock musician Ian Tilling. The 35-year-old Brit moved to Berlin in 2016. After joining and leaving a number of bands, he started his solo project Grief Scene a year ago. Next month, Tilling will release his debut album titled "Bad Times." Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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'It's just the music that I love': Marlais on coming to folk music as an 'outsider'
We spoke with Michael Culme-Seymour — aka Marlais — about his love of folk music and his life in Berlin. The 33-year-old musician often blends old folk songs with modern elements. "Meeting Is A Pleasure," is his latest single released in mid-September, a preview of the album to come. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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Juno Francis: Swedish Pop Made In Berlin
Angelica Ranåsen and Jacob Fagerstål are the Swedish pop duo Juno Francis. They teamed up in Berlin a couple of years ago to work on their vision of psychedelic 60s and 80s pop. We caught up with the singer, Angelica, who is 26, to talk about the duo's upcoming first EP "Oyster Love," and her fascination with all things retro. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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'Thinking is a musician's death': Tricky on his approach to music
Tricky just released his 14th studio album, “Fall To Pieces.” On most of the new tracks, the Berlin-based artist is joined by Marta Złakowska, a vocalist whom he discovered on a European tour. We caught up with the 52-year-old about his new release and to find out what keeps him going after three decades of making music. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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'A label for a lack of a label': hear now berlin's founder on playing genre-defying chamber music
hear now berlin is a chamber group that plays works by contemporary composers. Inspired by the music she loves playing and hearing, the sextet’s founder and flutist, Kelly Watson Woelffer, searched for five musicians who shared her vision: a violist from Australia, a cellist from New Zealand, and a trumpeter, violinist and clarinetist from Germany. Though they are all classically trained musicians with orchestral foundations, the six are also skilled in a wide range of other genres, including singer-songwriter, big band, pop and jazz. About 18 months after the group’s debut performance, we caught up with Watson Woelffer and violist Xina Hawkins about the challenges of holding auditions for a new group member during the pandemic and their upcoming concert on Sept. 7 at Kulturhaus Insel Berlin. Produced by Sylvia Cunningham
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Musician Candice Gordon on starting a new chapter in her life
Candice Gordon is the new cultural officer at the Irish Embassy in Berlin. The musician is known well beyond Berlin’s music scene for her haunting voice and prolific lyrics. We caught up with Gordon about her new role in cultural diplomacy and her latest EP, “The Sacramental Traffic Lights.” Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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Àbáse talks about his roots and sound
Szabolcs Bognar, better known as Àbáse, is a Berlin-based producer and multi-instrumentalist who is playing at this year’s XJAZZ open air festival.A classically trained jazz pianist, Àbáse combines jazzy elements with West African, Brazilian and other influences to create a fresh, new sound.Ahead of his performance this weekend, we caught up with the 29-year-old over Zoom about his appreciation for Yoruba culture and growing up in post-socialist Budapest. Produced by Benjamin Restle
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Berlin-based musician Martha Rose on 'diving deeply and emotionally after something that you love'
Martha Rose, a U.K.-born, Berlin-based musician, just released her second full-length album titled “Undress & Dive After.” The 33-year-old multi-instrumentalist talks with us about her songwriting process, what her grandparents have to do with it, and what’s behind her intriguing album title. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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The German swing band that vows to keep you entertained through the pandemic
Back in March when all the music clubs closed in Berlin, big band leader Andrej Hermlin made a promise: to keep on performing as long as the coronavirus pandemic restricts our lives. His band, the Swingin’ Hermlins, started a non-stop series of nightly concerts streamed live via Facebook. KCRW Berlin’s Erik Kirschbaum met Andrej Hermlin to talk about his love for American music from the 1930s and why he made this crazy promise. Produced by Erik Kirschbaum
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'Sonic thinker' Sam Auinger explores the Halle am Berghain
Berlin-based composer Sam Auinger describes himself as a “sonic thinker.” The 64-year-old Austrian has spent decades exploring sound and perception in public places. Auinger’s current project is a sound installation with his long-time collaborator Hannes Strobl. The duo’s work, “Eleven Songs,” runs until August 2 at the Halle am Berghain . Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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Singer-songwriter Michael Brinkworth on how to create this 'Good Old Feeling'
Brisbane-born Michael Brinkworth draws inspiration from Bob Dylan, Neil Young and from the city he now calls home, Berlin, “this weird halfway house that I ended up in.” The 33-year-old traveled the globe before settling down here six years ago. In the past couple of months, Brinkworth has been releasing tracks from his upcoming album, “Wasted Wonder.” We talk to him about his new music and life in Berlin. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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Noah Slee: Far away but 'Here For It All'
In this week’s edition of Amplified, we catch up with New Zealand-born soul singer and producer Noah Slee. The musician just released the single, “Here For It All.” It comes after his EP, “TWICE,” and his breakthrough debut album “Otherland.” Slee is usually based in Berlin, but he got stuck on tour when the pandemic struck. We reached him via Zoom in New Zealand. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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Derya Yildirim on 'coming alive again'
Berlin-based musician Derya Yildirim is a multi-instrumentalist, but her favorite is the Turkish lute called the “Bağlama.” Usually, the 26-year-old performs with her band, Grup Şimşek, but more recently, she’s played on her own. We caught up with the 26-year-old in France, where she is reuniting with her band to write new material. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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Odes to love and life: singer songwriter Finn Ronsdorf on his first EP
Berlin-based musician Finn Ronsdorf is releasing his first EP, “Odes,” on June 12. We talk with the 21-year-old singer-songwriter about his early musical influences and what it takes to write a love song. He says the key is “really just being very much in the moment.” Produced by Sylvia Cunningham
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The rap teaching kids to keep COVID-19 at bay
Brodie White loves to teach guitar and audio production to kids. So when the schools were closed, the 35-year-old had a lot of time on his hands, so he came up with a special lesson for his students: a hygiene rules rap for kids. Covid Who!? is a production of Berlin Cosmopolitan School & Musical Friends (Brodie White and Trevor Woods). Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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Robot Koch on scoring imaginary movies, his forthcoming album and seeking inspiration in nature
German-born Robot Koch is dropping his new record “The Next Billion Years” on May 29. Ahead of the release, we spoke to the L.A.-based artist, producer and composer about why late French conservationist Jacques-Yves Cousteau inspired him to make the album. Robot Koch, who spent several years living and working in Berlin before relocating to L.A., has a visual approach to his music. He says for him creating songs is “like scoring imaginary movies in my head,” and that being in nature is an important source of inspiration. Produced by Benjamin Restle
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Collaboration in the time of the coronavirus: Record label Ransom Note supports artists by making them 'Pen Pals'
With concerts and festivals canceled, artists are struggling to make ends meet. London-based label Ransom Note came up with a novel idea to generate some much needed cash for music makers. They invited a number of artists — among them, KCRW Berlin’s Moderna — to contribute to a compilation album by collaborating remotely on original tracks in just 10 days. The completed album, “Pen Pals,” went on sale on April 24 and features 15 tracks by 32 artists. The proceeds go to supporting the artists and the label. We got in touch with Ransom Note’s Rosie Cain to find out about the unusual project and how collaborating remotely affects the creative process. “Pen Pals” is available to buy online. Produced by Benjamin Restle
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How does music help in times of crisis? We asked a musicologist to explain
We’ve all seen footage of people taking to their balconies to sing and play instruments together amid the coronavirus lockdown. But why is that? Gunter Kreutz, who teaches at the University of Oldenburg, has published a book on the mental health benefits of singing, among other things. The musicologist says “in crises, music has a very strong function to balance people, and show them there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Produced by Benjamin Restle
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Raving on in quarantine with 'United We Stream'
Berlin’s clubs were forced to shut this month to help contain the coronavirus outbreak. With Berliners deprived of their beloved music venues, and clubs missing out on vital revenue, Clubcommission and Reclaim Club Culture launched the United We Stream platform. Here, venues can stream DJ sets, concerts and much more for Berliners to enjoy in the safety of their homes. In return, they’re asking for donations to get them through these tough times. We caught up with Clubcommission spokesman Lutz Leichsenring (pictured) on Skype to find out how many people have tuned in so far and if the platform can save clubs from financial ruin. Produced by Benjamin Restle
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Composer, innovator, musical radical: Upcoming festival celebrates Beethoven's 250th birthday in experimental style
This year marks 250 years since the birth of one of the most renowned composers of all time, Ludwig van Beethoven. Germany has poured 27 million euros into marking the occasion, and there are a number of events happening here in Berlin, including Labor Beethoven 2020, which is a contemporary reading of the work of Beethoven. We spoke with Julia Gerlach, the head of music at the Akademie der Künste Berlin and the director of Labor Beethoven 2020, to find out more about some of the musical experimentation that has grown out of the celebration and how this benefits the composer’s legacy. Produced by Sylvia Cunningham
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Acht Eimer Hühnerherzen on punk ethos and the perils of overproduction
We sat down with Johnny “Jacho” Bottrop and Bene Diktator from Berlin punk band Acht Eimer Hühnerherzen, which translates to “eight buckets of chicken hearts.” They explained the meaning of their unusual band name and why coming up with song lyrics should take 30 minutes tops. Produced by Ben Restle
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Caligari rises again with a rejuvenated score at Babylon
On Feb. 27, 1920, Berlin saw the premiere of the psychological thriller, “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.” Today, it’s considered a quintessential film of German Expressionism. But a century ago, a mismatched score nearly cost the film its audience. We spoke to Hans Brandner from the Babylon Orchester Berlin who shares the story about the original screenings of the film and how they prompted the director to work with composer Giuseppe Becce on a whole new score. Components of that very same score have been rearranged by Brandner and conductor Marcelo Falcão to accompany screenings in Berlin at the Babylon this year. Produced by Sylvia Cunningham
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‘The opera machine is not looking for disruption’: Opera Lab Berlin on breaking down traditional musical theater works
Opera Lab Berlin’s upcoming premiere of “ODYSSEY: Dead Men Die” promises a “an apocalyptic journey” encompassing Homer, James Joyce and Hollywood. We caught up with artistic director Evan Gardner to find out more about the free-form ensemble, which has produced or collaborated on over 20 productions in the past six years, as well as what to expect from their new show. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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Singer-songwriter Jackson Dyer on his debut album 'Inlet,' an ode to Australia and Berlin
Jackson Dyer is an Australian singer-songwriter and producer, based in Berlin. His debut album, “Inlet,” was released on November 15. We caught up with him to talk about going home to Australia to record his debut album, the pros and cons of producing an album solo, and his beginnings busking in Mauerpark. Stick around until the end of the interview to hear Jackson perform “Over the Dunes” live in-studio. Produced by Sylvia Cunningham
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‘Depressive in a good way’: DJ and producer Shed on his new album, revisiting his first home in East Germany
We met up with DJ and producer Shed, aka René Pawlowitz, following the November 29 release of his fifth studio album “Oderbruch” on Berghain’s label Ostgut Ton. Pawlowitz opens up about the inspiration for the album, which centers around memories from the region his family’s from in East Germany. He talks about how the area has changed and doesn’t hide the sense of nostalgia that emerges: “It’s a mixture of being sad but also happy. It’s depressive in a good way,” he says. Produced by Sylvia Cunningham
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Mira Lu Kovacs of 5K HD on why they'll happily disappoint listeners to keep things fresh
5K HD is a Vienna-based avant-garde electro pop band tired of sticking to musical conventions. We met up with lead singer Mira Lu Kovacs to find out about the band’s jazz influences and passion for experimenting with sound and improvisation. The band recently released their second album, “High Performer,” and will be showcasing their new material in a European tour in early 2020. Produced by Benjamin Restle
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Ishmael Ensemble frontman on his love for Berlin and experimenting with sound
Ishmael Ensemble is a Bristol-based ambient-jazz-electronica outfit that defies being pigeonholed into only one genre. We sat down with band leader Pete Cunningham and bassist Jake Spurgeon to talk about what inspires them musically and why they love playing in Berlin. Ishmael Ensemble released their debut album, “A State of Flow,” in May of 2019. They are currently recording a new EP and planning a concert tour for 2020. Produced by Benjamin Restle
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That's what 'She Says': Gurr talks friendship, bilingual lyrics and anxiety
Berlin-based garage pop band Gurr write songs about anxiety, what it means to be a strong woman, and, of course, love. We caught up with the Laura Lee and Andreya Casablanca to talk about writing lyrics in German versus English, friendship, their upcoming tour and their new “She Says” EP, which is available now. Produced by Sylvia Cunnningham
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The Chap talk concept albums, midlife crises and political rock
We spoke with Keith Duncan and Johannes von Weizsäcker, two members of The Chap, ahead of their performance at the Torstraßen Festival. The band, who has challenged themselves in recent years to release a series of concept albums which push them beyond their comfort zone, shares some thoughts on their tenure together. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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Tara Nome Doyle sings us a Norwegian lullaby
We spoke with performer Tara Nome Doyle ahead of the Torstraßen Festival at the Volksbühne . The 21-year-old Berlin singer-songwriter walks us through her songwriting process and the first song she wrote at the age of 11, the musical impact of growing up in a Norwegian-Irish family, and her first EP, “Milk and Honey” which was released in 2018. Stick around until the end to hear a special a capella performance of her version of the Norwegian folk song “Till Till Tara.” Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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Delhia de France on her new EP 'Oceanides' and splitting her time between Berlin and LA
German musician Delhia de France likes drawing from Greek mythology to create her music. She’s particularly fascinated with goddesses. “I like the concept of taking something totally mundane and giving it a kind of divine spark or kind of a divine image,” de France said. De France stopped by our studio to talk about her new EP ‘Oceanides’ and her collaboration with award-winning German producer Robot Koch. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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Sisters Leah and Chloe Smith from Rising Appalachia on their roots and the Slow Music Movement
Rising Appalachia is a band founded by two sisters, Leah and Chloe Smith . With links to social and environmental activism, the folk duo from Atlanta, Georgia, look for harmony in the music they create and the places they go. The sisters dropped by our studio in the middle of a series of European shows celebrating their new album “Leylines.” We talked about their roots and the philosophy behind the Slow Music Movement. Plus, they performed a traditional Appalachian love song live in studio, “Across the Blue Ridge Mountains.” Produced by Sylvia Cunningham
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30 years after the first Loveparade, founder Dr. Motte shares how he started a ‘rave-olution’
On July 1, 1989, a few months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, a couple handfuls of people started a dance parade to acid house music along Kurfürstendamm in West Berlin. It was called Loveparade and was organized by a DJ named Dr. Motte . 30 years on, we caught up with Dr. Motte to find out more about the origins of the legendary event, and how a celebration founded in the name of “peace, love and pancakes” became a world-renowned party. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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Fenster’s JJ Weihl gives us a glimpse into the band’s creative process
We sat down with JJ Weihl, one of the founders of Berlin-based band Fenster, to talk about their latest album, “The Room,” and past projects. From creating a soundtrack to a movie that doesn’t exist to tracking an entire album live while in the Tuscan countryside, Weihl gives us insight into the band’s creative process. Produced by Flora Adamian
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Street sounds of Berlin: Soprano Christina Harslem shares her passion with the public
Berlin street musicians play everywhere, from street corners to public transportation. In this series, we’re talking with Berlin street musicians in order to find out more about who they are and what drives them to share their music throughout the city. We spoke with soprano Christina Harslem to learn more about the rewards and challenges of performing as a street musician. Produced by Flora Adamian
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Listening to Tuareg music with African Acid Is The Future
Maryama Luccioni is the founder of African Acid Is The Future, a Berlin-based music collective that hosts concerts and radio shows, and has put out an LP titled Ambiance I. On June 6 , African Acid Is The Future will feature Tuareg musician Mdou Moctar in a show at the Volksbühne in Berlin. We sat down with Luccioni to talk about the collective’s origin stories, plus a glimpse into Moctar’s music ahead of the show. Produced by Sylvia Cunningham
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Motherhood, music and how you’re 'greater than you think': Diane Weigmann on her new album
We caught up with musician Diane Weigmann. Born and raised in Berlin, Weigmann was once a member of the all-female pop band the Lemonbabies. Ahead of the release of her fourth solo studio album, Weigmann talks about how motherhood has led to a change in perspective, as well as her new single “Größer als Du denkst” (in English, that’s “Greater than you think”). Produced by Nikki Motson
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Violinist Daniel Weltlinger's latest album tells the story of his grandfather's violin
The Berlin-based violinist Daniel Weltlinger’s latest album, “Szolnok,” tells the story of his grandfather — who fled Europe during the war, violin in tow, before ending up in Australia — and how Weltlinger came to own and play that violin decades later. We sat down with Weltlinger to learn more about his grandfather and hear music from the album, played live in-studio, from the same violin. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
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The Only Good System Is A Sound System festival explores the sounds and politics of bass culture
“The only good system is a sound system” is an adage known among music heads and audio nerds. It’s also the name of a festival in Berlin designed to explore the sounds and politics of bass music. Co-curators Zuri Maria Daiß and Pascal Jurt want to stoke Berlin’s curiosity with the genre of club music and hope the festival will bring together technicians, musicians and theorists to foster an exchange of ideas on sound system culture. Produced by Charlotte Billing.
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Decades after artist February Montaine's mysterious disappearance, the tapes he left behind are given new life
Artist February Montaine mysteriously disappeared from his Derbyshire, England home in 1991. He left behind a substantial collection of journals and homemade tapes, which became cherished by his stepdaughter Suzy . She passed her stepfather’s work onto Berlin-based musician and producer Sam Potter, who spent years weaving these remnants together. One journal idea that stuck with Potter, was Montaine’s belief that “the best music listens to you in the same way you listen to it. So to make a song really great, it really speaks to your soul and holds a mirror up to you in that moment.” Potter says it seemed like Montaine was thinking “50 years in the future, whilst living in a small house in Derbyshire and making this low-fi music.” Produced by Nikki Motson
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Chamber group hear now berlin aims to reach new audiences with genre-crossing, emotional compositions
It was August 2018 when Kelly Watson Woelffer, a Berlin-based flutist originally from the U.S., heard “Music in Circles” by American composer Andrew Norman and something in her ignited. “I’ve been a little bit artistically starved for the last five years or so because I have three tiny humans at home,” said Watson Woelffer. “I have been playing and teaching, of course, but have not led something of my own in about five years…I was just listening to [“Music in Circles”] and I had a sudden decision finally that I knew exactly what had to be next for me, artistically.” From this inspiration, the chamber group hear now berlin, a sextet that challenges classical music paradigms, was born. The group — comprising Kelly Watson Woelffer (flute, alto flute, piccolo), Alexander Glücksmann (clarinet, bass clarinet), Damir Bacikin (trumpet), Meike Lu Schneider (violin), Xina Hawkins (viola) and Edward King (cello) — had their debut concert on March 14. Ahead of their next show on April 3, we talked to Watson Woelffer, Hawkins and King about the genre of indie classical and making music more accessible for all listeners. Produced by Sylvia Cunningham.
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Street sounds of Berlin: Ukrainian duo Igor and Anton dream of a musical future
Berlin street musicians play everywhere, from street corners to public transportation. In this series, we’re talking with Berlin street musicians in order to find out more about who they are and what drives them to share their music throughout the city. We caught up with Ukrainian music students Igor and Anton who play accordion and violin, playing at a U-Bahn station, to gain a bit more insight into their world. Produced by Nikki Motson
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Find the File: Haus der Kulturen der Welt's new festival turns archives into art
How should we care for sound archives in the digital age? It’s a question that Detlef Diederichsen, head of music and performing arts at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt , has considered for more than 10 years — so much so that he created Find the File, a festival that begins on March 21 at the HKW, to explore big-picture questions about music digitalization. We caught up with Diederichsen to discuss how the idea came to life, plus we hear from Berlin-based musicians Tellavision and Derya Yıldırım, who were commissioned to produce a work for the festival’s opening night. Produced by Charlotte Billing
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