The Importance of Showing Up for Yourself: In Conversation with FAYIM

The Detroit-based artist Tiffadelic moves at her own pace. From growing up on artists like Jimi Hendrix and Sade, she got into goth and alternative music, something that didn't always land with her peers. Her debut, "Retrosynthesis Vol I", is a document of survival and self-liberation. We spoke to Tiffadelic about what shaped her sound, the stories of survival that informed the record, and why we need songs as rituals of protest.

The Berlin based SO SORRY formed in 2023 and immediately turned heads with their vibrant sound of contemporary jazz, alternative pop and R’n’B influences. OFFKEY editor Anna Grubauer took the chance to speak to the band ahead of the release of their debut EP "WE ARE SO SORRY".

With her third album, the Australian singer-songwriter Hatchie took a profound look at the bittersweet highs and lows, and ecstatic ebbs and flows that love and intimacy can offer. OFFKEY editor Felicia Ete Aghaye shares her views on the record and its influences.

After Aysanabee's Berlin concert in October, OFFKEY editor Felicia Aghaye sat down with the Oji-Cree singer-songwriter to discuss his latest album “Edge of the Earth”, and the significance of story- and truth-telling in life and folk.

Mad Kate | The Tide is a three-musician neo punk band hailing from Berlin, exploring hard and soft melodies, ambient sounds and spoken word, costume and performance, sexuality and other societal matters, and now releasing their new album "Stage and Bedroom". Nadia Says asked the singer, Mad Kate, a few questions about the genesis of the album. 

Emma‑Jean Thackray is a multi-dimensional wonder. She single-handedly wrote, recorded, arranged, and produced every element of her new release "Weirdo" in her South London flat. The result is a deeply personal, emotionally charged record that traces her journey through grief and loss. Alice Vyyvan-Jones spoke to the artist about the album and how music became a lifeline in the wake of tragedy.

The Vancouver-based rapper Kimmortal makes music that challenges the status quo of the music industry and colonial capitalist frameworks. Their recent release "sunniest of days" is about navigating the tension of witnessing the injustices and genocides being committed across the globe, while holding space for personal happiness. Ahead of their show in Berlin on 17 September, we spoke to Kimmortal about their musical journey.

This year, the Berlin-based Pop-Kultur Festival celebrates its 11th edition. Next to carefully curated concerts and commissioned works, the event is steeped in conversations around pop and culture, expanding its thematic offerings with talks and listening event. Here is what OFFKEY is looking forward to at Pop-Kultur 2025.