Ilo Toerkell

"when the poems do what they do" is the title of the debut record by poet and organizer aja monet and it takes us on a musical and lyrical journey of what words can do. From ancestry to political activism and vulnerable self-expression, the record is a document of the true power of poetry and jazz. In our conversation, aja shares detailed insights about the visions behind it.

The singer and performer Sanni Est embodies the essence of artistic self-expression. Her boundary-breaking, multi-disciplinary album "Photophobia" explores themes like posthuman worlds, vocal expression and music beyond the Western binaries, and the possibilities of decolonized music-making.

The debut record by the singer and producer Sabrina Bellaouel explores her Algerian-French identity, and crafts personal memories into emotive songs. From euphoric pop to heavy techno-inspired house, singer-songwriter meets electronic distortion, "Al Hadr" is a chameleon of a record. This week, Sabrina shares insight into her influences and the formative aesthetic of Algerian music.

The collaborative record "Through the Cycle" by the Berliner Duo Modha engages in vulnerable and open conversations about mental health. With the aim to destigmatize the conversations around the topic, Modha share their emotions with the collaborators to create an atmosphere of trust. Among their collaborators are poet and writer Candice Nembhard, and the singers Noah Slee and Jermaine Peterson. We spoke to Modha and their contributors about the experience, vulnerability, and hopes for the album.

Here is an artist for the 'Super Sad Generation'. Arlo Parks sings out of the hearts and souls of millenials struggling with hopeless love, overwhelming influences, and self-exploration. We met the singer ahead of her very first headlining show in Berlin.