Liv Toerkell

Based in Berlin, the Haifa-raised singer and songwriter Rasha Nahas releases her first album in her native tongue, Arabic. Written during the pandemic, "Amrat امرات" is an exploration and celebration of her Palestinian identity and a touching album grown out of spaces in between cities, identities, and cultures. We spoke to the singer and are premiering the video to "Habbetek حبيتك" in this week's Introducing Feature.

The music of Pip Millett speaks for itself. On her latest record, "When Everything Is Better, I'll Let You Know" the artist sings of setting boundaries, so many emotions, and putting oneself first. In an interview, Pip shares her thoughts on expressing vulnerability, and the process of growth.

Débora Umbelino or Surma gives experimental music a new meaning. Working with deconstruction, Surma explores not just the different ways in which instruments work, but takes them apart to their very core to draw new sounds from their essence. On the new record "alla", the artist applies that new fearlessness.

The singer and storyteller Lucy Dacus released her personal record "Home Video" last year, followed by the singles "Kissing Lessons" and the Carole King cover "It's Too Late". This year, we have spoken to the artist about her intimate music and writing songs about happiness.

The Londoner five-piece Ezra Collective released their exuberant new record "Where I'm Meant To Be" via Partisan Records in November. It follows their debut record "You Can't Steal My Joy". We caught up with the band's drummer Femi Koleoso to talk about the role that joy plays in his life, the Londoner music community, and the similarities between jazz and boxing.

Emotions run deep in Son Little's music. The Philadelphia-born singer and songwriter, Aaron Livingston, recently released the bluesy, retro-soul-inspired Like Neptune. His new record emerged out of an intense and difficult time. We caught the artist in an extended Zoom interview to talk about personal growth, change, and reclaimed vulnerability. TW: sexual abuse

The term Pop is slippery like water. Its wide range exceeds definition yet it is used ubiquitous. Shaped by a hegemonic discourse, what is considered pop often moves within a narrow realm. Berlin's alternative pop festival, Pop Kultur, questions the definition of pop and the tastemakers by curating an inclusive, diverse, and critical line up of artists and speakers at their eighth edition earlier this year.

The Australian singer Kat Frankie released her new record "Shiny Things" via Groenland earlier this year. Now, the artist started her extended Germany tour and we met up with the Berlin-based musician to find out what shaped her songwriting over the pandemic. Between political unrest, melancholy, and radical hope Kat talks us through her musical mindset following the ultimate question: what is the responsibility of art?