OFFKEY Staff

Are you a queer-identifying composer looking to expand your creative practice? Orchestral Tools, a company for high-quality sampled instruments is accepting submissions for their microgrant program. Here is everything you need to know about the application process and some testimonies by artists who previously participated, Portrait XO, Venusloc and Elie Gregory. This fall, OFFKEY is happily co-presenting the open call.

The new single "LTDA" by Mariama is dedicated to love beyond romantic love and an ode to femme friendship and community. On it, the Berlin-based singer teams up with afrofuturist artist Astan KA as well as Johanna Amelie, Ay Wing, Mya Audrey and J-JD. Ahead of the release, Mariama answered a few questions about the collaborative process, and the importance of love and community.

Marcy Angeles is an author, musician, painter, and journalist from southern New Mexico whose work moves fluidly between sonic experimentation, literature, and political testimony. Ahead of the release of her new record "Data Mining", we asked the artist a few questions about her musical journey and what drives her to create.

What happens when the human voice is manipulated through electronic drone sounds? The London-based choir project NYX is experimenting with collective singing and digital production creating a unique soundscape on their self-titled debut. Nadia Says spoke to founder and musical director Sian O’Gorman about the power of the collective voice and the joy of playing with manipulation and distortion.

The Berlin-based rapper Ebow just dropped an extended version of her 2024 album "FC Chaya". The re-release includes four brand-new songs and comes with a glitter edition of the vinyl. The artist, who is a well-known queer and Kurdish voice in the German rap scene, gives us some insight into what the songs are all about.

Parallel to the film festival, Berlinale, several local organisations are organising a counter-program. Falastin Cinema Week is hosted by Refuge Worldwide, AL.Berlin, Jewish Bund, Diaspora Rising and many others. From 17 to 21st of February, you can experience film screenings, talks, and art exploring Palestinian histories and decolonial narratives.

The artists Najib and Ahmed Eid collaborated with several other musicians on the release of "Spirit Of the Soul روح الروح". The song pays tribute to the recently killed Palestinian man Khaled Nabhan and his granddaughter Reem. Proceeds from this soli release will go towards supporting humanitarian efforts in the region.

The Berliner institution Musicboard Berlin funds a broad range of musical residency programs each year. The Co-Creation Residency encourages creative exchange, collaboration and community building by pairing two artists from different cities. We spoke to project manager Maureen Noe about the structures of the program as well as four artists who participated this year.