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.
Jazz musician and composer Haggai Cohen-Milo and rapper and poet Stimulus might come from different musical worlds, but together they’ve built something entirely original. In "Gravitations", they channel Mahler, Verdi, and Debussy into a genre-defying project about death, devotion, and reinvention. Anna Grubauer met the duo to talk about how it all came together.
The New Delhi-based rapper and producer Kinari recently released her new project "BADDUA". Ilo Toerkell spoke to the artist about the diverse range of influences she draws from, including traditional Indian and Tamil sounds, hip-hop and Ballroom beats, her relationship to faith, and how the district Dilli 17 of her hometown has shaped her creative output.
With a sound that slips between jazz, club and experimental, Glasgow outfit corto.alto is hard to pin down — and all the more exciting for it. Headed by trombonist and producer Liam Shortall, the group brings raw energy and genre fluidity to the stage. Ahead of their show at XJAZZ!, Anna Grubauer spoke to him about live shows, creative freedom, and the friendships that keep it all moving.
The rapper Enana and DJ/producer mx.pinky merged their creative energy to create the EP "Becoming." It is the debut release on exude records - a label and event series by and for trans artists. Ilo Toerkell met Enana and mx.pinky to chat about their collaboration, allowing joy regardless of the repressive climate that trans and other marginalized people face, and why we need more T4T spaces.
Salami Rose Joe Louis, aka Lindsay Olsen, is a genre traveler, multi-instrumentalist producer, and a signee to Flying Lotus's Brainfeeder label. With a background in science, her work often explores themes like environmental crisis, emotional alienation, and cosmic consciousness. OFFKEY author Alice Vyvyan-Jones spoke to the artist about discussing her new album "Lorings".
