On May 6th, X-S takes place at Berlin's Marie Antoinette and Fitzroy. With the aim of reducing barriers, the party and panel talk focus on accessibility and visibility for disabled and neurodiverse communities. We spoke to Stella Spoon, who is part of the organizing team, about ableism in nightlife and strategies to make club culture safer and more accessible for people with disabilities and its intersections.
The Berliner festival, XJAZZ!, is known for bending definitions of jazz. Considering it a word of freedom rather than a narrow genre description, its line-up features international artists with different takes on jazz. We spoke to headliner and South Londoner Rapper Nadia Rose about her music and its connection to the genre.
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.
For two days in late November, the music-discursive event Territory Disrupt gathered various artists and researchers at SOMA Art Space Berlin. The concerts and discussion rounds focussed on the topic of cultural imperialism and artistic work in times of war. Music and cultural production are ways of fighting oppression and inspire solidarity and resistance. Anna Grubauer entered this space for exchange and discourse and shares impressions from the artistic interventions and discussion rounds.
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?
Light and dark dance on the sweeping, experimentally orchestral debut solo album from the Culk frontwoman Sophie Löw. "Die Neue Heiterkeit" explores themes of anxiety and oppression, but also finds remedy in community and hope. We spoke to the artist to peek behind the curtain of the soundscape and themes that Sophia Blenda explores.
'Maliba' the new EP of the Mali-born singer Fatoumata Diawara is a special release. It was created as part of the 'Mali Magic' heritage project highlighting the art and the tradition of the north African country. Following its release, we caught the singer on zoom to chat about the project and her role in the Malian music tradition and contemporary scene.
Change cannot be achieved by a single person. It takes a community, it takes a village. For the Berlin-based artist Noah Slee community plays a special role when it comes to dealing with personal and collective trauma. We spoke to the singer about inspiring change, healing, and the role of community in his music making.
