Present
Hiske
“HISKE.’s sound is a blend of new-soul, jazzy r&b, touches of roots reggae, latin and jazz. Catchy and accessible melodies are alternated by rhythmical changes and melodically surprising choices”.
Pachamama
“Music is universal. It is a language that we can all speak, understand and recognize. Everyone can meet around music, and musicians can communicate with tones even when they can’t understand each other’s language.
Each country has its own music culture, their own instruments, melodies and rhythms. In Syria, the Arab folk have drawn threads far back in time. In West Africa they have the Yoruba music, that is imbued with rhythm and divine worship. If you go to Japan, a tone language prevails to a point that you won’t find that anywhere else. There are instruments that are completely unique, as for instance those found in India. In Morocco, Gnawa rules the music, and further west in South America, salsa, merengue and tango have left their mark on the culture.
All together music enriches and unites. But what happens when you are taken away from the music? What happens when war and natural disasters, family relationships or living conditions force one to move? As a musician one has dedicated himself to one’s profession. You have to live from it. But when you end up in a country which cultural habits are far away from your tradition, then you are “at the bottom of the food chain”. Then you are a beginner and working is sometimes not even possible. How should an oud player from Palestine suddenly play Jazz music in Denmark? There needs to be a space for everyone to be heard.”
Past / Non-active
Afrogrooves
Afrogrooves was born in 2017 out of a love for West-African music, in particular the afrobeat and highlife that were created in the 1970s by legends Fela Kuti, Ebo Taylor and Pat Thomas. Afrogrooves wants to bring people together to celebrate those and other heroes and heroines and to make a harmonious connection among musicians and the audience alike.
Music is sometimes unjustly seen as apolitical or non-political, but the reality is that music and the music industry also encompasses oppression and power structures of all sorts. As a platform and music collective, Afrogrooves takes a stand against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, sexism, ableism and all other forms of oppression. Together we try to decolonize music, break down power relations and create an inclusive and safe space with incredible music.
TivoliVredenburg
Rabo open stage
from 2018-2019 I was an intern at TivoliVredenburg, where I curated events for the Rabo Open Stage. I booked, among others, a friend of mine from Switzerland (Donna Zed). Other matches with the stage are Utrecht-based band How Was it for You, who got a lot of audience. I also managed to book Afrobeat jam session Afrogrooves in Club Nine, a stage that I officially did not have any say over. The last night at the Rabo Open Stage was amazing: It was packed and we had a great line-up. How Was It for You performed, followed by African Dance experiment Xposed and then by Afrogrooves, who came promoting their session in Club Nine. It was packed and the atmosphere was great.
I also brought Afrogrooves to Aalborg. I got together a band, planned the event, rehearsed, arranged logistics and performed with them as band leader/key player. Cafe Floes was packed, and the owners were content.
