Hey there. Welcome to OFFKEY’s newsletter. We are glad you’re here. Sit down, put on your headphones, drink a glass of water, and take a moment to browse through the music and stories we encountered.

This time:
Deconstructing classical music with Lido Pimienta, lordkez on self-love, Faravaz’s fight for the right to sing, XJAZZ! up close, and why we should all be worried that it takes crowdfunding to ensure the future of COSMO, the only multi-lingual mainstream radio broadcaster in Germany.

Currently playing:

We are currently listening to Majur’s fabulous new record “GIRA MUNDO”. Released in mid-May, each song on the record is dedicated to one of the Orishas, deities in the Afro-Brazilian Candomblé religion, which is derived from the West African Yoruba tradition. Majur blends traditional rhythms with contemporary production in 16 beautiful new songs. Tune in below to listen to the first song of the record, “BARÁ”, named after the Orisha associated with communication and crossroads.

Follow our On Repeat playlist to receive regular updates with new music.

Follow OFFKEY on Spotify

ICYMI

Last month, we spoke to many interesting artists. Here are some features you might have missed. 

Putting Self-Love First with lordkez

South African R&B artist lordkez recently dropped her latest album "You, Me & The 90’s". On the record, she explores themes of identity, care and spirituality. Born Keziah Zoë Meyers, lordkez is carving out space in the rising new wave of South African R&B. OFFKEY’s Alice Vyvyan-Jones caught up with the singer to talk about the creative process behind the project, her musical roots in the church, and why self-love remains a central theme in her creative and personal journey. Read.

“Everything starts with the self. When you’re out of alignment with yourself, you’re out of alignment with everything and everyone around you.”

- lordkez

Fighting for the Right to Sing with Faravaz

Iranian singer, Faravaz, will release her debut, "Azadi", which translates to "Freedom" in Farsi, on May 11. The record recounts the story of her life in exile in Germany after the Iranian government sentenced her to prison for the act of singing as a woman. Choosing to not return to her homeland, Faravaz continues to fight for women’s rights from abroad. Her music is driven by the yearning and fight for liberation from patriarchal oppression. We spoke to the artist about what freedom means to her. Read.

“Art is the place where I express my anger. It is a place for rebellion and doing the things others try to forbid you from doing or try to make you feel ashamed for.” - Faravaz

Deconstructing Classical Music with Lido Pimienta

Lido Pimienta uses the tools of Western classical music and reinterprets them through her own lens on the new album “La Belleza”. For her first fully orchestral release, the artist worked with musicians from her hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia. “La Belleza” is an homage to the Caribbean sublime, a dembow rhythm arranged with strings, brass, and winds. Lido Pimienta also poses the question of who gets to decide what is considered classical. We spoke to the artist about the new album and rethinking classical music. Read.

“We should question what the term classical actually means and where it comes from. The label is used to gatekeep by those in power, the colonial capitalist countries. They write the narrative and decide that there is a different preciousness and prestige given to a violin in comparison to Afro-Colombian drums. I want to resist that.”

- Lido Pimienta

You can read more new features on our website.

Have you met...MADANii?

With her debut EP "BiiLINGUAL", German-Iranian singer MADANii turns inward to unpack what it means to reclaim the parts of herself she once tried to hide. It is sung in Farsi and English, emotionally layered, and unapologetically honest. MADANii invited OFFKEY for a conversation over some chai tea. In her Berliner apartment, we spoke to the artist about the fire that fuels her, the burden of being misread, and why joy and community are essential to her sound. Read.

“I had this image of keeping the fire going as a metaphor for my own resilience. So, my songwriting became a tool for being more hopeful about the future and reassuring myself.” - MADANii

Politics of Pop

COSMO Was Getting Silenced. Here's Why That Should Still Scare You

By Felicia Ete Aghaye

If you've ever tuned into COSMO on a long train ride or while chopping onions in your kitchen, wanting to listen to more integral and diverse popular music than the generic pieces occupying many major radio waves, you already know: COSMO isn’t just a radio station. It's one of the last remaining platforms in German public broadcasting where migrant voices are not just tolerated, but centered. It's the sound of linguistic multiplicity, of diasporic realities in stereo. And now? COSMO was the one on the chopping block.

COSMO offers a space where diversity in all its complexity can simply exist, which is not just a rarity in the public German radio landscape but the absolute exception. It’s where Turkish trap coexists with Kurdish folk, where Afrobeats get contextualized in German, where queerness, Blackness, exile, joy, and rage are narrated by the people who live them. And it does all this without resorting to the easy spectacle of “diversity” as decoration. COSMO isn’t multicultural wallpaper. It's a battleground for representation — and it’s winning!

In the last couple of days, however, COSMO's case of possible restriction and eradication of its linear programming was center topic in many conversations about the German government silencing under-represented voices. The push to eradicate COSMO radio’s broadcasting presence, and instead only offer it in digital form, came amid sweeping debates around the future of public broadcasting in Germany, where ARD and ZDF — the country’s two main publicly funded media giants — are facing mounting political pressure to “streamline” operations. But let's not kid ourselves: this isn’t just about budget spreadsheets. The loudest calls for funding cuts are coming from conservative and right-wing parties like the CDU and AfD, who frame multilingual, migrant-centered programming as “niche” or “ideologically biased.” In reality, what they’re trying to defund is a cultural lifeline for communities they’d rather render invisible. COSMO, with its unapologetic internationalism and refusal to cater to sanitized mainstream tastes, is an easy target for those eager to “neutralize” public media — and that makes its potential disappearance not just a financial decision, but a deeply political one.

The potential erasure of COSMO, under the guise of restructuring or cost-saving, isn’t just a sad little media story. It’s symptomatic of a broader political agenda: sanitizing public discourse, re-centralizing whiteness in cultural production, and quietly rolling back the few spaces where polyphonic, post-migrant perspectives have found airtime.

Pop is political, always. But sometimes the politics isn’t in the lyrics — it’s in the silence you’re left with when the music stops.

The resistance to COSMO's potential shutdown has ignited a vibrant grassroots campaign, galvanizing listeners, artists, and activists across Germany. Over 300 prominent figures from the cultural sector have publicly opposed the proposed cuts, emphasizing COSMO's vital role in representing diverse voices. Notable supporters include rapper Ebow, actor and filmmaker Tyron Ricketts, and author Mithu Sanyal, all of whom have underscored the station's significance as a platform for multicultural dialogue and its irreplaceable position in Germany's media landscape.

Read the full article here.

Follow COSMO on Instagram and tune in the COSMO radio waves.

XJAZZ! Up Close

OFFKEY reports back from the heart of Kreuzberg, where jazz wasn’t just played—it was lived, stretched, bent, and reimagined at XJAZZ! 2025. Over five days, the festival transformed Berlin into a humming epicenter of improvisation, resistance, and radical joy. From breakout debuts to soul-igniting jam sessions, we witnessed a city vibrating in rhythm with a global community of artists and listeners. Read our full recap here.

“XJAZZ! reminded us that music is not a product; it’s a process of becoming. It’s what happens when we listen, not just with ears, but with everything. In a world fraying at the seams, music connects. And when we connect, we heal.” - Felicia Ete Aghaye

Ahead of the festival, we had the pleasure to meet and interview several artists, who performed at XJAZZ! 2025, for a more nuanced insight into the festival and the voices it uplifts. Berlin-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist D.$AHIN is one of them. Her sound reflects a synthesis of a life lived between cultures, melding traditional Turkish folk and her studies of the Saz (a long-necked lute), with the melodic sensibilities of Western pop. OFFKEY author Alice Vyvyan-Jones sat down with the artist to talk about what it means to create from a place of uprootedness. Read.

What's Next?

Next month, we are continuing our XJAZZ! Up Close interview series with artists like Jembaa Groove, Aron & The Jeri Jeri Band. We also met the RnB artist Yaya Bey for a conversation about her new record “Do It Afraid”, out June 20th, and the experimental electronic artist Nadah El Shazly.

Berlin

On June 11, catch the amazing Brazilian singer Majur playing the songs from her new album live in Berlin.

IÇ IÇE, the festival for new Anatolian music, returns this year on June 14. After being affected by budget cuts, the organisers were only able to make this happen thanks to crowdfunding. You can still donate to alleviate some of the costs and get your tickets here.

On Saturday, June 21, a mass demonstration for Palestine will take place at Brandenburger Tor from 3 PM to 8 PM. Operating under the banner "#UnitedForGaza," the demonstration seeks to center Palestinian perspectives and calls for an end to German support for occupation, apartheid, and war crimes. Organizers are urging participants to wear red, your kuffiyeh, and to bring signs and symbols of solidarity. Every voice counts in this show of collective resistance and a call for justice. More information can be found via united4gaza.de and on Instagram.

OFFKEY on Instagram

Show Some Love

Support your favorite artists by buying merch and vinyl on Bandcamp Friday, when 100% of the proceeds go to the artists. The next one is on August 1st.

If you enjoy our content, we would be so happy if you could support us by becoming a member. Memberships start from as little as 3€ a month and help us to maintain the project.

Become a member

Thank you for reading and listening.

Love, OFFKEY Team

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If you have feedback, send us an email.

Hey there. Welcome to OFFKEY’s newsletter. We are glad you’re here. Sit down, put on your headphones, drink a glass of water, and take a moment to browse through the music and stories we encountered.

This time:
Intibint’s ode to Yemen, Jamila Al-Yousef sings songs as resistance, electronic vocal distortion with NYX choir, Sorah’s soundtrack to marching together, and a playlist loaded with songs raising musical middle fingers to racist cops and systems of policing in memory of Lorenz A., a Black man shot by the German police in April.

Currently playing:

As the weather in Berlin is slowly warming up, mellow sounds of Little Simz’ new release “Free” are just the right thing to start the day - or to round it out, depending on where you are based and when you are reading.

Have a listen below.

Follow our On Repeat playlist to receive regular updates with new music.

Follow OFFKEY on Spotify

ICYMI

Last month, we spoke to many interesting artists. Here are some features you might have missed.

Intibint on Making Music Against Silencing

Glasgow-based artist Intibint uses creative expression to call to light injustice. Her latest single release, "Ymn Alsa3eed", is inspired by the complicated relationship she has with Yemen—the country where she grew up but has not been able to return to since a civil war broke out in 2014. In conversation, Intibint speaks about her experiences of making political art and reflects on how her relationship with music has evolved—from joyful childhood memories of dancing at celebrations to discovering its power as a tool for healing, protest, and connection. Read the full interview.

OFFKEY: On your latest single “Ymn Alsa3eed (اليمن السعيد)”, you sing about your home country, Yemen. The title translates to “Happy Yemen”. Why happy Yemen? 

Intibint: Happy Yemen is actually a saying or a name for Yemen that people have been using for a long time. Like a historical, cultural term. For me, “Ymn Alsa3eed” is reflective of how I see Yemen and how I have always seen it. When I am there, I am surrounded by so much joy and love, and happiness. That is the core of the song, even though I actually sing about suffering, pain, and the struggle for justice. 

“With “Ymn Alsa3eed”, I wanted to make a song that would hopefully bring Yemenis together by speaking about our suffering, our desire for justice, and our revolutionary spirit.” - Intibint

Yemen has been in an ongoing war since 2014, with civilians bearing the brunt of clashes between warring parties. Learn more about the situation in Yemen via the resources that Intibint compiled.

Anika Makes Space for Rebellion on “Abyss”

Post-rock icon Annika Henderson, aka Anika, has just released her new album “Abyss”. Filled with a sense of urgency, the record is created for live performance and to incite rebellion. Originally from the UK and now rooted in Berlin, the former journalist, turned producer, singer-songwriter, and vocalist, has already established a lengthy and multifaceted career. Now, Anika returns with a new sound and answers a few questions about her inspirations for “Abyss” and how she feels music could influence current societal issues. Read.

“It’s time to unite to put the brakes on all this, put our money where our mouth is, as in, be aware where you put your money and who you are supporting, who you grant access to, who you are giving power to and see that it is the rich minority that we should be concerned about. Those with little are being targeted and blamed, regulated, and used as a scapegoat for society’s problems.” – Anika

Sipping Kumquat Juice with JakoJako

Best known for making people sweat on techno dance floors, JakoJako reveals a more intimate, melodic side, weaving field recordings, memories, and modular magic into a powerful sonic journey on her new album “Tết 41”. With the aim to reconnect with her Vietnamese roots, the artist travelled to her mother’s homeland during Tết, the Lunar New Year celebrations, and recorded with minimal equipment. Anna Grubauer spoke to the gear-nerd and modular synth wizard about the trip and embracing a different pace of recording and a more introspective sound. Read.

“I wanted to collect the atmospheres of Vietnam, and strip it back to my language: electronic music. I don’t have huge ties to the traditions of my Vietnamese family, so being able to experience them with my mother, and then bring the Lunar Celebration—the colourful flowers, food and customs—back to Europe through music has helped me realise how important this side of my heritage is.” – JakoJako

Singing Songs All Night is How Jamila & the Other Heroes Fight

Jamila & the Other Heroes have released their new single “LAYLA (ليلة)” alongside an accompanying music video. The song was born out of an intimate jam session in Ramallah and follows the band’s latest album, "Bazaar Bizarre فلسطين وين انا؟”. It carries both the weight and the joy of resilience, and comes to life through collaboration. Author Öykü Naz Gümüş spoke with the band’s lead singer, Jamila Al-Yousef, about the journey behind the song and the video, and what it means to make resilient and joyful music rooted in painful narratives. Read.

“Sometimes people wonder how we can talk about such hard things and make joyful music. Joy is really important to feel alive and to maintain resistance and resilience. Joyful music about painful things helps us survive.” - Jamila Al-Yousef

You can read more new features on our website.

Have you met... NYX?

What happens when the human voice is manipulated through electronic drone sounds? The London-based electronic drone choir project, NYX, is experimenting with choral music and digital production, manipulating voices and 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, where the human and the digital meet, and the joy of playing with electronic distortion. Read.

“There’s a deep power in hearing yourself reflected and expanded in vast reverberant spaces, and there’s a childlike hilarity and delight that arises when putting your voice through pitch shifters, harmonisers or distortion.” - NYX

Listen to NYX's self-titled album on Bandcamp.

The Resistance Tapes: Justice for Lorenz

In April, Lorenz A., a 21-year-old Black man, was shot by police in Oldenburg, Germany. Another person on the long list of people murdered by racist police, who are rarely held accountable. Another reminder that systems of policing are deeply rooted in racism and oppression. They are not serving justice; they kill. And they must be abolished. Justice for Lorenz!

In grief and in rage, we have compiled a playlist of songs that hold us and motivate us to keep fighting for justice, accountability, and a different future. No Justice! No Peace!

The initiative Gerechtigkeit für Lorenz has started a fundraiser collecting donations for his family and to educate about police brutality and structural racism.

In response to the recent events, our editor in chief Felicia, wrote a poem:

They want to tear us down.

Time and time again,

They try.

Yet, they can’t see.

That

With every broken branch,

Our roots grow stronger,

Deeper into the ground.

And our trunk,

So mighty and steadfast,

Will anchor us for eternity.

For

With every body laying cold in the streets,

Our call for justice grows more deafening.

And with every broken heart,

Our screams of pain solidify into action.

- Felicia Ete Aghaye

Why We Need Music at Demonstrations

Sorah uses her music and voice to fight racism, sexism, and homophobia. Performing at demonstrations in Berlin, her double-time grime and drill-inspired verses are echoed by a crowd that challenges the status quo and unjust societal structures. Ilo Toerkell spoke to the rapper about the responsibility that comes with making political music, her experiences of performing at pro-Palestine demonstrations in Germany, and why she also started releasing more personal songs on her album “MISTRAL”.

OFFKEY: Sorah, you often perform your songs at demonstrations. In your experience, what role does music play at political protests?

Sorah: Demonstrations like the pro-Palestinian demos or the Hanau demos are about grieving and remembering the dead, but they are also about coming together to remind each other that we are here to fight. They died, but we are alive, so we have to keep fighting for them and for the living. It can be challenging, but when we come together, sing the same lines, or shout the same chant, there’s this feeling that we are not alone in this fight. Music can remind us of that.

“No matter how many stages I am given, my music belongs to the streets. It is to give strength to the people, to encourage us to keep fighting.” - Sorah

Favorite Lyric

Permita que eu fale, não as minhas cicatrizes
Se isso é sobre vivência, me resumir à sobrevivência
É roubar o pouco de bom que eu vivi
Por fim, permita que eu fale, não as minhas cicatrizes
Achar que essas mazelas me definem é o pior dos crimes
É dar o troféu pro nosso algoz e fazer nóiz sumir

Tenho sangrado demais, tenho chorado pra cachorro
Ano passado, eu morri, mas esse ano eu não morro
Tenho sangrado demais, tenho chorado pra cachorro
Ano passado, eu morri, mas esse ano eu não morro

- Emicida “Amarelo” feat. Majur & Pablo Vittar

(EN: Allow me to speak louder than my scars
I wanna live, not just survive
If living is just surviving, I'm being robbed of my few good moments
At least, allow me to speak louder than my scars
The worst crime is to let my traumas define me
Doing so, we give the trophy to our enemies. We silence ourselves

Enough bleeding, enough crying
Last year I died, not this year
Enough bleeding, enough crying
Last year I died, not this year)

What's Next?

In May, like every year, we have an XJAZZ! highlight planned. The event takes place from 14-18 May, and OFFKEY will meet some of the most interesting artists performing this year. Stay tuned for an up-close recap. We will also reconnect with the artist MADANii, who is set to release her debut EP “BiiLINGUAL” on 16 May, and Mongolian jazz singer Enji, about to drop her second record.

What’s up in Berlin

Here are some event recommendations by our team:

Of course, we recommend you come by XJAZZ! festival, as mentioned above. The event is a must for anyone involved in the Berlin jazz and RnB scene and showcases some of the most interesting voices bending and breaking definitions of jazz. We will also be dancing at the release shows of Faravaz on 11 May at SO36, as well as MADANii’s release concert on 16 May.

On 11 May, we will be in the streets of Berlin to commemorate Lorenz A. and to call for justice. Join us to stand up against racist police violence. The protest starts at 14:00 from Lausitzer Platz.

On 15 May, the anniversary of the Nakba or catastrophe, referring to the mass displacement of Palestinians in 1948, a demonstration will take place in Berlin to commemorate the event and call for a ceasefire and end to the Israeli bombardment and offensive in the Gaza Strip. Join us in the streets.

OFFKEY on Instagram

Show Some Love

Support your favorite artists by buying merch and vinyl on Bandcamp Friday, when 100% of the proceeds go to the artists. The next one is on August 1st.

If you enjoy our content at OFFKEY, we would be so happy if you could support us by becoming a member. Memberships start from as little as 3€ a month and help us to maintain the project.

Become a member

Thank you for reading and listening.

Love, OFFKEY Team

Feel free to share this newsletter with fellow music lovers. If you are not yet subscribed, sign up right here.

If you have feedback, send us an email.

Featured this month: an ode to Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter”, a look at Anatolian music in Germany through the lens of Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek, and a recap of some of our highlights.

Currently playing:

Hasta que el mundo escucha - until the world listens to us. The new song by Quechuan singer Renata Flores and fellow Abya Yala native and Xochimilca artist Xiuhtezcatl, “Sígueme” is calling on everyone to listen. To listen to ancestral knowledge, to the resiliant and revolutionary, to remember that we are all made of water.

Follow our On Repeat playlist to receive regular updates with new music.

Follow OFFKEY on Spotify

ICYMI: Güner Künier, AŸA, Greentea Peng

Last month, we spoke to many interesting artists. Here are some features you might have missed.

Güner Künier reclaims her story on “Yaramaz”.

The Berlin-based artist, Güner Künier, released her second album, continuing her acclaimed musical journey of cool, noisy post-punk filled with stoic synths and drums. Her newest album, “Yaramaz”, is a tale about her upbringing and the never-ending quest for identity. The title is a Turkish word that roughly translates to “good-for-nothing” and is often used to describe rebellious children. Today, Güner Künier, who often feels like she doesn’t fit in, has reclaimed the term and celebrates rebellious feminist energy on “Yaramaz”. Anna Grubauer spoke to the singer about her journey. Read.

“I often feel that I don’t fit in, that I don’t fulfil the role expected of me by my family, my culture or society. Now, I do things my way and live by my values.” - Güner Künier

AŸA created moments of deep connection

Avia Shoshani, artistically known as AŸA, grew up on the border between deserts in a tiny town called Arad, not too far away from the Dead Sea. “A good place to miss”, she calls it, “Growing up there was simple, easy. One hair-dresser, one pizza place”. Very different from the eclectic and vibrant Berlin, where she has been living for eight years. Sitting down in her cozy living room, Giulia Leonarduzzi took a look at her life and career, following the silver lining that led to the release of her live debut album “AŸA (Live in Berlin)”. Read.

“Music was always around. I’m half Yemeni and half Moroccan, both are very rhythmical cultures where music is part of celebration, daily expression, and even resistance.” - AŸA

Greentea Peng defies negative energies

A different kind of energy pulsates through Greentea Peng’s new album “Tell Dem It’s Sunny”—a frequency as grounding as expansive. While her 2021 debut LP, “Man Made”, was a cosmic, dub-soaked meditation on a world in flux, this new chapter turns the lens inward, toward unfiltered experience of the self. It is a record that speaks of resilience, of the hard-fought process of growth, and the strength that comes with radical self-acceptance. OFFKEY editor Felicia Aghaye spoke to Greentea Peng about “Tell Dem It’s Sunny”. Read.

You can read more features on our website.

Have you met... King Josephine

King Josephine is wearing a long rope and standing on a small stage in a dimly lit room. The list cast her, and the music starts – a song about longing, a song about a love lost. King Josephine‘s third single, “Lover Is Just a Name,” is a powerful yet tender blend of RnB, soul, and pop, which is my gateway into her music. The Amsterdam-born and Berlin-based artist released her debut EP “Note to Self” on March 7th, and Svenja Isabel Hudson met her to talk about music, anger, and patience. Read.

Politics of Pop: Cowboy Carter

By Felicia Aghaye

We at OFFKEY wish to focus our attention on artists whose stories and aesthetic intentionally go against mainstream favoritism and instead celebrate music for the art form that it is. And the entire “controversy” surrounding Beyoncé’s country album Cowboy Carter showcased again that no matter which major league you may play in, racism and discrimination know no league bounds. So let me take this moment to praise an album that not only shaped a genre but my own understanding of history, perpetuation and legacy.

One year ago, Cowboy Carter redefined country music, not just by claiming space but by reclaiming a legacy. Facing predictable skepticism, Beyoncé silenced naysayers with an album that honored the genre’s roots while forging a bold new path. From her stirring rendition of The Beatles’ Blackbird—featuring rising Black country stars Brittney Spencer, Tanner Adell, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts—to nods from icons like Linda Martell, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, Beyoncé bridged past and future, proving country was never just for one kind of artist. Rooted in her Houston upbringing and the overlooked history of Black country pioneers, Cowboy Carter wasn’t about proving worth—it was about taking what was already hers.

“Music, at its core, is about timing—not just when it is made, but also in regard to our own capacity to receive it. Cowboy Carter is one such album for me. When I first listened to it, I wasn’t ready to receive it in its grandness. But oh, when the moment came and I could grasp the lengths Beyoncé went to in order to deliver not just a nod and bow to the genre, but a testament to her own legacy and the transformativity of country music—or any music genre for that matter— I was overcome with true Black joy. Especially as a continuation of a historically Black art form, Cowboy Carter wasn’t a simple moment—it encapsulated a movement. And like all great movements, its echoes will be heard for generations to come.”

A year later, its impact is undeniable: more Black country artists are stepping forward, and the genre is ever-evolving. Excellence outshined prejudice, and Beyoncé didn’t just take a seat—she made sure the table was bigger for those who follow.

History of Anatolian Folk in Germany

“There is a Turkish saying that describes the bağlama as our weapon,” singer Derya Yıldırım says about her instrument. A child of parents who came to Germany as part of the “guest worker” generation, she grew up around Anatolian music and started playing the traditional instrument, the bağlama, at a young age. In conversation with OFFKEY, she talks about the history of the instrument. “The bağlama is a sacred instrument for the Alevi people, who are still being persecuted and have historically faced persecution. So, resistance is embedded in the culture and instrument itself.” Since the 1960s, Anatolian music and with it, the bağlama, have been a part of Germany, but often not recognized by the mainstream. The documentary “Aşk Mark ve Ölüm” by director Cem Kaya details the history of Anatolian music in Germany. Honoring the instrument and merging tradition with contemporary composition, Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek have recently released their new record "Yarın Yoksa". Read.

“Twenty years ago, playing this kind of music – our families’ music, our cultural heritage – was considered so uncool. I remember people feeling ashamed when their parents played Anatolian music around their German friends. People considered it weird, and no one wanted to be weird. But the bağlama has been part of Germany since the 1960s, when “guest workers” and people seeking asylum brought their cultures with them. Playing, celebrating and embodying that music in Germany is a way of reclaiming it, especially for an entire generation that was told it does not belong.”

Favorite Lyric

“Nimitzonxochicuicatia ika noyollo
Amo nochin nikita ika noixtelolo”
- Renata Flores and Xiuhtezcatl “Sígueme”

(EN: “I sing to you with my heart,
Not everything I see is seen with my eyes”)

What's Next?

In April, we will reconnect with OFFKEY-regular Anika for the release of her next album. You can also look forward to a conversation with the drone choir project NYX, and an interview with the multi-disciplinary artist JakoJako.

Berlin Happenings

On the 8th of April, it’s ROMADAY - a day of celebrating and honoring the power of collective resistance and the fight of Sinti* and Roma* people. It is also a day of struggle against racism and for justice, visibility, and artistic freedom. Join the parade and demonstration on 8 April.

On the 15th of April, the South-Londoner RnB artist BINA. will play a show in Berlin presenting her 2024 debut album “Chaos Is Her Name”. Concert Tickets.

This week, the news of the deportation of four activists involved in the pro-Palestine protests in Berlin has been shared. As reported by Hanno Hauenstein in The Intercept, the deportation orders have been made without evidence of or a conviction for criminal charges. The author calls this “an unprecedented move that raises serious concerns over civil liberties in Germany”. Refuge Worldwide compiled some action points you can follow to protest these alarming orders.

OFFKEY on Instagram

Show Some Love

Support your favorite artists by buying merch and vinyl on Bandcamp Friday, when 100% of the proceeds go to the artists. Next one is on the 4th of April.

If you enjoy our content on OFFKEY, we would be so happy if you could support us by becoming a member. Memberships start from as little as 3€ a month and help us to maintain the project.

Become a member

Thank you for reading and listening.

Love, OFFKEY Team

Feel free to share this newsletter with fellow music lovers. If you are not yet subscribed, sign up right here.

If you have feedback, send us an email.

Currently playing:

Jamila & The Other Heroes are back with “LAYLA ليلة”.

Follow our On Repeat playlist to receive regular updates with new music.

Follow OFFKEY on Spotify

News News News

As you may have noticed, we took a very long break from this newsletter. One reason for this is that we have been working on a name change. As of 2025, we are no longer Nothing But Hope and Passion, instead, the blog is now called OFFKEY. After more than ten years as NBHAP, the structures behind the scenes have evolved, and with them, so have our vision and the kind of content we want to create.

OFFKEY aims to center artists marginalized by the mainstream music industry, artists who go against the grain, and who are not afraid to take a stance.

We hope you join us on this journey.

Feli and Ilo from OFFKEY

ICYMI with Felukah, White Boy Scream, BRKN, GANNA, and Orion Sun

Over the past few months, we have had the privilege to share many interesting features by our authors. Here are four texts, you might have missed:

You should be able to shake your ass and think about dismantling patriarchy. - Felukah

Back in the fall of 2024, Ilo spoke to the Egyptian singer and rapper Felukah about her latest release. Felukah is known for her smooth RnB grooves and her lyrics about identity, belonging, and joy. With “Qabl El Shams”, the artist turns a new page and explores a more pop-driven dancey sound, that we are used to from her. In conversation, she shares her thoughts on Arab dance music, radical joy, and building new networks of solidarity. Read.

Nadia interviewed the opera singer Michaela Tobin, known as White Boy Scream. Tobin turns the genre on its head and makes it resonate with underground drone music. Resistance to musical and societal structures is at the core of the artist's practice. Tobin doesn't just call out the eurocentricity of the genre but laces her lyrics with social and political commentary. Read.

The title of my EP “Body Island” refers to the concept that those of us in the diaspora carry our ancestral knowledge and sense of home in our own bodies – since we did not physically grow up there.

- White Boy Scream

Back in October, the Berlin rapper BRKN shared the first single of his newest EP Tränen, following the acclaimed album Rahat (2023). BRKN revisits the topics from his last EP, taking on themes of love, pain, and loss in greater depth, shaped by personal growth and a more open approach to both songwriting and self-reflection. With Felicia, he spoke about new music, growth, and shedding inhibitions. Read.

I’m more interested in how I can incorporate [political topics] into my music, so that it’s not just an Insta post or going to demos but how I can use what I do and also make it somehow cool, without it becoming a super political intellectual pointed finger. - BRKN

The Ukrainian singer and composer Ganna Gryniva retells stories from Ukrainian folklore. Based in Berlin, she elaborates on tradition with jazz and electronic elements like loops and synthesizers. In conversation with Sophie, she speaks about her songwriting process and her ways of incorporating tradition into music. Read.

In 2018, I travelled different regions of Ukraine. I wanted to get to know people because folklore is passed on orally. People put their souls and their lives into these stories. On this journey, I discovered a lot of things that you can’t record or write down. Every song is actually a person, several people, several generations. - GANNA

Orion Sun released her self-titled album Orion, a deeply introspective body of work. It weaves together personal heartbreak, healing, and the undeniable connection between all things: Nature, love, and the evolution of self. The South Jersey-born, Los Angeles-based artist is known for her ability to channel her raw emotions into her music. Felicia spoke to the singer and multi-instrumentalist about self-discovery, the inner child and nature. Read.

Earth is my favorite muse. And we’re a part of it too. As a Black woman I felt like nature always looked out for me.  And so, it’ll always be reflected in what I do, whether it’s literally, like my name, or some lyrics that are literally nature-esque. In the essence of it, too, nature reminds you to pause. I hope my music reminds you to just take a deep breath like nature reminds you about the small things or validates how you feel. - Orion Sun

You can read more new features on our website.

Have you met... Ruti?

Last fall, author Lilly got to know the UK-based singer-songwriter Ruti. Following the release of the EP “Lungs” and multiple live shows, the emerging talent has gained quite the audience with their impressive vocals and tender compositions. In the interview, Ruti speaks about musical beginnings, diving beyond the surface, and overthinking everything. Read.

In April, Ruti will go on their first headlining UK tour. You can get tickets here.

Politics of Pop

The recent elections in Germany clearly showed that the country is shifting further to the far-right, with the AfD winning 20.8% of the votes and the slightly less but still right-leaning conservative CDU winning the election with 28.6%. This outcome is no surprise, and serves as a scary reflection of the society we live in. The effects are already being felt through harsher migration policies, increased racist police brutality and deportations, as well as budget cuts, particularly affecting educational, health, and cultural funds. Over the past year, Germany also has increasingly been violently policing, censoring, and cancelling people advocating against the genocide in Palestine, while continuing to deliver weapons to Israel.

All this to say: We need to organize against right-wing politics and push back against the criminalization, racism, and discrimination. Music and art can be ways to do so.

In February, Falastin Cinema Week took place, uniting art and films about (cultural) resistance in Palestine and beyond. The event was organised by Refuge Worldwide and collaborators as a counter-program to the film festival, the Berlinale, which refused to take a clear stance against the German complicity in the genocide in Gaza.

With OFFKEY, the organisers shared their insights on the event and thoughts on the future of dissident cultural spaces in Germany, alongside their favorite resistance anthems. Read.

Whether you’re in Palestine, Berlin, or anywhere else in the diaspora, when this song plays, it carries this whole history of resistance with it. It’s like each note is a thread connecting people back to their roots, their struggle, their hope. Even if you don’t understand every word, you can feel the power in it.

On Gender Representation in the Music Industry

Oftentimes, when we see the music industry making an effort to support gender diversity, it is about shedding light on cis women, with some exceptions for trans women. Apart from a few more inclusive bubbles, nonbinary, trans – especially non-passing, genderfluid, or agender folks, however, are mostly forgotten or excluded. Nadia spoke to four trans and nonbinary artists, who contributed to the “Soli Tunes” collection. 6zm, Venusloc, Strip Down, and Mad Kate share their thoughts on gender quality and representation in the music industry. Read.

I especially do not think that there is enough visibility for those who are trans and non-passing, as well as nonbinary folks who blur the lines of gender presentation. – Venusloc

Favorite Lyric

For all souls that are left unseen,
falastin we will stand by your stand.
For all those who are silenced and grieved,
falastin we will stand by your side

– “Spirit Of the Soul روح الروح”

By Sedric Perry, Ahmed Eid, Yassmine Rahoui, Liaam Iman, Sadek Democratoz, Cheikh Cedric, Kechou (Kerim Melik Becker), Najib, Dylan Hunter Chee Greene, Aron Symank, Salma Alhassan

What's Next?

We have many exciting features coming up in the next few weeks. Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date and read about what the rapper Sorah has to say about protest music and performing and demonstrations in Berlin, an introducing feature with the newcomer King Josephine, who will drop their first EP on 7th March, and a conversation with the Londoner artist and icon Green Tea Peng.

Berlin upcoming event recommendation: King Josephine is playing a release show on 26 March at Kesselhaus. Tickets.

OFFKEY on Instagram

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Support your favorite artists by buying merch and vinyl on Bandcamp Friday, when 100% of the proceeds go to the artists. Next one is on March 7th.

If you enjoy our content OFFKEY, we would be so happy if you could support us by becoming a member. Memberships start from as little as 3€ a month and help us to maintain the project.

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Thank you for reading and listening.

Love, OFFKEY Team

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Hey there, welcome to NBHAP’s newsletter. We are glad you’re here. Sit down, put on your headphones, drink a glass of water, and take a moment to browse through the music and stories we encountered in the past two months.

Including conversations about parenting and working in the music industry, protest songs, the freeing power of not giving a f*ck, and an updated “Politics of Pop” playlist.

Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes

Reading and Listening Time: 45 minutes

Currently Playing

Follow NBHAP on Spotify

Spotlight

Parenting and the Music Industry

Having a child inspires and enriches art, arguably contributing to a more diverse musical landscape. But how does a music career fit in with a parenting schedule? Editor Anna Grubauer spoke to several artists and parents working in the music industry about the struggles they face:

In my research for this article, I initially struggled to find artists who have children, let alone feel comfortable talking about it openly. Women in particular, tend to be afraid that if promoters and bookers know about their motherhood, they won’t be considered for gigs: “It wasn’t until I had a child that I found out from many musicians that they were also parents. But it was especially noticeable with the mothers because they were afraid of not getting jobs.” Jaxx TMS tells me how she was excited to show the world that she could be both a mother and a successful DJ, but instead was faced with accusations and incomprehension.

read more

Recent Features

Community Music Therapy with Zainab Lax

Harpist and music therapist Zainab Lax gives us some insights into her practice. She explains that “music is directly connected to our heartbeat and our respiration. It can, for example, influence our pulse, activate or slow us down”. That is why music therapy has proven to be a powerful tool when dealing with trauma. Read about how Zainab approaches her community music therapy sessions and her musical journey.

Read

Toni Morrison’s Echo in McKinley Dixon’s Music

The investigation of the beautiful and the ugly found in life defines McKinley Dixon’s newest release. The title of the album as well as the closing track are inspired by three of Toni Morrison’s novels, Beloved (1987), Paradise (1997), and Jazz (1992), respectively. Explaining his decision to name his album in Morrison’s vein, Dixon says:

“I think that, for me, is chasing a way of describing human complexity. It’s easy to make things black and white but it’s hard to sort of show you the duality of it all. Toni Morrison does a great job at that and is able to show how complex love and loss are. That inspires me.” - McKinley Dixon

Read

Jamila Al-Yousef On the Sounds of Palestinian Resistance

Falasteen Weyn Ana? Palestine where am I? - that is the translation of the Arabic title of Jamila & The Other Heroes' record. Released in May 2023, the title, Bazaar Bizarre فلسطين وين انا؟ , took on a new meaning since the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza after the attacks by Hamas on October 7th. We speak to Jamila Al-Yousef, singer, co-composer and lyricist of the band, about Palestinian resistance, protest music, the responsibility of cultural institutions, and the repressions Palestinians face in Germany.

“I wonder, who would I be if I weren’t so busy fighting oppression and occupation? Who would I be as a liberated Palestinian person? What would a liberated Palestinian society look like? What kind of music would I make if I was freed of having to sing about this?” - Jamila Al-Yousef

Read

Jordan Mackampa on the Freeing Power of Not Giving a F*ck

With almost four years having passed since his last major release Foreigner back in 2020, Jordan Mackampa reports back with Welcome Home, Kid!. A record bursting with confidence, self-acceptance and joy, all packed up in an ecstatic blend of R’n’B, funk, gospel and rap. NBHAP editor Felicia Aghaye had the chance to talk to the Londoner singer-songwriter about the process behind their new record and newly formed prerogative.

Read

The Last Dinner Party On Biblical Imagery and Feminism

The British band The Last Dinner Party quickly made a name for themselves with their intense live shows. The debut record “Prelude to Ecstasy” lives in contrasts: biblical references meet lust, feminism, and queer sex and elegant corsets burst into dirty rock ‘n’ roll. Abigail Morris, Aurora Nishevci, and Lizzie Mayland tell us about the internal conflict that comes with that.

Read

Looking Back with Priya Ragu

“The cover represents me looking back to my parents’ birthplace in Jaffna, Sri Lanka,” Priya Ragu explains when I ask about the colorful cover. It shows a drawing of the singer from behind, looking at a neighborhood of golden temples and broken houses with pink skies over them. The destruction in the image echoes the horrific genocide and expulsion of the Tamil people from their land in the past decades. “You can see all the broken houses, everything is broken down, but the sun is still shining. I am looking back at where I am coming from.” On SANTHOSAM, Priya journeys back to her roots, a journey that is as personal as it is political.

Read

Introducing

Introducing: Singer and ecologist Ditty

Singer-songwriter Ditty makes music that is uplifting while talking about important societal and political themes. Based between Berlin and New Delhi, she just released her new EP Skin. In conversation with NBHAP editor Nadia Says, Ditty shares thoughts on her music as well as her work as an ecologist. 

“The ‘environment’ is a Western construct made to be able to extract and exploit what is ‘outside of us’.” - Ditty

Read

Playlist

Politics of Pop

We are heading into the 5th month of the relentless bombardment of Gaza and increased settler violence in the West Bank. More than one million people are in danger of starvation as humanitarian aid and food are being blocked from entering the strip. Germany, like other EU states and the US, continues to support this genocidal war waged by the Israeli army against Palestinians.

In these times, hope is a rare commodity. But if nothing else, music might be able to provide that. Celebrating the beauty, joy, and resilience of Palestinians and their music, we updated our “Politics of Pop” playlist with songs in solidarity with Palestine featuring Lina Makoul, Felukah, and Dana Salah. Tune in below.

In Context

In Context: A Freedom Lullaby

Rotana’s “Freedom Lullaby” is based on a very special folk song. In conversation with Jamila Al-Yousef, we explored the meaning of music in Palestinian resistance against occupation. This provides some context to the song by Rotana.

Jamila Al-Yousef: “In Palestinian society, music has always been a tool of resistance. This song “يا طالعين الجبل” was sung by women near a prison during the British mandate. To free their men, they had to communicate to them, when and how they would be freed. However because the British soldiers had already learned some Arabic, they could not just sing in the language. So, they put ‘lililil’ between the words to confuse the British as to what they were saying. By doing so, they were able to give directions and time to their imprisoned men. And it worked.

Later, and especially during the first Intifada, political speech was completely forbidden by the Occupation Forces. So, people put information and political content into lullabies and wedding songs. Like this, they could disguise their political speech.”

“This is a Palestinian folk song that sings spells of freedom and offers maps to escape imprisonment in coded Arabic language for those that have been held captive and separated from their families and resources.” - Rotana

Spotlight

Favorite Lyric

“Through poetry, I understand our history
Sharpen my tongue in case I have to self-defend
Carry my words with me and I still have to pretend that I am safe here.”

– “Sabah Al Noor” by douniah

Good News

After an elongated winter break, our Daily Tune playlist resumes curation today. We have some exciting new tunes to share with you, so hop onto the Spotify playlist or follow us on Instagram to receive new music daily!

On That Note

Before you go on with your day, here is one last song to give a spin right now: “Intro” by Mysha. Berliner newcomer recently released her debut EP Homegirl ‘98, a compilation of sharp-edged rap songs and soulful spoken word.

Our NBHAP playlists are currently still curated only on Spotify. While we are working on changing this, and encourage you to consider alternatives like Tidal for a fairer compensation of artists you love, or go old school and support them by buying merch and vinyl.

Remember that the best day to make your online purchases is Bandcamp Friday, where 100% of the proceeds go to the artists. The next one is today (March 1st).

If you enjoy our content, please support us by becoming a member.

Become a member

Feel free to share this newsletter with fellow music lovers. If you are not yet subscribed, sign up right here.

Thank you for reading and listening.

Love, NBHAP Team

Hey there. Welcome to NBHAP’s newsletter. We are glad you’re here. Sit down, put on your headphones, drink a glass of water, and take a moment to browse through the music and stories we encountered this month.

Including conversations about Mongolian Long Song, the legacies of Jazz and Blues music, Musicboard's funding programs, and a 40-song strong update to our Politics of Pop playlist.

Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes

Reading and Listening Time: 40 minutes

Currently playing:

Sometimes it is a surprise to see that a well-known artist in the local circles is just now releasing their solo debut. Berlin-based singer douniah previously collaborated with many artists like rapper Ebow, High John, and Move 78. "Sabah El Noor" is her very first solo release and will be followed by the debut EP "A Lot, Not Too Much" out in November. Tune into the mellow RnB single driven by a steady bassline and the distinct warm vocal timber of the artist.

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Tapping into Tradition

“I think music can be a relief and an escape. Music helps to deal with trauma.”, Elisapie Qupanuaq Lissie Akumaliik Isaac, known as Elisapie (ᐃᓕᓴᐱ), says during our conversation about her new album Inuktitut (ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ). The record is a collection of classic rock and pop songs that the Inuk artist translated and adapted into the Inuktitut language. It is a connector of worlds, a reclamation, a reappropriation of popular culture, and a gift to her community.

The story of the album is one that cannot be told without speaking about the history and ongoing violence of colonialism that affected Elisapie’s community. She explains: “When rock ‘n roll arrived in the 60s and 70s, my uncles had to go South to the residential schools. Our grandparents were told their kids needed to be educated to be a part of Canada. So, I think all this pain and trauma of colonization and residential schools is connected to the music they listened to back then.”

“There is something very rich and very real in my blood. In the process, I had to rethink how I see Inuktitut. It is more than just a language or a cultural reference. It is a way of life.” - Elisapie

Singer and songwriter Dominique Fils-Aimé shares the home base of Montreal (Tio’tia:ke) with Elisapie. Ancestry plays a key role in both of their musical outlets. Working in album trilogies, Dominique Fils-Aimé concluded a three-record homage to Blues, Jazz, and Soul artists and is now turning her gaze inward. The new record "Our Roots Run Deep" is based on the previous musical tribute. In conversation with Sophie Romy, the singer talks about reconnecting with her inner child and why the color green plays such a special role in this album.

“The first chapter was about how I understood and explored Blues, Jazz, and Soul music. I felt like this new chapter had to start with me. Now, I can start talking about my heart here, today, where we are at, and work towards my dreams of the future. I can talk about what I wish to see and try to contribute to that future by creating music that is a representation of that future that I dream of where people are free to be themselves and live in safer spaces. Spaces where there is more room for everyone to live together support each other in their differences and talk about what they have in common. Our souls feel the same emotions, but our bodies, depending on what body you have, and where you are, will be treated differently.”

- Dominique Fils-Aimé

Connecting both, jazz and traditional Mongolian folk is the new record by Munich-based artist Enji. The musician was born and raised in a small working-class town in Mongolia and continued to teach music in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. The new album, "Ulaan" is named after the city, but the title also has a special connection to Enji's childhood. Liv Toerkell spoke to the singer via Zoom to find out how the traditional Long Song or Urtiin Duu connects to Enji's studies of contemporary jazz on "Ulaan". Read up on the conversation about tradition, dreams, and communal singing.

“In Long Song, you don’t have bars or strict tempo. You are stretching words. It is more a picturing of the melody and the song. You have your own energy and your own tempo, and you can sing in a completely free way. The techniques and sounds are related to nature. You can, for example, hear sounds like water, animals, or mountains reflected in the music.” - Enji

Have you met...?

Part of what we love doing most at NBHAP is uplifting newcomers and introducing lesser-known talent to our readership. Every month, we curate several updates of the Introducing feature and playlist on our website and on Spotify. In September, we had the pleasure of meeting Becky Sikasa and Laurence-Anne.

"It is hard to pin Becky Sikasa down to just one of her talents. The musician, singer, producer, instrumentalist, and lyricist knows how to use them all", author Anna Grubauer writes about last month's Introducing act. The Edinburgh-based singer Becky Sikasa just followed her debut "Twelve Wooden Boxes" with the single "Work of Love" and shares her thoughts on complex emotions and her artistic journey from growing up in Bavaria to exploring creative communities in Scotland's capital.

The feature was followed by the synth-pop artist Laurence-Anne. Her new record "Oniromancie" is dedicated to the night and a darker part of her oeuvre. In conversation, she talks about her multilingual approach, automatic writing techniques, and the essence of nocturnal fascination.

Tune into the current version of our Introducing playlist below, and follow it to listen to not miss out on any of the updates.

If you want to listen to the previous Introducing playlists, consider becoming a member. For a small monthly donation to support the NBHAP team, you will receive access to our library of over thirty exclusively artist-curated playlists.

Politics of Pop: Armenia

What we listen to, who we support, and who gets heard is political. Who has access to the resources to express themselves and release songs is political. This section of the newsletter is dedicated to the intersection of music and politics and today we want to listen to Armenia. The region and de-facto Armenian republic of Bergkarabach is facing new military actions by Azerbaijani forces, which led to the violent expulsion of thousands of people from the largely Armenian-inhabited region. This follows the ten-month-long military blockade by Azerbaijan cutting the region off from its Armenian support leaving the people to suffer from food shortages and hunger.

To raise awareness, we updated our "Politics of Pop" playlist with contemporary and traditional musicians from Armenia and encourage you to take a moment to read about the situation, donate, and listen to these beautiful sounds. Leading the playlist is the debut release by Ladaniva, a multicultural group, founded by the Armenian singer Jacklin Baghdasarayan, who just released their self-titled debut. Tune in below to listen to the diverse, multi-genre musical treasures with homages to traditional Armenian folk by Marine Manasian, electronic explorations by JINJ and Jrimurmur, and the close-harmony group Zulal.

Music Industry Tea: Commissioned Works and Residencies

After visiting this year's Pop-Kultur festival in early September, we took a closer look at the distribution of the funding of commissioned works and residencies that premiered at the festival. Author Liv Toerkell spoke to the festival's creative producer Pamela Schlewinski as well as the artists Anika and Portrait XO who premiered works this year. “I want to create a space that frees energies,” Pamela Schlewinski says about the goal of the commissioned works. “Each artist has a vision and something they have always wanted to do. The opportunity of the commissioned work can bring that vision to the surface and finally provide the space to put it into practice. It is beautiful to see the happy artists at the end of the festival because they have brought something onto the stage that they love, and they had fun while making it, but it was also challenging them.” Read up on the full conversation about how the commissioned works create artistic freedom on our website.

Another program that premieres each year at Pop-Kultur is the Co-Creation Residencies funded by Musicboard Berlin. As part of the exchange program, an artist from Berlin is matched with an artist from the collaborating city. They then get to work together and explore the local community in the hometown of their partner. We took a closer look at the program by speaking to Musicboard's project manager Maureen Noe and three artists who participated in the exchange this year: Aka Kelzz from the Berlin-Accra program as well as the Berlin-Kampala residents Sara Perisco, and Chrisman. In our conversation, Maureen Noe shares how Musicboard strives to make the residency programs more accessible and how they confront the colonial power dynamics, that programs like these can easily reproduce, through the collaboration with researcher and writer Natasha A. Kelly.

“Often, we think of networking as meeting the very important people in the business. We want to rethink connections and networking in terms of the direct community surrounding the artists. A more sustainable way is horizontal networking: looking at who is on your level and creating bonds of solidarity and community. And when you grow, you grow together and take your peers with you. We want our artists to gain access and make long-lasting connections, so they can further their career through a residency program.” – Maureen Noe

Electronic Empathy

In September, our Electronic Empathy playlist received a make-over by the one and only Romy from The xx. Following the release of the artist's solo debut "Mid Air", Norman Fleischer met up with Romy to talk about her journey to this record of personal emancipation and how queer club culture shaped her understanding of music.

NBHAP: As a part of the community, do you feel like queer spaces have a different way of celebrating? 

Romy: "Oh, definitely. I think that the LGBTQIA+ community really has to have that extra level of awareness. They need that output of energy to walk into a situation and think “Am I safe here? Can I let my guard down? Can I kiss the person I love? Is this okay?” Going into a queer venue and knowing that you’re safe there is a real relief.  It has been for me, but I also sense that in the people around me."

You can read up on the interview right here and listen to the playlist that Romy curated for us via Spotify.

"I think there’s that kind of euphoria of just being."

- Romy

Favorite Lyric

“Have you ever heard of wind without air?
deadened sky. who lies kneaded with silence
tell me a silence that won’t fit a prayer.”
– excerpt from Nasim Luczaj ‘Anemone, Windflower’ featured on Anika

This is an excerpt from the poem "Anemone, Windflower" by Nasim Luczaj and featured on the collaborative single "No Fly Zone" by Anika and Ni Vash. It was performed as part of "Lost Voices" at Pop-Kultur via the commissioned works and Anika shares her thoughts and emotions that shaped the performance in an extensive guest article.

Anika writes: "This a piece about lost voices – those in society, and in a more direct sense, those in music, specifically bass, over phone speaker, frequencies that get lost, as well as songs that get lost in the algorithm of music apps and generated playlists. The norm curve excludes the rebels. As a musician privileged enough to travel the world, visit other countries, and perform for people I have never met, I think it’s important to keep this exchange symbiotic – to offer a platform to the people themselves, to tell their stories."

"This piece reminded me of the importance of music in protest, in coming together, and in its purpose beyond the market, beyond capitalism – as a conversation between humans." - Anika

Berlin Focus: Space Sessions

This month, we met up with James Michael Rodgers, the host of the Space Sessions at the bar Space Meduza to discuss the beginnings of the format, the art of curation, and its surrounding politics. The long conversation between author Andreas Peters and James brings to light some of the struggles that indie newcomers face. To gain a deeper understanding of this, Andreas also spoke with two notable artists in that scene: Thala and Mone.

“I wanted a space where the musicians could properly perform in Neukölln and Kreuzberg and actually get paid for it. And I like the idea of someone actually hosting it, you introduce them.”

- James Michael Rodgers

What's Next?

For next month, we are in preparation for a brand new Label Story as well as another update of the Electronic Empathy playlist with Sofia Kourtesis. You can also look forward to an extended conversation with Jamila Woods about her new record "Water Made Us" out October 13th. Keep your eyes open for our two exciting Introducing acts as well!

On That Note

That's it from us for now. Thank you for reading and listening. Before you go on with your day, here is one more song we invite you to give a spin. Our latest Daily Tune is the alternative pop gem "the train to nowhere" by hemlocke springs.

Follow our Daily Tune playlist to receive regular song recommendations.

Our NBHAP playlists are currently still curated only on Spotify. While we are working on changing this, and encourage you to consider alternatives like Tidal for a fairer compensation of artists you love, or go old school and support them by buying merch and vinyl. Remember that the best day to make your purchases is Bandcamp Friday, where 100% of the proceeds go to the artists. The next one is on October 6th.

If you enjoy reading this newsletter and our content on NBHAP, you can make a financial contribution to keep the project going or become a member to support us regularly and gain access to exclusive playlists.

Become a member

Feel free to share this newsletter with fellow music lovers. If you are not yet subscribed, sign up right here.

Thank you for reading and listening.

Love, NBHAP Team

It's been a little quiet over here the last month. Because our team has been busy working on their jobs to sustain their living, the newsletter has been paused for the month of June. Luckily, we were still able to publish interesting interviews with amazing artists during that time. Here is a recap of the past two months walking you through the essential articles and features on NBHAP.

Currently playing: Roufaida "Don't Bend"

It is raining in Berlin again. After almost six years of living in the city, I am still not used to what Berliners call summer. Either rainy or unbearably hot, there seems to be no appropriate dress for the temperature. The mild downpour this afternoon fits the mood as Roufaida sings "I take what I need, I leave what I don't". The song is part of the Rotterdam-based Moroccan singer's self-titled debut EP and beautifully blends lyrics in Arabic and English. Give it a spin below and stay dry and cool!

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Musical Manifestos and Riotous Sounds

June and July were months marked by conversations about change-making, empowerment, and confronting injustices. In our conversation, Sanni Est talked about her 2022 transmedia record "Photophobia". It is a manifesto, a rejection of euro-centric aesthetics, etymological research and an artistic movement. Drawing on the roots of the Mangue Beat Movement in Brazil, Sanni Est explores the transness of her voice and steps out of colonial constructs of gender. The charming singer talks about her wish to work and make music in a decolonial manner and the way the Western-centric industry makes it extremely hard to do that. In the end, "Photophobia" is a re-appropriation of classical European music education and a transformative multi-genre work of an artist who speaks with her authentic voice.

“What is expected of the trans body? What is expected of the trans femme body? How can I decolonize my music when I still feel like I have to be a cis woman? I took my time to find new aesthetics. It was very confrontational but now I feel invincible. It does not threaten my identity anymore.” - Sanni Est

Authenticity and the unapologetic expression of identity are the focus of the conversation NBHAP author Giulia Leonarduzzi had with the UK-based singer Grace Carter. After commercial success at a young age, the singer had to take time away from the industry to rid herself from the pressures and expectations that were projected onto her. She may still be a little lost, but she is also a little found as her new release "A Little Lost, A Little Found" hints. A pop record at its core, the thematic focus of the record is the artist's journey to authenticity as well as the confrontation of injustices and discrimination on songs like "Riot". Exploring the riotous potential of music and multi-lingual feminist rap, author Sophie Romy spoke to the Catalonian rapper Santa Salut about her political and personal lyricism.

“I was in a weird limbo, I did not know who I was anymore. I kept asking myself, ‘How do I connect with people when the way I connect to people is music?’”

- Grace Carter

When a peaceful protest turns violent, it is often called a riot. But how can you not riot when any other form of protest against injustice goes without inciting change? Music can be a vehicle for political thought and an instrument for organizing and activism. The poet aja monet knows that. On her debut "When the Poems Do What They Do", she underpins her powerful spoken-word recitals with jazz arrangements. A self-described surrealist blues poet, the artist gives detailed answers in our Q&A about topics like the intersection of jazz, ancestry and social movements, joy as resistance, and freedom dreaming.

"When I’m at my best, I’m a vessel and in service to something far greater than me. I have a lineage in flesh and in spirit and everything is in homage to that. I will always pay my respects because I could not do anything I’m doing without their blessing." - aja monet

Have you met...?

The up-and-coming, the hot new shit. In June and July, we highlighted five amazing new acts on our introducing radar. In early June, we met Sera Kalo for an extended interview in Berlin to talk about their latest genre-fluid record "eXante" and its impressive visuals. The Other End took us to indie rock terrain with their debut that has been five years in the making. Worth the wait, as NBHAP author Norman Fleischer notes. Together with Miss Grit, we explored the futuristic electro sound of their debut "Follow the Cyborg". The New Yorker musician behind the project, Margaret Sohn, produced and recorded the album in their home studio and showcases a broad musical range from synthy alt-rock to new wave and electronica.

NBHAP's Giulia Leonarduzzi got to know alternative rock singer Lore Vain on a stroll through Berlin and learned that "rockstars are born (in the outskirts of Marburg)". Lore just released her new record "Agony the Muse" and shared some of her favorite indie acts with us. Currently on "Introducing" rotation is the Cameroonian singer Cindy Pooch. Exploring polyphony and electronic sound, the artist released her impressive debut "Issemou". Liv Toerkell asked Cindy some questions about connecting to the body through music and the power of polyphonic songs.

“[T]his music bears witness to my need to reconnect with myself through my body. The album is called ‘In Nomine Corpus’ after a song that I wrote and it is a scream for freedom to feel, to desire, to vibrate.” - Cindy Pooch

Tune into the current version of our Introducing playlist below and follow it to not miss out on our weekly updates. Gain exclusive access to our archive of over thirty "Introducing" playlists by signing up for our monthly or yearly Support Plan.

Creative Uses of AI in Music

Another one of the burning questions at the moment: Will Artificial Intelligence replace humans in the creative process? Anna Grubauer spoke to the boundary-breaking artist Portrait XO about her approach to using AI in the writing and recording process of music:

"AI can be a source of inspiration by providing feedback when you feed it your audio files. Or it can be useful in speeding up the production process, helping with aspects that artists feel they have less skill or desire to do entirely on their own. Portrait XO, for example, finds it helpful to use AI in the songwriting process but rather does the music production part herself. Or imagine a world where newcomers don’t have to pay for mixing and mastering, but can run their tracks through an AI tool to generate a profound result.

However, there is no point in denying the disruptive power of AI in every aspect of life. More and more activists are pointing out the problematic prejudices and distortions of algorithms. This has to do not only with the general lack of diversity among programmers but also with biased data sets. So it is important to emphasize that AI is always a reflection of society and its power dynamics. That is why Portrait XO encourages ongoing discussions and engagement with the topic, emphasizing the need to address the potential benefits and concerns associated with AI, within and outside of the creative realm."

“Technology is not replacing creativity. It’s creating new ones. You know, it’s a curatorial role that we’re taking on. And maybe everyone’s also gonna become a bit more multi-disciplinary and [AI will] help them do a full-blown A to B project all on their own.“ - Portrait XO

Click here to continue reading the interview.

Listen Closely: Oliva Dean's "Messy"

There were so many exciting records released this month. Too many to keep up with every single one. Some favorites by the NBHAP staff include Callum Pitt, Hak Baker, Sivu, Ava Rocha, Enji, Annie Taylor and Olivia Dean's debut "Messy", which Felicia Aghaye describes as:

… a warm embrace between loved ones.  

"Rarely are expectations set as high for a debut album as was the case for Olivia Dean’s "Messy". And even rarer are those expectations just as easily met, if not surpassed. On "Messy", Dean shares wholesome memories of her family, but also the worries and sorrows of growing up and apart, all packed up in a suave mix of Brit soul, danceable groove tracks and beautifully vulnerable ballades.

2022 has been a busy year for the London singer. After a year of playing festivals and being on tour, Dean used these opportunities to peak some new material here and there, with "Dive" being a showstopping number that made me all the more curious about what Olivia Dean had in store for us. Now, the time has finally come to enjoy her debut in its full glory. We step from one groovy track to another, from laid-back serenades to more intimate songs. Dean reminisces about the changing relationship we have with family and friends, but also ourselves. The album title "Messy" encapsulates the emotionality of this journey beautifully.

An absolute stand-out, to me, is the concluding track "Carmen". Olivia Dean dedicated the album to her grandmother Carmen and in this song, describes the brave decision of the matriarch to leave her home country Guyana at just 18 years old and start a new life and family in the UK. The song feels like a heartfelt, warm embrace between generations, without being cheesy, or overstating the immense gratitude and love Dean evidently harbours for her grandmother. It’s danceable, soulful, and just so, so good." (Review by Felicia Aghaye)

Favorite Lyric

“Joy is together
It’s together unified on the frontlines
Our joy, our joy will astonish the world
Because joy, true joy has always been
And will always be
Justice”
– aja monet "black joy"

Berlin Focus / Events

In early September, the Berliner festival Pop Kultur will take place once again at the local spot Kultur Brauerei. Showcasing a diverse line-up of artists and performers, the festival makes a mark by curating exciting and critical panel talks, commissioning work by multi-media artists like Anika, and collectives like A Song For You, their program of residencies across the globe allowing artistic exchange. Join us at the festival to see the final projects by NBHAP favorites like Aka Kelzz, Rasha Nahas, and Sophia Blenda.

On the 20th of August, the Berliner label Alvozay (founded in 2020 by the rapper Ebow and DJ Tmnit Ghide) celebrates its first festival. At Festsaal Kreuzberg, the line-up highlights queer-feminist and BIPoC artists from Berlin and beyond. Get your tickets here to see artists like Douniah, Ilgen Nur, Nalan, The Rafiki Collective, and others.

What's Next?

August has traditionally been our month of summer break, so we will be posting less content on our website and Instagram account. However, before signing off, we published Anna Grubauer's investigative piece on the future of festivals. What can we expect from festivals in a socio-political sense? What challenges are there for festivals in regard to financing and curating inclusive and diverse line-ups? You can read what Anna found out in her conversations with the booking and organizational team of MS Dockville, Maifeld Derby and MELT right here.

“We definitely see ourselves as a place to bring together people who have an interest and passion for music and art, and to provide a stage for artists to get in touch with those same people and spread their social or political messages,” Beke Trojan from MS Dockville says.

Stay tuned for our personal guide for the Pop Kultur festival going live in mid-August. In September, we will return reenergized and introduce you to exciting new acts.

On That Note

Before you go on with your day, here is one more song to give a spin right now. "On/Off" has been released as part of the new record "Nektar" by renowned Brazilian singer and performer Ava Rocha and is an interesting sonic experiment blending rhythmic percussion with electronic beats.

Follow our Daily Tune playlist to receive new music daily.

Our NBHAP playlists are currently still curated on Spotify only. While we are working on changing this, we encourage you to consider alternatives like Tidal for a fairer compensation of artists you love, or go old school and support them by buying merch and vinyl. Remember that the best day to make your purchases is Bandcamp Friday, where 100% of the proceeds go to the artists. Head over to Bandcamp to make your purchases today (August 4th).

If you enjoy reading this newsletter and our content on NBHAP, you can make a financial contribution to keep the project going or become a member to support us on a regular basis.

Become a member

Feel free to share this newsletter with fellow music lovers. If you are not yet subscribed, sign up right here.

Thank you for reading and listening.

Love, NBHAP Team

Currently playing: "Bone And Soil" by Chelsea Carmichael

Good morning, afternoon, or evening dear reader. This is Andreas from NBHAP. As I am drafting the second edition of our newsletter in my Berlin apartment the evening sun is slowly fading while Chelsea Carmichael's "Bone And Soil" is playing on repeat. Atmospheric grounds pair up with her piercing and reverberating saxophone, setting quite the nostalgic sentiment. As part of her 2021 debut "The River Doesn't Like Strangers", the tune showcases the musician's splendid variety and inventive potential. Please press play to join me on my frequency.

What makes a good Saturday morning song in your opinion?

Follow NBHAP on Spotify

Respect the Jazz

Jazz. What comes to mind when you hear that term? The Berlin festival XJAZZ! bends the whitewashed image of jazz and once again presented a lineup honoring the roots of jazz as Black political music. Following a differentiated understanding of the term jazz, the curation focuses on its freedom and improvisational nature and includes a broad range of styles. The NBHAP team roamed the festival in mid-May and met with some of the most interesting acts. In an after-show interview with Andreas Peters, Chelsea Carmichael talks about the importance of acknowledging the roots of the genre.

“Jazz music was about struggle, about politics, about social issues. [...] It is about is acknowledging the roots of it and where it came from. Sometimes a lot of that can be missed. In jazz education, we don’t put enough emphasis and respect on it.”

– Chelsea Carmichael

XJAZZ! was opened by the Berliner vocal ensemble A Song For You (Photo by Anika Zachow), which unites around fifty voices from the local RnB and Soul scene centering BIPoC singers. Founded by singer Noah Slee and creative director Dhanesh Jayaselan, the project creates a space to celebrate the joys of communal singing. NBHAP author Anna Grubauer met with Noah and choreographer Stephanie Ilova to talk about the project.

As social beings, humans thrive in community. We seek out spaces that enable us to connect with others who share our values and engage in activities that bring us joy. Even though that is the main focus of A Song For You, the artists are aware that this is also an opportunity of controlling their narrative. A narrative that honors the different cultures and perspectives of each individual. Noah describes: “We are political by default. Our existences are political. And showing the different identities in one space is also very political.”

“It’s not just a cool project, it could be something that’s important for the city and the next generations. If it has these structures in place, I feel like we could give a lot back to up-and-coming musicians because Berlin is an ever-evolving city with people coming in and out.” – Noah Slee

Collaboration also plays an important role in the musical output of the Londoner jazz producer Alfa Mist. “The music doesn’t come together unless you collaborate," he notes. In conversation with the artist, author Felicia Aghaye explores the retrospective character of his fifth record "Variables".

Have you met...?

The up-and-coming, the hot new shit. This month we featured four amazing new acts on our introducing radar. In early May we met the Atlanta-based singer Baby Rose who just releases her debut "Through and Through". Driven by her unique voice, the record radiates soulful warmth. Next, Awkward Branches shared insights into their indie pop debut EP "Melody For A Friend".

Kenyan producer and sound artist Nyokabi Kariũki released her debut LP "FEELING BODY" on which she dissects the relationship to her body changed by the effects of Long Covid through electronic experimentation, spoken-word and field recordings. We concluded the month with alternative jazz interpretations by muva of Earth. Anna Grubauer met the artist for an interview after their XJAZZ! show and discussed the role of spirituality in their creative process.

Tune in to the current version of our Introducing playlist featuring muva of Earth. Don't forget to give it a follow to receive weekly updates highlighting up-and-coming artists.

Politics of Pop: Palestine

What we listen to, who we support, and who gets heard is political. Who has access to the resources to express themselves and release songs is political. This section of the newsletter is dedicated to the intersection of music and politics. In solidarity with the Palestinian resistance to Israel's occupation, violence and apartheid regime, we are highlighting contemporary artists from Palestine and its diaspora this month. May 15th marked the 75th year of the Nakba and while the oppression continues to this day, so does the solidarity. Check out accounts like Eye on Palestine to receive political updates and listen to Let's Talk Palestine to learn about the situation.

Tune in below to listen to the diverse, multi-genre musical treasures from Palestine featuring Berlin-based alternative indie artist Rasha Nahas, singer and songwriter Haya Zaatry, techno DJ Sama' Abdulhadi and the political rap collective DAM. If you are in Berlin on the 17th of June, come see Haya Zaatry and other artists live at SAOT Festival, an interdisciplinary festival for solidarity with Palestine and intersectional struggles in Berlin.

Music Industry Tea

Looking back on a twenty-year-long history, Cologne's renowned c/o pop festival has established a tradition that not only has its eyes on the future of music but has evolved into a progressive space where the relevant topics of tomorrow get voiced. Our author Anna Stich visited the event returning to full post-pandemic swing this year and observed a great emphasis on the politics of change. Conventions director Ralph Christoph reflected prior to the event:

"Our industry always pretends to be very cosmopolitan – pop culture always wants to be glamorous, interesting, exciting and ultimately relevant. But if you look at the status quo in terms of, for example, the proportion of female-read people on festival stages, it still looks staggering. And the topic of DEI (Diversity, Equality, Inclusion) is still in its infancy in large parts of the music industry. That’s why it’s enormously important to address it – and where better to do that than at events like the c/o pop Convention?"

– Ralph Christoph

Another thing that is not talked about enough is the lack of inclusion of people with disabilities in the music scene. In early May, X-S (ACCESS) took place, a party, panel and performance event created in collaboration with disabled communities in Berlin. Stella Spoon, who is part of the organization team talks about the importance of including different perspectives, tearing down barriers, and making access, representation, participation and self-determination possible. She points out that talking about access needs is essential to promote safety and inclusion and calls out the lack of attention to the topic. Read more about how X-S bends the ableist structures of nightlife culture in our extended feature.

While we're on the subject of change, please give some of your attention to Scotland's Erland Cooper and his recent Folded Landscapes. Revolving around the notion of how human existence is subject to the rapid changing of the climate, his compositions are a drastic reminder to value the worth of the natural and cherish the simple things in life. There is no planet B.

“Waste less, value more, celebrate and cherish the natural world, every day.”

– Erland Cooper

Entering The Stage

Out of the many great newcomers this month, Glaswegian singer-songwriter Neev has made a lasting impression on NBHAP editor Andreas Peters. Just recently stepping forward with her debut "Katherine", she takes the theme of identity and belonging and adapts a stunning theatrical play with multiple personas that form the basis of her lyrical journey toward herself.

Hailing from Orange County, Chloe Gallardo also released a noteworthy debut with "Defamator", which chronicles her journey of healing and progress out of the dark spaces of heartbreak and emotional abuse. There is a cathartic quality to the album, which you will experience once you open yourself up to the twisted worlds of her struggle.

“There’s definitely some heavier themes and specific songs… a lot of them are about being in an emotionally abusive relationship and the trauma that comes with all of that. I mean, probably the main theme is anger and healing. Healing anger, if you will.”

– Chloe Gallardo

Berliner RnB and pop artist Lie Ning released their long-awaited debut record "Utopia". Their music seeks to inspire hope and positive change in a world that feels overwhelming and negative. In a predominantly white, male-dominated industry, the singer sought out BIPoC, queer and/or female collaborators who share experiences of discrimination and marginalization. This helped to create a safer environment where Lie Ning didn’t have to explain themselves and could create freely. Listen to the beautiful result below.

New Release Highlights

What do you get when you mix ancient Xhosa folk tradition with synth sounds, soul and jazzy influences, and a voice capable of evoking almost any emotion within its listenership? Right, a look into a future made possible by being hyper-aware of the past held together by a tremendous amount of pride in doing so. Bongeziwe Mabandla’s fourth album delivers just that. On "amaXesha", the South-African singer-songwriter - what to me is a title that understates the craftmanship of Mabandla’s work - examines the different relationships that have shaped his life. Not just in relation to people but to time as well, as the album’s title translates to “the times”, giving expression to the continuity and connectedness we share to everything in our lives. Mabandla created a timeless album for the portfolio of Afro-futurism and African contemporary soul that already established itself as a benchmark for future artists to come. (Felicia Aghaye)

Stream It: ► Spotify / ► TIDAL / ► Apple Music / ► Bandcamp

Some of our other highlights from the month of May include Portuguese electronic sound artist Ana Lua Caiano, 7ebra, Cloth, Mandy, Indiana and the second record by indie singer Arlo Parks. Read the reviews right here.

Favorite Lyric

"We seek truth and understanding
While the world is so demanding
'Cause the preacher needs a preacher
And the doctor needs some healing
And the teacher needs a lesson
So the children get the message
Are we searching for a reason
We need something to believe in
Love has the power to heal the whole wide world"

– Baby Rose "Power"

Berlin Radar

Berlin never stands still. On May 30th, the Brazilian singer and activist Bia Ferreira returns to Berlin. Her 2022 record " Faminta" explores the importance of joy and love as tools of resistance against oppression and she uses music to educate and empower especially Black and queer people in Brazil. Until today (Saturday 27th) 12am CET you can still enter our raffle for tickets via Instagram. We are looking forward to seeing you at the show!

Celebrating their debut is the collective KARMATÜRJ. A collaboration between Turkish and Polish artists Petra Nachtmanova, DJ İpek İpekçioğlu, and Ceyhun Kaya, the multi-lingual record is as danceable as it is political. It unites the sounds of two large diaspora groups in Germany. Following the devastating earthquake in February affecting regions in Turkey, Syria and Kurdistan, the album release was postponed to late May. Now you can listen to the record and watch the band perform live on June 4th. On the 5th of June, Mexican singer and songwriter Silvana Estrada comes to Berlin with an assortment of beautifully nostalgic folk ballads, followed by the hot and heavy rap show by Santa Salut on the 16th of June. NBHAP's long-time favorite Anna B Savage is also back in town with Son Lux on June 20th.

On June 10th Iç Içe, the festival for contemporary Anatolian music goes into another round. The interdisciplinary festival SAOT curates a lineup of artists, musicians, and speakers in solidarity with Palestine from May 16th to 24th.

What's Next?

In June we are meeting British composer and multi-instrumentalist, Hugh Sheehan, and the Swedish duo 7ebra. About their debut, Giulia Leonarduzzi writes: "7ebra entered the indie-rock scene without knocking on the door. In fact, they kicked it down. With their debut album "Bird Hour", Swedish twins Inez and Ella Johansson hypnotize the listener through embroidered guitar riffs and dreamy harmonies, making it impossible to look away." Keeping an eye on the Berliner music scene, we are catching up with sound artist and performer Sanni Est and genre-fluid singer Sera Kalo. Hailing from the Catalonian rap scene, we are scheduled to meet with Santa Salut and Brooklyn-based renowned poet, spoken-word artist and activist aja monet ahead of the release of her jazz-infused record "when the poems do what they do".

On That Note

Before you go on with your day, here is one more song to give a spin right now. Our latest Daily Tune "Toquei No Sol" by Marlene Ribeiro merges funky with ethereal vibes for the perfect weekend jam.

Follow our Daily Tune playlist to receive new music daily.

Our NBHAP playlists are currently still curated only on Spotify. While we are working on changing this, and encourage you to consider alternatives like Tidal for a fairer compensation of artists you love, or go old school and support them by buying merch and vinyl. Remember that the best day to make your purchases is Bandcamp Friday, where 100% of the proceeds go to the artists. The next one is on August 4th.

Feel free to share this newsletter with fellow music lovers. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please sign up right here to receive monthly updates.

Thank you for reading and listening.

Love, NBHAP Team

Hey there. Welcome to NBHAP’s newsletter. We are glad you’re here. Sit down, put on your headphones, drink a glass of water, and take a moment to browse through the music and stories we encountered this month.

Currently playing: "Teru Teru" by Kodäma

Good morning, afternoon, or evening dear reader. This is Liv from NBHAP. The first edition of the NBHAP newsletter is coming to you straight from my Barcelona base. I just made myself a too-hot-to-drink cup of coffee and sat down on the living room couch. While waiting for it to cool down, I am writing these words and listening to "Teru Teru" by the duo Kodäma, my current weekend morning jam. The song is part of the 2018 EP "Black Cloud" by Kiala Ogawa and Thomas Hugenel and merges electronic soul with eclectic influence from the band's West African and Japanese heritage. Press play to join my frequency.

What makes a good Saturday morning song in your opinion?

Follow NBHAP on Spotify

Musical Conversations About Mental Health

It is April, a month of transition, change, and unreliable weather conditions. But it is also (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) a time of growth. Winter blends into spring, trees green, and first sunbeams chase away remainders of winter depression. Fittingly, we had an extended conversation with the duo Modha whose debut LP "Through the Cycle" is an interdisciplinary dialog about mental health. Together with artists like okcandice, Noah Slee, and Jermaine Peterson, they released a soulful, jazzy RnB collection of songs to destigmatize talking about mental health and depression.

“We hope to create an understanding of how individual and complex mental health experiences are, yet how they are tied to history, society, and structural injustice." – Modha

Author Lilly Timme's conversation with Portland's Jente Pironet picks up the theme. “Music needs to be like therapy”, the singer says elaborating on the band's second LP "Departures". Creative expression is one way of dealing with struggles. Music can be a tool to look at emotions, to voice them, and to work through them. That also applies to the way Ray Lozano approached her intimate debut record "Pairing Mode". In a personal guest feature, the German-Filipino singer writes about finding comfort and belonging in Jill Scott's music as a teenager. For LA-based multimedia artist Annahstasia, the release of her debut meant a reconnection with her first love: music. Titled "Revival", the record mends her relationship to femininity and herself while calling out discriminatory social structures. It is a confidently vulnerable return to musical expression.

"[...] I realized that I can’t put aside these vulnerable pieces of me for the future. I should be investing in them now and I should be exploring them now."

– Annahstasia

How music can be a vehicle to reach a state of catharsis was the focus of editor Andreas' conversation with Irish newcomers Perlee, as they strolled through their old, Berlin-Moabit surroundings. "A lot of it is about moving and being in different places and feeling", co-singer Saramai Leech notes about their debut LP "Speaking From Other Rooms". The record explores these sentiments to a consuming degree.

Have you met...?

The up-and-coming, the hot new shit. This month we featured three amazing new acts on our introducing radar. We kicked off the month with Dutch musician Nadine Appeldoorn, aka Mazey Haze who released her debut EP "Back To The Start". Author Austin Maloney writes: "Mazey Haze's songs, whether they’re taking on the guise of spacey, kaleidoscopic psych-pop or lush, orchestral 60s-influenced rock, all sweep out of the speakers in a burst of life and colour". From there, we took it to France with the French-Algerian singer and producer Sabrina Bellaouel and her debut "Al Hadr". The Arabic title roughly translates to "the present time". Singer-songwriter meets electronic pop and techno house, "Al Hadr" is a chameleon of a record. Cellist Lucinda Chua concluded April with her ethereal debut LP "YIAN" (燕), an intimate exploration of her Chinese-British identity over carefully orchestrated warm piano melodies and lush synths.

Tune into the current version of our Introducing playlist below, and follow it to listen to receive an update every week.

Politics of Pop

What we listen to, who we support, and who gets heard is political. Who has access to the resources to express themselves and release songs is political. This section of the newsletter is dedicated to the intersection of music and politics. Following the current escalation of violence between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces in Sudan and its capital Khartoum, we are highlighting musicians from the country this month. Featuring artists like Amira Kheir, Alsarah & The Nubatones, and Rasha, the playlist establishes a dialog between locals and artists from the Sudanese diaspora like Dua Saleh, Nadine El Roubi, and Gaidaa. If you are interested in exploring the country's traditional sound, check out the web archive and Soundcloud of Sudan Tapes Archive dedicated to preserving Sudanese music culture.

To stay up to date with the situation in Sudan, follow accounts like Project Taghyir and Women of Sudan, who regularly publish resources and well-researched information. If within your possibilities, consider financially supporting initiatives providing aid on the ground, for example, Sudan Aid Fund. And if you are a London-based person of Sudanese descent there will be a community healing event taking place on May 2nd.

Music Industry Tea

The music industry is a twisted place, Annahstasia tells author Alexandra Gulzarova. Both, she and Londoner Rapper Nadia Rose describe the discrimination and creative policing of their art they experienced as Black women in the music industry. Fighting back and regaining control, Nadia started releasing music via her own label, QWERKY Entertainment. Annahstasia found inspiration in other ways of creative expression while struggling with ties to a label that would not allow her creative freedom until she was finally able to make her return with "Revival".

Another way of stepping out of the machinery is crowdfunding. There lies power in community. Platforms like Patreon allowed the Canadian indie veterans Stars to maintain an authentic creative voice in the age of streaming and digital consumerism. Loudly advocating against the Silicon Valley tech giants, co-singer Amy Millan tributes the idea of crowdfunding as one of the reasons they are still here, as she discusses the band's legacy with longtime admirers Andreas Peters and Norman Fleischer.

"Patreon is the most beautiful place on the internet to me. It’s this community of people. Everyone’s made friends with each other." – Amy Millan

Listen Closely

There were so many exciting records released this month. Too many to keep up with every single one. Some favorites by the NBHAP staff include Daughter, Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys, Yaeji, Temples, Everything But The Girl, Lael Neale, Perlee, Indigo De Souza and Nabihah Iqbal. Read the reviews right here. Do you have a favorite?

Our A Certain Regard column is for the music nerds among you, the ones who want to read more than a short review. Author Lilly Timme takes us on a journey through the debut LP by the collective boygenius. She finds that "the record" is a defining classic already, cementing the storytelling craft and melodic skill of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker.

"'the record' is a diary of the friendship of three women, full of conversations and the will to understand and support each other."

An advocate of gentle tunes and yet aiming for big topics, Fenne Lily soars up to new heights in her recent "Big Picture". Walking us through her new record song by song, the songwriter takes us through the hurtful but liberating process of fumbling through the maze of a past relationship."By documenting the most vulnerable parts of that time, I felt like I reclaimed some kind of autonomy", says Fenne Lily.

Favorite Lyric

“Leonard Cohen once said,
‘There’s a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in’
And I am not an old man having an existential crisis at a Buddhist monastery writing horny poetry
But I agree”

– boygenius

Where Rap and Jazz Meet: XJAZZ! Berlin

What do rap and jazz have in common? They both thrive on improvisation and freestyle. And both genres originated in Black communities in the USA resisting the hegemonic white music industry. Berlin's XJAZZ! festival bends definitions of jazz and curates a broad range of artists from different backgrounds. We met headlining rapper and lyricist Nadia Rose to discuss the connection between rap and jazz ahead of her show on the 12th of May.

Join us at XJAZZ! Festival to see amazing artists like Alfa Mist, Dumama, KOKOROKO, and the recent winner of Deutscher Jazzpreis Artist of the Year, Sanni Est. Check out the full lineup and get your tickets right here.

For more event recommendations follow our Instagram where we regularly share tour announcements and interesting events to check out in Berlin and beyond.

What's Next?

May does not just take us to XJAZZ! Festival and Cologne's c/o pop but it is also a month of many exciting releases. Features to look forward to are Felicia Aghaye's conversation with Londoner jazz artist Alfa Mist who released his new album "Variables" this month, and the chat Anna Grubauer had with Berliner RnB artist Lie Ning about his long-awaited debut "Utopia". We also have playlist updates in the making. Follow our Spotify channel to not miss them.

In early May, we will bring you an extended conversation with Stella Spoon from Queer Trans Liberation Network who is part of the organizing team of the X-S Event in Berlin with the aim to make nightlife accessible for disabled and neurodiverse communities. We spoke about concepts of safer spaces and the ways in which venues and promoters need to do a better job dismantling barriers and educating themselves on the harmful effects of ableism. Stay tuned for this important interview and join the event on May 6th.

But before all that, we wish you a revolutionary May 1st/Labor Day! There will be no new content on the blog that day. If you can, take to the streets for workers' rights and against capitalist exploitation and discrimination.

On That Note

Before you go on with your day, here is one more song to give a spin right now. Our latest Daily Tune rings in relaxed weekend vibes with the ambient track "Stillhetens hav II" by Swedish composer Vargkvint.

Follow our Daily Tune playlist to receive new music daily.

Our NBHAP playlists are currently still curated only on Spotify. While we are working on changing this, and encourage you to consider alternatives like Tidal for a fairer compensation of artists you love, or go old school and support them by buying merch and vinyl. Remember that the best day to make your purchases is Bandcamp Friday, where 100% of the proceeds go to the artists. The next one is on May 5th.

If you enjoy reading this newsletter and our content on NBHAP, you can make a financial contribution to keep the project going or become a member to support us on a regular basis.

Become a member

Feel free to share this newsletter with fellow music lovers. If you are not yet subscribed, sign up right here.

Thank you for reading and listening.

Love, NBHAP Team