The Global Project Grant, available to artists in the Luxembourgish music scene, offers them the chance of setting out and proposing a project that will enable them to kick-start their career development, promotion and marketing, participation in tours, involvement in international workshops/conferences, and to increase the depth of their compositional work.
This initiative is intended to add value to the project and to encourage artists and their teams to plan their strategy one year ahead, with a dedicated budget. For its part, Kultur | lx is committed to accompanying the laureates in all stages of the project.
More information about Global Project Grant here
Deadline to apply: September 18, 2023
In 2022, Francis of Delirium embarked on three tours: early in the year, a first-ever North American tour as support act for The Districts, with around thirty dates across the USA and Canada, including their first headline gig in New York at Baby’s All Right; the band then supported Briston Maroney across Europe before touring the UK as headliners in the autumn. Francis of Delirium have also released a series of three EPs with The Funhouse, out on 27 April on Dalliance Recordings.
Francesco Tristano released his new album on early music on 11 February 2022 via Sony Classical. The promotion of this album, which marks his return to the baroque repertoire, was accompanied by a series of concerts in Europe and a marketing strategy designed to promote both the release of the album and tour dates in specific territories.
Claire Parsons and Laurent Peckels founded the collective The Aquatic Museum, at the crossroads of pop and chamber music. The collective worked on their eponymous album, which combines jazz harmonies with pop sounds, while retaining the delicacy of chamber music. Alongside this album, an application is currently being developed that will transport users into an aquatic museum and guide them through the rooms of this virtual space.
Previous laureates
2023
Pop/Rock/electro/hip-hop : Josh Island
Jazz/World : Greg Lamy
2022
Pop/Rock/electro/hip-hop : Francis of Delirium
Jazz/World : Claire Parsons
Classical/contemporary : Francesco Tristano
2021
Pop/Rock/electro/hip-hop : TUYS
Jazz/World : Michel Meis 4TET
Classical/contemporary : Cathy Krier
STRASBOURG MUSIC WEEK is a Euro-regional event of professional meetings and emerging musical discoveries aimed at creating links between the region and its four border countries: Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Belgium. From 16 to 19 May 2023, the festival will offer conferences, round tables, workshops and friendly professional moments, combined with showcases throughout the city allowing the discovery of some twenty artists from Strasbourg and elsewhere.
Kultur | lx has been invited to present its functioning, its missions and the support offered to music professionals during the conference: “La connaissance des marchés – structuration et financements” (Knowledge of markets – structuring and financing) alongside Mobiculture (France), Empowork culture (Belgium) and Touring Artists (Germany). The conference will take place on Tuesday, 16 May, at 3.30 pm in the Auditorium of MAMCS. Three Luxembourg artists have also been programmed for the STRASBOURG MUSIC WEEK, one of them at the PELPASS FESTIVAL which starts right after Strasbourg Music Week on 18 May.
MAZ
16/05 at Le Wagon Souk
C’est Karma
17/05 at La Péniche Mécanique
Culture the kid
18/05 at Pelpass Festival
The Excite network, of which Kultur | lx is a member, is preparing the second edition of ‘Excite Plus’ at The Great Escape festival in Brighton.
“Excite Plus aims to create an additional platform for the Excite network to increase the visibility of artists through synergies. The idea is to bring together the strengths and networks of each partner to increase the impact of this showcase event.
This year, a number of countries have come together for “Excite Plus”: Belgium, Germany, Wales and Luxembourg. Excite Plus will take place at Zahara on Thursday, 11 May from 12 to 4 PM. On the line-up, you will have the opportunity to (re)discover the following artists:
12:15 Bobbi Lu (BE)
13:15 Maz (LU)
14:15 King LX (DE)
15:15 Lemfreck (UK)
The concerts will be accompanied by networking opportunities over a drink. The artists will also have the opportunity to showcase their talents in a second show within The Great Escape festival programme. EXCITE is a highly collaborative project between nine partner organisations based in Europe (Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK). This innovative network provides a dynamic mechanism to accelerate the internationalisation of young artists and music businesses at the beginning of their career
The announcement of these showcases at The Great Escape festival coincides with the release of Maz’s new EP ‘Emo Season’ which will be released on 05 May on Beast Records.
“EMO SEASON” is a collection of tracks reminiscent of early 2000s emo rock and dealing with the zeitgeist of Thomas’ generation. It explores, among many other themes, a newfound self-confidence in queer expression, coming-of-age insecurities, body image, love and heartbreak. Throughout the seven tracks, Maz confronts his own vulnerability and paints a very human picture of the ups and downs of self-esteem. “Hope’, the final single from the EP can be heard here:
About The Great Escape
The Great Escape festival will kick off the 2023 festival season, hosting over 500 emerging artists and highly anticipated talent at over 35 venues within walking distance of each other across Brighton. It’s the first place to discover upcoming talent in an intimate setting before they headline major festivals. The TGE is also frequented by the music industry, which is on the lookout for the next big thing. In addition to the concerts, there is a conference that offers panel discussions, topical debates, keynote speeches and plenty of networking opportunities.
Are you an emerging artist or band looking to take your first steps abroad in 2023? Kultur | lx remains a partner in the EXCITE network, a highly-collaborative project between nine partner organisations based across Europe (BE, DE, DK, FI, LU, NO, NL, SE, UK). This innovative network leverages a dynamic mechanism to expedite the internationalisation of young artists earlier in their careers and development.
The delivery model is built around a core of at least nine partner festivals in their respective markets, with potential for visibility on curated stages at events like Reeperbahn Festival and The Great Escape.
Apply here
Deadline : December 5, 2022
The EXCITE network offers:
- Credible career opportunities
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- Have the chance for first festival plays across northern Europe
- Tour internationally and transnationally
- Peer-to-peer co-writing opportunities
- Brokering networking possibilities and facilitating industry connections;
- Accessing new markets earlier and reaching and engaging wider audiences;
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- Leveraging access to high-level international music industry contacts.
Are you ready for EXCITE? Artists/bands applying for the program must be/have:
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- Some level of touring experience but are not actively performing internationally (those with an already active international touring schedule are actually above the level of the network).
- Enough original music material to play a 30 – 40 minute concert. Do you also have releases planned for 2023?
- Have a solid base of press material from which the festivals can use.
- Young at heart. There’s no strict age limit (though most participants are between 18 and 30).
- Eager, experienced (quality), ambitious, and have a good work ethic, attitude, and willing to actively collaborate with others.
For more information contact :
Zach Glavan
Kultur | lx, Project Manager Pop/Rock/Electro/R&B/Hip-Hop :
zach.glavan@kulturlx.lu
Interview with Luxembourg artist C’est Karma at The Great Escape EXCITE Showcase
ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag), the key exchange for emerging European music talent announces the first acts for its 37th edition line-up – the first physical edition after two fully digital editions. The organisation is thrilled to welcome its visitors back to Groningen in January 2023.
The first batch of artists have been selected in cooperation with NPO 3FM and European national radio broadcasters – collaborating within the EBU (European Broadcasting Union). Emo-rap artist, Maz, has been selected in collaboration with Luxembourg’s public service radio station 100,7.
Eurosonic remains one of the most important events for emerging artists of the year, who have the opportunity to perform in-front of a selection of 4.000 delegates and around 40.000 visitors. The organisation also helps to stimulate and push the circulation of European music across the continent and beyond. Artists who perform for Eurosonic are also added to the ESNS Exchange programme which helps to facilitate the bookings of European acts on festivals outside of their home countries and generate extensive media exposure for them in cooperation with the EBU (of which 100,7 is part of), export offices (including Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg) and local media.
Risen out of the ashes of early 2000’s Metal and Rock influences, MAZ is known for delivering a powerful and truthful message to his audiences with a determination to not only scratch at the surface, but to tear through it and see what lies underneath. With a sharpened musical and visual identity, the young rapper wants to give the voiceless not just a voice, but also an uncompromising vision and thus urging his listeners to drop the self-imposed masks and all other unnecessary superficialities to eventually find their true selves.
Want to join MAZ at Eurosonic? Professionals can apply for financial support to attend via the Kultur lx “Support for mobility, research and career development.” Deadline to apply is Wednesday, December 28th. More details here.
This year, Fifty Lab is inviting the most promising upcoming talents for three days throughout iconic venues in the heart of Brussels. A unique take on the traditional showcase festival, Fifty Lab takes recommendations from some of the most influential Belgian and international musical programmers (i.e. Primavera Sound, Down the Rabbit Hole, Montreux Jazz Festival, Pukkelpop, Couleur Café, and Luxembourg’s very own Siren’s Call Festival). The audience will discover the next musical crushes from all genres and nationalities.
Kultur | lx is proud to be presenting the first Luxembourgish artist at Fifty Lab, MAZ. Risen out of the ashes of early 2000’s Metal and Rock influences, MAZ is known for delivering a powerful and truthful message to his audiences with a determination to not only scratch at the surface, but to tear through it and see what lies underneath. With a sharpened musical and visual identity, the young rapper wants to give the voiceless not just a voice, but also an uncompromising vision and thus urging his listeners to drop the self-imposed masks and all other unnecessary superficialities to eventually find their true selves.
Want to join MAZ Friday, November 18th at Fifty Lab? Kultur | lx is inviting a small Luxembourgish delegation to attend the festival. Professionals can apply for financial support to attend via the Kultur | lx “Support for mobility, research and career development.” More details here.
MAZ at Fifty Lab
Friday November 18th
8:40 – 9:20 PM | L’ARCHIDUC
More information here.
Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg is taking up the “next step” workshops initiated in 2021 and is adapting it to the pop/rock/electro world. Kultur | lx will offer artists an inside look and training course dedicated to the pop/rock/electro music market in various territories around the world, starting with the French market on October 25 & 26.
The course will be led by Paris-native Géraldine Zanaska, founder of international music business consultancy, Compass Music. Between earning her master’s degree in Music Business Management from London’s University of Westminster and launching Compass Music, Géraldine has worked for an independent record label, a music venue, a live music promoter, a cultural institution, and the French music export office.
This workshop will address the essential points for developing a strategy to present, market, and promote a project in France. In particular, the workshop will cover the various networks and professionals involved, as well as an overview on the French touring and recording landscape, the challenges and evolution of touring, and the key methods and innovative tools to better promote your project in France.
This interactive training will start each day with a theoretical presentation and will be followed by a round-table discussion and Q&A with French professionals from the pop/rock/electro sector (TBA). The goal is also for the participants to come away with actionable advice and have communication-ready assets (like bio and press releases, highlighting what matters locally) once the workshop is finished.
More information & registration to come…Stay tuned!
One of the largest music and cultural festivals in Europe, Sziget, is set to take place for the first time since 2019 and has selected rapper, MAZ, as part of its official lineup! First organised in 1993, the festival attracts almost 400,000 people each year to an island in the Danube to join the fabulous atmosphere of this multicultural event. Sziget will take place this August 10 – 15 in Budapest, Hungary and feature a star-studded lineup, including Justin Bieber, Calvin Harris, Stromae, Dua Lipa, Arctic Monkeys, Tame Impala, and several more.
Speaking of the festival, MAZ said he’s “super excited because Sziget is one of the biggest festivals in Europe! I’m on the line-up with some of the biggest stars in the world which is just incredible, but on a more personal level, it’s also exciting because I’m half Hungarian and I’m regularly travelling to the country (mainly Budapest) to visit friends and family.”
Described by Europavox as “the fresh face of Europe’s rap future,” MAZ’s aim is to spark a raw confrontation with life in brutal honesty. With a sharpened musical and visual identity, the young rapper wants to give the voiceless not just a voice, but also an uncompromising vision and thus urging his listeners to drop the self-imposed masks and all other unnecessary superficialities to eventually find their true selves. MAZ arrived in April with his latest EP, Upside Down (listen on Spotify here).
Risen out of the ashes of early 2000’s Metal and Rock influences – those heavy and dark, and yet extremely emotional and energetic trap beats that, today, carry the words of the progressive rapper from the future. He absorbs melancholy and reciprocates hope. MAZ is known for delivering a powerful and truthful message to his audiences with a determination to not only scratch at the surface, but to tear through it and see what lies underneath.
Catch Maz at the Sziget “Drop Yard Stage” on Sunday, August 14 from 17:30. More info here.
After numerous consultations with the creative sector, it has become clear that in order for the Luxembourgish industry to grow, we need to support active managers working behind the scenes to develop and sustain the artists. This pilot grant has been designed as a two-year grant and offers managers the chance to increase the depth of their professional network and development while aiding them in their pursuit to work more closely with Luxembourgish artists locally and abroad. One of the aims of this grant is to allow managers to build dedicated relationships with the artists in order to further develop their careers (day-to-day activities, negotiating contracts, booking gigs, strategising long term goals, etc.).
For its part, Kultur | lx is committed to accompanying the laureates and has built a mentoring programme with international professionals who will be able to guide the laureates throughout the various stages of this grant. Mentors will come from a variety of backgrounds and countries, specifically within the management sector, and available for bi-monthly consultations with the laureates. In addition, the two laureates will automatically be included in any local or international training initiatives (i.e. educational, workshops, networking events, etc.) brought forth by Kultur | lx. Beneficiaries of the Artist Management Programme will also receive an additional stipend in order to attend up to two international conferences per calendar year.
Deadline to apply : September 4, 2022
More information and application HERE
Who are the biggest names in Luxembourgish Hip-Hop today? Kultur | lx’s first ever multi-part audio-visual series “|lx finest” offers a rare insight into the lives of various Hip-Hop artists in Luxembourg, how artists and their respective producers craft their songs collaboratively, how they see their role in the local music scene, and how Hip-Hop and Rap are thriving in one of the smallest countries in Europe. The four-part series features the likes of Magestick, Turnup Tun, Tommek, De Läb, Corbi, Maz, Nicool, Culture The Kid, and Denis Schumacher (aka “2NI”) and was produced by the Unison Studios and Skin teams. Watch the full four-part series via Kultur | lx’s YouTube channel here. More on each artist below!
“We have had the pleasure of following two generations of Hip-Hop artists and producers, each with individual styles but the same values and goals…to do their own thing!” says Max Hochmuth of Unison Studios. “Between a home studio in a shed to actually making a living off of music, you’ll get a glimpse into the diversity that our local scene has to offer.”
ABOUT NICOOL : Her debut album “Den Ufank vum N”, released in summer 2019, marked the start of Nicool’s rap career. In collaboration with local hip hop record label De Läbbel, Nicool worked together with various beatmakers from Luxembourg (i.e. 8Cee, BTM, Nick Sauber, to name a few). Her live performance is like no other, whether you understand the Luxembourgish language or not, it is guaranteed that the crowd will vibe along with the beats and head-nod along with her flow and rhymes.
ABOUT DE LÄB : Luxembourg’s cultural heritage when it comes to Hip-Hop made in Luxembourg. De Läb have been around since 2007 and played every stage there is in Luxembourg at least twice – including the slot as support act for Snoop Dogg and Cypress Hill. This 7-piece live band is formed by 4 of Luxembourg’s most established musicians (Benoit Martiny, Rene Macri, Georges Sadeler and Michel Lopes), including DJ Funkstarr (one of the best around) and of course fronted by the rap duo Corbi and David Fluit, featured in this video. They are true masters of their own craft, covering today’s topics with a rather old-school approach.
ABOUT TOMMEK : Tommek, Tom Mersch or Peter Punchline is a Luxembourgish rapper from Clervaux. He began rapping at the age of 11, initially in German, then from 16 years of age in his mother tongue. In 2013 he released his first single and in 2015 his first album “Tëschent Humor a Wourécht” (Between Humour and Truth). In May 2020 his latest album came out with 16 tracks, dealing with issues such as family, solidarity, happiness amongst friends and what matters most at the end of life. Tommek is renowned for his extensive use of wordplay and humour in his lyrics, and while using this humour to tackle more serious issues in society.
ABOUT TURNUP TUN : Tun Tonnar, aka Turnup Tun, is a Luxembourgish producer, singer-songwriter, musician and rapper. He has worked with various artists, such as Tommek, Bandana, Skinny J and Don Piano, to name a few. He is a member of the group Räpzodi and the collective Stayfou. In his singles, albums and EPs, he expresses himself in Luxembourgish and delivers socially charged Hip-Hop.
ABOUT CULTURE THE KID : As he introduces himself, Culture the Kid is a 19-year-old Brazilian/Luxembourgish lyrical rapper based in Luxembourg combining old school sounds and rap with new themes and lyrics. He is basically just a kid trying to preserve what’s left of his definition of good music and adding his own spice to it.
ABOUT 2NI : Denis Schumacher a.k.a. ‘2NI’ (which is simply a phonetic spelling of his first name in French : “deux-ni”), is one of the most sought out musical producers and drummers from Luxembourg. As a drummer, Denis is known more recently for his involvement with the grunge-rock band Francis of Delirium, as well as previous bands CHEAK and District 7. As a producer, 2NI lives within entirely different genres : Hip-Hop & Rnb. After meeting and producing his first song with Luxembourgish rapper Brooze, 2NI’s work has quickly evolved to include a number of artists, from Nevlo, to Troka, Vinci, EDSUN, and Maya Maunet. His goal for the future is to bring Luxembourgish music to a level where it can compete with those from abroad.
ABOUT MAZ : Maz is known for delivering a powerful and truthful message to his audiences with the aim to spark a raw confrontation with life in brutal honesty. A determination to not only scratch at the surface but to tear through it and see what lies underneath. He absorbs melancholy and reciprocates hope. His flow and highly evolved technical skills will leave the audience “Maz”merized. Risen out of the ashes of early 2000’s Metal and Rock influences – it is those heavy and dark, and yet extremely emotional and energetic beats that carry the words of the progressive rapper from the future. Maz is the new engine of a more genuine and profound generation and incarnates a courageous attitude of empathy with a solid perspective towards a future world.
ABOUT MAGESTICK : Magestick Records, founded by the 30 year old music producers, André & David, mostly produces Hip Hop and Rnb Instrumentals which are offered for sale on their website. Embarking on a production career in 2013, they are known for their successful online beat catalogue on YouTube. Magestick Records has over 245.000 subscribers and is the biggest channel in Luxembourg. In 2020 André & David signed a publishing deal with SONY ATV Music Publishing Germany.
A free showcase event took place at Den Atelier on April 29th. During this special night, five artists – Culture the Kid, Nicool, Corbi (De Läb), Maz, Turnup Tun and Tommek – could showcase their musical talent and personalities in front of the public as well as select international pros.
Kultur | lx would like to thank all the partners of the event: Den Atelier, Konektis Entertainment, Eldoradio as well as the producers of the mini-series: Unison Studios and SKIN.