TUYS | Everyday Soleil
Single release: March, 10 | TWO STEPS TWICE records

Everyday Soleil is a track about the sunlight that a relationship can bring to our lives. The song comes with a new part of TUYS’ upcoming short film

“Reality Management Ltd.” in which TUYS turn into a company selling realities to frustrated clients. The band has performed at the last editions of festivals such as Reeperbahn Festival, Iceland Airwaves or ESNS and will tour Europe in May after the release of their album. The latest single “Look Alive” has been playlisted in All New Rock (US), Indie Goesting (on the cover), New Music Friday BE or All New Noise.

«Tour mates of The 1975, Everything Everything and Imagine Dragons, TUYS are kicking off their 2023 with a stellar new single, ‘Look Alive’» – House of Solo

 

Pleasing | feed me to those I envy the most
Single release: February, 14 | TWO STEPS TWICE records
EP release: April, 7 | TWO STEPS TWICE records

“feed me to those I envy the most” is Pleasing’s second single of the upcoming EP titled “for us to escape”. The tale started with “the structure’s above” where a divine being descends to question Patrick’s pursuit for meaning. This time, Pleasing unleashed noisy synths, uncontrollable screams and melodic atmospheres to throw back any frustration at one’s biggest judge: Yourself. From feelings of inferiority to egocentric and bitter behavior, the judge will use every expectation you have towards yourself to bring you down.

“Pleasing has achieved a master stroke: his new song makes depression tangible without trivialising it.” – Kulturnews

 

Sheebaba | bruit_RE
bruit_RE digital release: February, 24 | Katalog records
bruit/bruit_RE physical vinyl release: March, 14 | Katalog records

During the recording and production of their debut EP “bruit” in early 2022,  Sheebaba quickly realised that the material they gathered is capable of more than just what they are able to do with it. The universe of Sheebaba is ever expanding and so are the possibilities of their output. In order to reveal what their songs can become if interpreted by someone else, Sheebaba gave the stems to some of their favourite artists from Luxembourg, Germany and the UK and let them run wild with it. The result is an EP that flows in the same vein as the group‘s usual work, yet coming from a bunch of different angles.

 

Seed to Tree | Major Lydian
Single release: March, 17 | Pop-up records

On their new single Major Lydian, Seed to Tree is taking a new turn on their musical journey, walking down the memory lane of new wave and dream pop. Their newest song is loaded with pop-cultural references hinting at David Bowie, The Talking Heads or 90s cult movie Trainspotting. But besides being an homage to all the influences that have been part of the band’s history, the song is mainly a realisation that the band Seed to Tree has become more than the sum of all their inspirations. After playing music together for more than a decade, the four musicians are finding their comfort of a home town in creating songs together that have an identity on their own.

ENGLBRT | Harm
Single release: February, 24 | Listenrecords

Both musicians draw on a long legacy of omnivorous instrumental and genre-bending music, with a sound that is slow and widescreen, incorporating elements of electronica, contemporary jazz and well-crafted indie-pop. As if working from a lab setting, the duo composed by Georges Goerens and Niels Engel, isolates samples from their common musical lexicon to unearth hidden relationships, always leading to the discovery of enticing combinations. Those first experiments and songs shaped the nature of the collaboration resulting in their debut EP Odes to Everything to be released on the Berlin-based label Listenrecords in 2023. Taking cues from the endless scroll of everyday life, ENGLBRT delivers a dazzling soundtrack to our accelerated culture, shaping new sonic possibilities in the process.

 

Josh Island | Rewind
Single release: March, 17
Album release: September, 15

With “Rewind” Josh calls on listeners to take a step back when things don’t work out: “We all have moments that we worry about what’s next, a fear of failure. Sometimes you’re not comfortable with a situation, things don’t go to plan or you’re simply unsure what steps to take. Take a step back – and start over again.”

This theme not only comes up in the lyrics, but also in the song’s arrangement, with lots of reverse effects and repetitive riffs. Rewind is a pop-rock track full of driving guitars, rhythmic vocals and a massive, crescendo finale. The single was produced once again by Nelson Canoa (Sara Tavares, Carminho), who also produced Josh’s last EP and upcoming album. Musicians from The Black Mamba (Eurovision 2021) formed his studio band during recordings.


CHAiLD | Close to You
Single release: March 17 | Beast records

Close to you is a romantic sing along in the car pop song. It is about the genuineness of the first love and how it makes us feel like we’re on top of the world. Along the lines of Julia Michaels and Tate McRae, imagine this song to be a warm and nostalgic ray of sunshine as we’re slowly coming out of winter.

https://chaild.lnk.to/CloseToYou 

CHAiLD | Urgent Care EP
EP realease: April 14 | Beast records

“This world just seems a bit too heavy sometimes. I seek shelter in my inner world, my dreams and my imagination. As I close my eyes, my mind slows down and I feel myself fading away to peaceful places. “Urgent care” is a collection of songs about vulnerability and healing from trauma through honesty with oneself and others.

I wrote it in a time where I felt hopeless, and in which songwriting was my way to cope with my anxiety. In a way, making this record was my “urgent care”” – CHAiLD


MAZ | LAST DAY
Single release: February 17 | Beast records

LAST DAY is Maz’ second single of his “EMO SEASON EP” campaign. It’s a song about trying to enjoy every last bit of every single day because it might be your last. « There’s not enough time in this life to play a fake and restricted version of who you really are ; free yourselves! ». This is a one of the brighter tracks in the rather dark Univerze of Maz, combining pop and punk-rock elements which will make people feel like it’s summer during the cold and dark winter.


EDSUN | Carter
Release : March 24 | Beast records

“Artists get taken advantage of a lot of the time. This is a reminder to ask for what is yours. As an eye witness I can say that we are getting tired of excuses. Business is Business, now cut my check.”- EDSUN

Make sure to check out the upcoming single on release date!

And that’s a wrap on ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) 2023!  MAZ, Francis of Delirium, and TUYS, all made Luxembourg proud through their performances throughout the Groningen, Netherlands-based showcase festival. For Francis of Delirium and TUYS, this was their first live-and-in-person event at ESNS after being presented digitally the past two years due to the pandemic. MAZ on the other-hand (selected with Luxembourg’s public service radio station 100,7) made his ESNS debut. 

“It was an honour to be at Eurosonic this year,” said MAZ. “I’ve played a lot of showcases around Europe over the years, yet everywhere you go, ESNS is always talked about as ‘the spot to be,’ so I was really glad I was chosen to perform.”

We kicked off the festival week on Wednesday, January 18th with a late-night News Café session featuring psych-pop band TUYS, who have been part of the ESNS Exchange program for a couple of years now. Playing at ESNS not only means playing at the festival in January. Acts that played at the festival also are a part of the ESNS Exchange programme. ESNS Exchange, the European Talent Exchange Programme, was introduced in 2003 to make the ‘exchange’ of European artists across Europe possible on a greater scale than ever before. An initiative of ESNS, ESNS Exchange facilitates the bookings of European acts on festivals outside their home countries and generates extensive media exposure for these artists in cooperation with Euroradio, export offices and local media (our local media partner is 100,7). This way, ESNS Exchange aims to give a boost to the international careers of European artists.

Yann Gengler (Bass and singer) of the band mentioned they “had the chance to play at least three ESNS Exchange festivals last year through the program (Iceland Airwaves, FOCUS Wales, and Reeperbahn Festival). It was an amazing experience to perform shows and get to meet new artists and professionals in various markets.”

We continued on Friday with three more shows. Francis of Delirium performed a few songs to a packed Plato Records Store performance in the afternoon followed by their official ESNS showcase at the mythical and sold out VERA. The band’s two shows arrived off the back of their live performance last year at ESNS’s Music Moves Europe Talent Awards, of which the band was nominated. 

“We got to come up to Groningen to perform at the awards ceremony, however due to the pandemic the city was completely shut down, so we didn’t get to perform in front of an audience.” Lead singer and guitarist Jana Bahrich mentioned. “So it was really exciting to be at ESNS23 this year and to see the city buzzing with the eclectic mix of acts playing around the city.”

MAZ finished the musical portion of the week with a full house of fans and delegates at the Grand Theatre Main, a strong performance that Dutch public broadcasting company, RTV Noord, gave an “11/10 (!).”

 

WHAT THE MEDIA ARE SAYING

“It’s the weekend and everyone feels [the enthusiasm], because there is plenty of dancing and jumping. Also by this reviewer.’ His verdict: 11/10 (!).” – RTV Noord

“Francis of Delirium ripped through an impressive show of 90s inflected alt-rock with all the fervour and grit of a teenage nightmare.” – The Line Of Best Fit

“…[Francis of Delirium] showed some real emotion in ‘Quit Fucking Around’ that really clicked. Bahrich is only 21, there is still room for growth. What she has already said makes us look forward to more.” – HUMO

“At the Grand Theatre, MAZ delivered an energetic show and wowed the room with an epic performance. His rhymes came as if from the flint. His stylistic jumps from rap to metal to emo kept one on edge. We are curious how things will continue for our famous rapper.” – 100,7

We’re kicking off 2023 with one of the most exciting showcase festivals of the year!  MAZ, Francis of Delirium, and TUYS, are all headed to ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag), which is set to take place live-and-in-person from 18-21 January, 2023. Francis of Delirium and TUYS both were presented digitally during the festival’s online conference the past two years due to the pandemic while MAZ (selected with Luxembourg’s public service radio station 100,7) will make his ESNS debut. This will be a unique year in that it’s the first time ESNS has confirmed three Luxembourgish acts at the annual event (in years past only two were sent).

More info on each of the artists can be found here.

Discover the schedule below.

TUYS | Wednesday 18 January

23:35 – 00:15 at News Café

 

Francis of Delirium | Friday, 20 January

20:45 – 21:30 at Vera
12:50 – 13:10 at Plato Record Store

 

MAZ | Friday, 20 January

21:30 – 22:15 at Grand Theatre Main

 

ESNS, the key exchange for emerging European music talent, is thrilled to welcome its visitors back to Groningen in The Netherlands. The festival remains one of the most important events for emerging artists each 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. As part of ESNS Exchange, Luxembourgish acts Francis of Delirium, TUYS, and Klein, all of which have been part of the recent ESNS Exchange program, were able to perform at festivals like Reeperbahn Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, FOCUS Wales, Maifeld Derby, and most recently all three at Iceland Airwaves.

MAZ | “School Reunion”
New music video Released December 14, 2022

“School Reunion” is the latest single and accompanying video from Luxembourgish rapper, MAZ, prominently featuring his singing/vocals for the first time. Speaking of the track, MAZ described in a recent social media post that “School Reunion” is about letting go and celebrating the people that we’ve become. It’s about confidence and actually feeling cool now. It’s about letting go of the self-hatred and those embarrassing moments, letting go of the pain that some people cause with their words and intentions. This song is also a shout out to the “weird” kids and a “f%*k you” to the bullies.” Catch MAZ Friday, January 20th at Eurosonic (21:30 at Grand Theatre Main). More info here.

Scarred | “p A t i E n C e” EP
Released December 2, 2022

Crushing live performances, relentless energy and a tidal wave of melodic atmospheres and ear-catching hooks have made Scarred one of the standard-bearers for the Luxembourgish metal community. Originally a thrash metal project, the band was formed in 2003 by drummer Laurent Kessel and guitarist Diogo Bastos. Drawing on a broad range of influences from the periphery of the metal spectrum (Pink Floyd, Tool…), their sound has matured into a feral blend of technical extremes fused with 90’s metal, creating a proliferate buzz around this five-piece.

After releasing their long awaited self-titled LP in January 2021, Scarred retreated into a cabin in the woods to write new music. The band wanted to relinquish control and see what would come out if they isolated themselves from the outside world. As described in a recent announcement, “there were no pre-written riffs, ideas or lyrics. No blast-beats, no double bass. We only had a variety of instruments, our voices and an open mind at our disposal. It’s always difficult to put music into words but terms such as “psychedelic”, “atmospheric”, “emotional” and “hypnotic” would definitely come to mind as far as describing this 4-song EP called ‘p A t i E n C e,'” released December 2, 2022 via Klonosphere. 

ROME | “Hegemonikon” LP
Released November 25, 2022

‘Hegemonikon’ is ROMEs 17th album and holds a few daring surprises: On this new album, the influences of electronica and new wave have shaped ROME’s trademark guitar-based dark folk into a new beast by adding a subtle touch of post-punk synth-rock to the mix. Ever since the band’s inception by Luxembourg-born mastermind and multi-instrumentalist Jerome Reuter in 2005, ROME has displayed a resilience and constitution found only in Olympic athletes when it comes to releasing hard-hitting, bullet-proof albums every single year.

“Hegemonikon is only 37 minutes in length, but the 11 songs that are on offer provide a stunningly unique and interesting blend of electronica, industrial, folk, and post-punk synths. It is evident that Reuter has no boundaries or limits, his creativity unbounded.” – Metal Talk

TUYS | “Yellow Ether”
Released November 18, 2022 (part of forthcoming LP, out Q2 2023)

What if reality becomes a service? And what if discussions distort? In their upcoming album (due out in 2023) and short film, TUYS turn into Reality Management Ltd., a company selling realities to frustrated clients. With “Yellow Ether,” the first of such realities is revealed.

Yellow Ether is a track about missed conversations. “It is a collage of a song about our former drummer’s departure (after being in the band for more than 10 years) and also the story of a guy I was dating, who would always leave quite early in the morning,” says Tun Biever. In its video, we follow the first of Reality Management Ltd’s clients into their reality. Rilke Bomann, a German researcher in the field of truth serums, wants her drug to be finally approved. At the end, it’s up to the audience to decide the continuation. Catch TUYS Wednesday, January 18th at Eurosonic (23:35 – 00:15 at News Café). More info here.

Josh Island | “Pennies From Heaven”
Released November 11, 2022 (part of debut album due out September 2023)

2023 Global Project Grant laureate Josh Island is gearing up to release his debut album in September 2023. As a vocal powerhouse, soulful songwriter and engaging live performer, Josh Island has been steadily growing a loyal fan base across Western Europe. He draws inspirations from Sting, Dave Matthews Band or John Mayer, a dynamic blend of singer-songwriter pop with influences of soul and folk. But at its core lies Josh’s unique ability to connect with the crowd – no matter how small or large the venue, his interactive shows remain printed in memory forever.

His latest single “Pennies From Heaven” is a song about cherishing the moment. “What is our relationship with time? What would life be like if it could stand still, and what would you do?”

PTOLEMEA | “Balanced Darkness”
Released October 28, 2022 (part of debut album due out January 21, 2023)

After unveiling her single “Fado,” Priscila Da Costa presents “Balanced Darkness,” the title track off her first album to be released at Rockhal on January 21, 2023.

In line with the two previous singles, “Inspiration” representing the Earth element, then “Fado” illustrating the Fire element, “Balanced Darkness” dives into the Water element. Balanced Darkness shows a connection with nature and our own consciousness. This creation invites us to take a new look at the world and at ourselves, and to embark on a path of exploration and transformation through PTOLEMEA’s mystic sound and visuals. The melody drags us into the depths of the ocean and the message is clear : it is possible to find balance (Balanced) by welcoming the dark parts (Darkness) of our soul.

PTOLEMEA is representing Luxembourg in the EXCITE network in 2023.
Catch her January 21, 2023 at the Rockhal Club where she’ll perform the new record live.

DasRADIAL | “MIKRO_WELLE”
Released October 21, 2022

DasRADIAL grows out of the absurdities of our digital age: a being, not man not machine, walks between dream and reality. Musician and actor Max Thommes, who spent 10 years as a drummer in the band INBORN! produced by acclaimed producer Ross Robinson, has been going his own way since 2019, creating a dystopian cosmos with DasRADIAL. After several works for the German State Theatre, he also produced the title track of the Arte documentary “UNTERM_RADAR”.

With his electronic beats and sharp-tongued lyrics, DasRADIAL now seeks the symbiosis of art figure and musical live performance.
DasRADIAL is representing Luxembourg in the EXCITE network in 2023. Expect more music to come next year!

Serge Tonnar | “Jo An Amen” LP
Released October 15, 2022

Luxembourg legend Serge Tonnar has released his latest album, “Jo An Amen,” (translated to “Yes and Amen”). Tonnar’s new work is like an album of sonorous photographs taken in the pandemic years 2020 to 2022 and asks the question of the value of life in the eyes of a rebel, a fighter who goes his way, far away from the Extremism of all kinds, a Don Quixote of culture, just to remain a humanist. It’s a task the artist himself says seems to be getting more and more difficult.

In November 2021, the musician and activist himself contacted the “Mouvement Ecologique” to propose a joint project around one of the songs from the album, “Gëff mer nach eng Chance.” The idea is to combine art with social commitment and thus contribute to a better world, such is the idealistic ambition of this common project. More information can be found here. 

The Ferocious Few | “Compassion”
Released October 14, 2022 (part of their forthcoming EP, “Only Time Will Tell,” due out February 17, 2023)

Americana punk-rockers The Ferocious Few blend high-paced rock ’n’ roll, folk lyrics, a punk edge and a rockabilly sensibility. Think Johnny Cash meets Nirvana. Their rousing guitar riffs and drum kicks have caught the attention of larger stages and festivals such as Coachella, SXSW, Lightning In A Bottle, Burning Man, Noise Pop, and most recently Reeperbahn Festival. Their latest single, “Compassion,” is part of their forthcoming EP, “Only Time Will Tell,” due out February 17, 2023.

Frontman Francisco Fernandez says the lyrics behind their latest single are an “open call for Compassion, to understand why we fail to empathise and love, no matter the circumstances. As musicians and culture creators, we are in a constant fight for attention, our data to be collected and analysed to create better products and manipulate emotions. Compassion is a call to transform these tools into ways to help each other, not just profit. To come back home to ourselves to our purpose, not just stop at the facade of what is being sold to us.’

CHECK OUT MORE OF THE LATEST LUXEMBOURGISH RELEASES VIA THE “MADE IN LUXEMBOURG” SPOTIFY PLAYLIST. ADDITIONAL RELEASES FROM SIXO, NOSI, SEED TO TREE, CHAILD, TURNUP TUN, AND MORE :

What did the international press say about Luxembourg artists in 2022? With live shows starting to come back this year after the pandemic, artists impressed the media not only online but through their live shows. 

FRANCIS OF DELIRIUM 

“Wolf Alice’s darker ego… absolute goosebumps.”  – BBC Radio 1, Future Artists

“Francis of Delirium proved to be one of the most impressive revelations of [Iceland Airwaves]. These were visceral, invigorating performances, some of the best of Airwaves 2022 — and a promising glimpse of whatever Francis might pursue on their debut album.” – Stereogum

“Francis of Delirium brings a moody, yet driving alt-rock sound.” – KEXP

Additional support from: Consequence, DIY Mag, PASTE, BFF.FM, Get In Her Ears, Europavox, Beats Per Minute, The Current, Ghettoblaster Magazine, Dork, and many more.

 

ROME

“What is fascinating about ROME, beyond this dark poetry and this mix of influences between song, minimalist martial industrial and neofolk, is their ability to always renew themselves and try new things without ever losing their listeners or radically transforming themselves.” – VerdamMnis Magazine

“Hegemonikon is only 37 minutes in length, but the 11 songs that are on offer provide a stunningly unique and interesting blend of electronica, industrial, folk, and post-punk synths. It’s evident that Reuter has no boundaries or limits, his creativity unbounded.” – Metal Talk

“Jérôme Reuter’s popularity shows that you don’t have to shout to be noticed. His strength continues to be the quiet, thought-provoking tones, in an increasingly noisy world where people find it difficult to listen properly at all.” – Metal.de

Additional support from: Plastichead, PowerMetal.de, Ondarock.it, Earshot.at, Velvet Thunder, Metal Italia, Amboss Mag, Metal Observer, and many more.

 

C’EST KARMA

“In May 2022, her new EP takes a new and interesting direction for a musician in constant evolution, with a passage through hyperpop, a galaxy where Charli XCX and the genius A.G Cook evolve, among others.”  – Europavox

„Bubblegum“: C’est Karma about sandpit friendships. – DIFFUS Mag

“Somewhere between Fever Ray and Adrienne Lenker is the right place for finely knitted pop songs like “Fist Fight” or “Industrial Salt”. Great things are coming our way!” – Kronen Zeitung

Additional support from: Süddeutsche Zeitung, Bedroomdisco, Nothing But Hope And Passion, Tonspion, L’EssentiART, Glamglare, Beats Per Minute, SWR 3,  GQ Germany and more.

 

TUYS 

“The Luxembourgish band TUYS experiments with their sound, which lies somewhere between indie rock, psych pop and rousing dance rock with driving synthesizers and distorted basslines. Indie hooks that go straight to the legs and mixed with raw tones.”  – FluxFM

Additional support from: Bedroomdisco, Frontstage Magazine, Visual Atelier 8, and Musikfreitag.

 

EDSUN

“Focus from EDSUN, whose catalogue we are now discovering, is a ray of auditory sunshine that goes straight to your heart.” – Iggy Magazine

 

PTOLEMEA

“The magic of this project lies in the fact that its captivating music emerges from the connection that the artist on the rise experiences with the cosmos. With her band, Priscila harvests an innovative sound signature that allows her to create what resonates deep within her soul.” – Metal Digest

 

MAZ

“Built on a driving, speaker-shaking bass line, “Good Shit” makes room for a slow-burning, minimalistic delivery from Maz.” – Dusty Organ

 

CHAILD

“His new single is the next step that could make him a big name.” – Dansende Bere

Three acts have just been selected to represent Luxembourg in the 2023 EXCITE program : DasRADIAL, PTOLEMA, and Sheebaba. Kultur | lx remains an active partner in the EXCITE network, a highly-collaborative project between at least eight partner organisations based across Europe (BE, DE, DK, 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 eight partner festivals in their respective markets, where at least one of the selected Luxembourgish artists will have the chance to perform, with potential for visibility on curated stages at events like Reeperbahn Festival and The Great Escape. 

Learn more about each of the three acts below and stay tuned for more EXCITing news to follow in 2023 : 

DasRADIAL

DasRADIAL grows out of the absurdities of our digital age: a being, not man not machine, walks between dream and reality. Musician and actor Max Thommes, who spent 10 years as a drummer in the Luxembourgish band INBORN! produced by acclaimed producer Ross Robinson, has been going his own way since 2019, creating a dystopian cosmos with DasRADIAL. After several works for the German State Theatre, he also produced the title track of the ARTE documentary “UNTERM RADAR“. With his electronic beats and sharp-tongued lyrics, DasRADIAL now seeks the symbiosis of art figure and musical live performance.

PTOLEMEA

PTOLEMEA is the artistic project of founder and lead singer, Priscila Da Costa, where nature and synchronicity have their own place. As its music gets created, PTOLEMEA grows more and more into an alternative and experimental style, definitely pagan rock / dark folk. The magic of this project lies in the fact that its captivating music emerges from the connection that the artist experiences with the cosmos. With her band, Sarah Kertz on synthesizer and backing vocals, Remo Cavallini on guitars and Martin Schommer on drums, Priscila harvests an innovative sound signature that allows her to create what resonates deep within her soul. The energy of this sound and her voice touches the public and it is on stage where PTOLEMEA really reveals itself! 

Sheebaba

Sheebaba is an art rock/wave duo based in Mainz, Germany. Eliott Eccho & Prof. Costello began their journey through walls of noise and poetry in late 2019 and have since then released an EP “bruit” on the Mainz based label “Katalog”. The sound of Sheebaba has been described as “artschool-wave” by local promoters and that might be close to the truth. Their live shows blur the lines between performance art and concert, incorporating mechanical noise elements, distorted drum loops and poetic lyrics with melodic guitar and synth work. The multi tasking doesn’t stop there for the two artists that have their origins in Luxembourg. Their catalogue features songs in English, German and French. Sheebaba paints a vast tableau of pop culture references, providing the listener and viewer with a crooked vision of a lost future.

Awarded annually to a musician of each aesthetic (pop/rock/ electro/hip-hop, jazz/world, classical/contemporary) since 2020, the Global Project Grant supports artists in the development of an ambitious medium- or long-term project aimed at boosting their career through promotion, marketing and dissemination, as well as the acquisition of know-how in the music industry. Kultur | lx accompanies the artists and their teams in each step of the project.

After Francis of Delirium (pop/rock), Claire Parsons (jazz) and Francesco Tristano (classical/contemporary), and following a call for applications, the selection committee, composed of Stephanie Baustert (manager), Florence Martin (United Instruments of Lucilin), Marc Nickts (SACEM) and John Rech (opderschmelz), unanimously decided to award the Global Project Grant to Josh Island (pop/rock/electro/hip-hop) and Greg Lamy (Jazz).

In accordance with the attribution conditions related to the Global Project Grant, stating that the Committee may decide not to award the grant, if it feels that the applications submitted to it do not justify the award, no Global Project Grant will be awarded in the classical/contemporary music category for 2023. The Selection Committee felt that the early stage of the applicants’ careers and the lack of a holistic approach to project development made it impossible to award the grant, as Kultur | lx has other schemes to assist and support artists.

 

Josh Island

Statement of the Selection Committee
With a strong drive and DIY spirit, Josh Island’s development over the past couple of years, not just on the touring but the recording side, has already proved that the artist is on the right path to success. Josh Island presented a very impressive, realistic, and actionable plan for 2023 that convinced the committee to award him the 2023 Global Project Grant.

Statement of the artist
An artist’s debut album is a magical milestone, and having just concluded recordings in Portugal I look forward to its release in September 2023. Being awarded the Global Project Grant means I can promote the record extensively in the Benelux & GSA regions, both through media promotion as well as on the road. Some highlights include my 2023 headline tour as well as playing Fengaros Festival in Cyprus. I also look forward to more cross-border collaborations with other artists and producers in Europe, such as songwriting camps, which I find super exciting and creatively motivating.

Biography of the artist
Josh Island is a true European. Born in the British roundabout town of Milton Keynes to a Dutch family, he moved to Germany and Luxembourg before eventually settling in the Netherlands. This natural curiosity for cultures and people is reflected in his music, with the ability to go beyond geopolitical boundaries.
As a vocal powerhouse, soulful songwriter and engaging live performer, Josh Island has been steadily growing a loyal fan base across Western Europe. He draws inspirations from Sting, Jamie Cullum or John Mayer, a dynamic blend of catchy singer-songwriter pop with strong influences of soul and folk. But at its core lies Josh’s unique ability to connect with the crowd – his interactive shows break down invisible barriers between audience and artist.
Since starting out playing local bars in Luxembourg in 2015, he has opened for James Morrison and Passenger, toured the Benelux and Germany and released two EPs.
​For his latest EP, ‘Love Don’t Come Easy’, Josh travelled to Portugal to work with producer Nelson Canoa (Sara Tavares, Carminho), with contributions by members of The Black Mamba (Eurovision 2021) and renowned arranger Luis Figueiredo. The singles ‘Fire In You’ and ‘Love Don’t Come Easy’ achieved national airplay in Germany and Luxembourg. Josh also worked with Guy Chambers (Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue) and represented Luxembourg at the Eurotoire songwriting and album production camp on Cyprus.
In 2022 he released two singles off his debut album, coming September 2023. ‘Make It’ is about forging your own path no matter what other people say, and was premiered on Sublime FM (Netherlands). ‘Pennies From Heaven’ is a song about cherishing the moment and questioning our relationship with time. It was premiered by KINK FM (Netherlands) and added to Spotify’s Stay Tuned! Playlist.

 

Greg Lamy

Statement of the Selection Committee
The Selection Committee would like to congratulate Greg Lamy for his application to the Global Project Grant. It entails indeed a long-term vision and demonstrates a strong strategy that will be carried out thanks to Greg Lam’y professional entourage.

Statement of the artist
The Global Project Grant allows me to approach the post-production and especially the promotion of my latest album with more serenity, with Flavio Boltro and the whole team!  I also see the award of this grant as a recognition that allows me to consolidate my career at the European level, but also internationally. It greatly confirms the artistic choices I have made in the past and motivates me even more to start new collaborations and to continue on the artistic path I have chosen. Our project with Flavio Boltro will be presented during the concert on Friday, December 09 at the Philharmonie Luxembourg.

Biography of the artist
“A guitar player whose refreshing and pure guitar sound gives birth to multiple melodic climates, underlined by a most fluid style, a musician with a promising future. ” Such is Lionel Loueke’s praise of the American-Luxembourgish guitarist and composer Greg Lamy, one of the most talented artists of the European jazz scene.
After studying jazz guitar in Boston at the Berklee College of Music as well as in London at the Trinity College, Lamy was quickly noticed when showcasing with various bands in clubs and at festivals across Europe and the United. He plays and has played with, among others, Lionel Loueke, Gretchen Parlato, Flavio Boltro, Bojan Z, Marco Massa, …
For Lamy, a tour follows hot on the heels of another. Europe, United States, Brazil, China – his music goes around the world. He released numerous albums with different projects, most notably, with his quartet, “Meeting” in 2013 and “Press Enter” in 2017, both on Igloo Records and both highly praised and among the label’s bestselling albums.
In 2016, Greg Lamy won the Export Artist of the Year Award (music:LX) in the Jazz category. In 2020, he was offered an endorsement deal by the renowned guitar manufacturer “Westville”.
In April 2021, he will release his new album “Observe the Silence” on Igloo Records.

Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg headed to Montreal in early November with a large delegation of artists. At the invitation of the Film Fund Luxembourg, Kultur | lx developed a programme of events, meetings and residencies in the wake of the CINEMANIA Festival, honouring the Grand Duchy.

One of the highlights of this event was the artistic meetings organised on 3 November at the Centre PHI in the form of a networking event and a micro-festival presenting three artists and collectives from Luxembourg, a programme in the context of the Centre PHI, between experimentation and hybridisation: Andrea Mancini, C’est Karma, Compagnie Eddi van Tsui.

Professionals and the general public were thus able to discover some of the many facets of Luxembourg’s creation. The feedback was enthusiastic.

The presence in Montreal also made it possible to organise a visit to the studio of artist Suzan Noesen in residence at the Darling Foundry and to confirm once again the interest of the partnership with the Darling Foundry, which will continue in the years to come.

Beyond this highlight, Kultur | lx has worked to extend the artists’ experience by offering them other opportunities in the territory.

While artist Andrea Mancini flew to Brooklyn for a series of concerts, Eddi van Tsui, Giovanni Zazerra, Baptiste Hilbert (AWA) took advantage of their presence to network at CINARS, C’est Karma is preparing for its showcases at the M for Montreal Festival, artists Sophie Langevin and Ian de Toffoli are benefiting from a writing residency at the Centre des écritures dramatiques de Montréal. This residency was concluded with a conference on 19 November as part of the festival “La Salle des machines”.

All these moments and meetings have allowed us to forge new links with the Montreal artistic scene and to strengthen the ties with existing partners. The desire for cooperation is there, and discussions will continue in order to design sustainable programmes in a spirit of exchange and mutual benefit.

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:

Are you ready for EXCITE? Artists/bands applying for the program must be/have: 

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

After two years of the cancelled physical editions of ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag), Francis of Delirium and TUYS, both of which were represented digitally at the festival, have just been announced on the lineup for 2023. The two acts will join MAZ (selected with Luxembourg’s public service radio station 100,7) for the event live-and-in-person from 18-21 January. This will be the very first time that ESNS has confirmed three Luxembourgish acts at the annual event (in years past only two were sent). 

ESNS, the key exchange for emerging European music talent, is thrilled to welcome its visitors back to Groningen in The Netherlands. The festival remains one of the most important events for emerging artists each 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. As part of ESNS Exchange, Luxembourgish acts Francis of Delirium, TUYS, and Klein, all of which have been part of the recent ESNS Exchange program, were able to perform at festivals like Reeperbahn Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, FOCUS Wales, Maifeld Derby, and most recently all three at Iceland Airwaves.

Want to join MAZ, Francis of Delirium, and TUYS 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.