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Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg presents another edition of the celebrated |lx finest – Sounds from Luxembourg showcase at the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg. Four acts will take the stage at HÄKKEN club in the heart of St. Pauli on Friday, September 22nd from 8:30p.m.: Josh Island (groovy singer-songwriter pop combined with soul and folk elements), CHAiLD (electro-pop with a trace of pleasing melancholy), MAZ (explosion of emo-rap with references to metal and punk), and DasRadial (electronic beats and cutting-edge lyrics from a dystopian dreamscape).

If you’re attending Reeperbahn Festival as pro/delegate, make sure to stop by early for our networking reception at 7:30p.m. with finger food and wine from Luxembourg!

RSVP HERE

Friday, 22. September at HÄKKEN
Spielbudenplatz 21/22, 20359 Hamburg

19:30 – Networking reception (only for delegates)
20:15-  Doors open to the public
20:30 – 21:10 | Josh Island
21:45 – 22:25 | CHAiLD
23:00 – 23:40 | MAZ
00:15 – 00:55 | DasRadial

Josh Island | 20:30
(+ Friday 22th September at 16:15 – MOPO-Mobil in the Festival Village)

Josh Island is a true European. Born in the British roundabout town of Milton Keynes to a Dutch family, he moved to Germany and the Netherlands before eventually settling in Luxembourg. 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 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. At its core lies, Josh’s unique ability to connect with the crowd – his interactive shows breakdown invisible barriers between audience and artist. Since starting out playing local bars in Luxembourg at the age of 15, he has opened for James Morrison, Passenger and Clueso, toured the Benelux and Germany and released two EPs. He has worked with Guy Chambers (Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue) and represented Luxembourg at the Eurotoire songwriting camp on Cyprus. On 15 September 2023, he is releasing his album ‘In My Head’, an introspective yet mature full-length debut, recorded by Portuguese producer Nelson Canoa (Sara Tavares, Carminho, Mariza) at his studio in Torres Vedras, the winegrowing region north of Lisbon. The Black Mamba (Eurovision 2021) was his studio band. The first singles went on to achieve national airplay in the Benelux and Germany and added to numerous playlists, further cementing him as one of Luxembourg’s most international pop songwriters. This fall, Josh is embarking on a 20-date European tour.

CHAiLD | 21:45
CHAiLD burst onto the music scene in 2019. The young rising pop artist from Luxembourg rapidly became known and stood out for his unique, soothing yet intense voice that pulls at your heartstrings and transports you into his melancholic universe. While there’s a nostalgic air to CHAiLD’s vocals, they also possess a modern twist resonating as vulnerable, strong, and intimate all at the same time. CHAiLD identifies as a Gen Z artist, standing up for a youth generation seeking self-expression. That said, a sincere approach to his music means CHAiLD wears his heart on his sleeve, a path that has helped attract a fan base attending his concerts and seeking out his music, which hails from all walks of life. Despite being on the scene for a relatively short time, CHAiLD has many remarkable achievements under his belt whether it is supporting major acts such as Nothing But Thieves, Dean Lewis, and Mahmood, or performing at local and international festivals. He’s also achieved extensive radio play and chart success in Luxembourg, as well as releasing his debut EP “Urgent Care” in 2023.

MAZ | 23:00
(Saturday 23rd September at 16:15 – MOPO-Mobil in the Village Festival)

Maz emerged from a conservative little town in Luxembourg, where the blueprint to a traditional way of life was put into his cradle in 1999. It took a while for his beautiful, yet gory poetry notes to escape his bedroom drawer; for the pride flag to appear between metal posters. Today, he puts his thoughts into an explosion of emo-rap with references to punk and metal music. He mixes skilful rap with distorted screams and melodic hooks; creating a dark, yet hopeful form of expression. As Maz enters the stage, he ties audiences up into the limb of a giant marionette. A powerful collective beast that puts up a fight against social injustices and inspires one to accept their own darkness just as much as their light. This captivating live energy seems to have escaped from secrecy, earning him slots at iconic festivals such as Sziget or ESNS and the award for the best live performance at the Luxembourg Music Awards in 2022. Maz is currently based in Berlin and Brussels and is working on his forthcoming album while currently releasing his EMO SEASON EP.

DasRadial | 00:15
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 the 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 live musical performance. On stage Max Thommes will be joined by drummer Wouter Rentema who also plays for Bonaparte and Sophie Hunger.

With C’est Karma one of Luxembourg’s most multifaceted musicians will also perform at the Reeperbahn Festival as part of the Hamburg Music Business X Backseat Showcase presented by Fanklub.

On her third EP, “Amuse-Bouche,” Karma’s style is covered in noise/industrial and hyperpop influences. The daughter of two first generation immigrants, and supporters of feminist and LGBTQ+ causes, approaches music as a tool for social change, also attacking the inaction on the climate crisis and the disparity between the filthy rich and the less fortunate (although she sometimes indulges in more sentimental remarks or mentions her love for pasta).

Wednesday, 20 September, 8:00p.m. at Grüner Jäger