Insider tips from pop music: Europa presents the Waves Festival. Focus country is Switzerland.
The Austrian pop scene could learn a thing or two from Switzerland, says Thomas Heher. He is director and founder of the Waves Vienna Festival, which presents new international pop acts on ten different stages in bars in the beltway, but also in the Metropol. The festival counts up to 15,000 guests at various concerts, but also at workshops and discussion rounds every year. Switzerland is the focus country of the festival this year. In the German-speaking area, like Austria, it faces comparable opportunities and challenges compared to its much larger neighbor Germany.
Attitude. The Swiss band Soft Loft makes emotional music and wants to create a safe space. 9/9 at Chelsea. Tatjana Ruegsegger
“Because of the multilingualism, the Swiss music scene is better connected internationally and repeatedly concludes cooperations with France, Italy or Germany,” says Heher. In addition, the conveyor system is better equipped. In any case, Heher wants to intensify the cooperation between Austrian and Swiss musicians with the Waves. A kind of exchange program took place in the run-up to the festival, inviting musicians from both countries to make music together.
with calm. Peter The Human Boy is a self-confessed Slow Rocker. The Vorarlberger’s second album was released in 2022. Luca_Celine_Mueller
Another focus of the festival is expressed in the EU project UpBeat. The primary aim here is to do away with the outdated concept of “world music” and to bring bands to the fore that combine traditional instruments and techniques with pop music. The duo Turfu from France, for example, mixes accordion music with hard techno beats, while the ethno-pop band Tautumeitas modernizes melodies and lyrics from Latvian folk music.
Take by the nose
Last but not least, the topic of diversity in the music business should also be the focus of the conference program. Heher assumes that only a holistic approach will lead to more diversity in festival line-ups and stages: “It’s not just the organizers or bookers who are responsible for this, but also the agencies, music labels, guests and also politics with their support programs. You have to take a nose at every level of the industry,” says the festival director. As a positive example in the area of diversity, he cites the Queer Music Agency from Denmark, which is represented at the festival with the acts Reveal Party, Sander Sanchez and UBLU.
narrator. Slovakian Nina Kohout combines folklore with dark electronics in her music. On 9/8 at The Loft.
Of course, the local scene is not neglected either. The Linz indie punk Anda Morts presents his debut EP “Morts” in the Metropol, singer-songwriter Anna Mabo gets rid of her worries with her second album “Notre Dame”, Peter The Human Boy is doing it as a self-titled Slow Rockers are quieter, and the indie band Endless Wellness will take the stage at B72.
Tipp:
Waves. The festival will present new international pop acts on ten different stages until September 9th. wavesvienna.com
2023-09-07 01:47:59
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