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Monday Oct 16, 2017
Monday Oct 16, 2017
First held in 2005, Zurich Film Festival established itself very quickly on national and international film festival scene. The formula for it success it's probably mix of an attractive location: international but small city of Zurich; great selection of movies and different programs/events like ZFF Masters, ZFF Talks, ZFF 72.
Personally, I feel that logic behind Zurich Film Festival's success is well explained by the sentence from an industry booklet ('everything you need to know book') that I received when I picked up my accreditation. There, the organizers agree on few basics for a successful film festival: "content is a king, collaboration is key and encounters among creative folks are essential". It is obvious that they took "these basics" seriously since this year, for it's 13th Edition, Zurich Film Festival played 160 movies across the cinemas of Zurich (Arthouse theaters, Corso, Arena, Filmpodium, etc.), inclusive 4 new festival theaters at Riff Raff cinema, and organized so many events and happening that for me, it was hard to catch up and I had to heavily prioritize and choose wisely. It's success can also be measured in numbers: this year the festival attracted not only the professional industry crowd in big numbers but in general number of visitors as well: 98'300, 8.5% increase from previous year.
This was my first time to review any film festival, and it's not a surprise that I started with Zurich, town that has been my home for last 17 years. As Gimme A Beat is focused on female related subjects, through my review of the Zurich Film Festival I explored *female factor* of the festival and focused on two type of movies: movies made by female filmmakers and movies showing female life. The organizers of the festivals used hashtags to mark the movies so finding the movies that I potentially liked and that fit my exploration was easy, I just followed #FemaleFilmmakers and #FemaleLife hashtags. I also used them in my reviews. Since I had to juggle my busy work life with festival, I focused on movies and attended the events very selectively. Nevertheless, even though I saw tiny piece of the whole festival, next to the movie selection with great balance of different genres, aspiring filmmakers and (potential) blockbusters as well as strong women presence, I was sincerely impressed with the organization, especially media center that was always available and ready to take care of press needs.
Movies selection wise I've seen 16 movies and posted review of them on Gimme A Beat page. Just follow the search with hashtags #zff #zff2017 #gimmeabeat.
In tonight's Gimme A Beat I will cover all of those movies again and in more details, or depending of time, try to cover at least my favorite ones. In addition, I will give bit more attention to following movies: My Life Without Air (Moj Zivot Bez Zraka), The Wife (will include press conference material and itw with leading cast: Glenn Close, Annie Starke; director Björn Runge and producer Claudia Bluemhuber), Matar a Jesus (Kiling Jesus), (will include Q&A session with director Laura Mora, after the movie projection) while exclusively playing music from Jeunne Femme (Montparnasse Benvenue) soundtrack
After the movie projection of My Life Without Air (Moj Zivot Bez Zraka), I had a chance to sit down with Bojana Burnac, young, talented Croatian director and cinematographer of the movie. We talked about the movie, Goran Colak, world champion in free diving and movies's subject as well as Bojana's own life journey: as a cinematographer, director and free diver.
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Zurich Film Festival 2017 with following playlistfrom 22:00 - 00:00 on:webradio lora featuring: gimme a beat reviews movies at ZFFKisses, Babymonster ————————————————————————– for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Dec 19, 2016
Monday Dec 19, 2016
2016 has been insanely intense and not always easy to handle. The whole year felt as an emotional roller-coaster, looking at it from any perspective. From political point it showed rise in power of right wings parties and their candidates in majority of the countries, world wide tragedies, wars, terrorist attacks and similar. It also felt as an end of an era in some way since several awesome, legendary people passed away: David Bowie, Prince, Muhammad Ali, Leonard Cohen and unfortunately, many others.
Personally to me, 2016 brought heavy, stressful times that mixed up with fortunately, some good moments as well, brought an impressive amount of self reflection. And talking to my friends and artists that I interviewed, most of the people felt the same. I don't know what caused all of this to happen and if this is just a beginning of some dark times. Or maybe I am feeling this way at the moment only because I watched Star Wars two days ago ;-).
But I am a true optimist at heart and I look at the world from the perspective that any experience is a good one because it always brings some lessons with it. So even though I am really exhausted at the moment, I am finishing 2016 feeling stronger, capable to deal with whatever comes my way and even more optimistic about future.
From that point of view and in the true Xmas spirit, in the last show of 2016, I would like to focus on the good things that happened in the music and all these amazing albums that were released and that helped me (and hopefully rest of the world) survive the heavy moments.
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To hear my choice of carefully selected, cherry picked songs (in eclectic order) from my favourite 2016's albums by female artists, tune in tonight (19.12.2016) to Gimme A Beat and..
Best of 2016 🌟
with playlist and click-to-play playlist (for the artists available on Spotify)
from 22:00 - 00:00 on: webradio lora Kisses, Babymonster ————————————————————————– for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Sunday Feb 14, 2016
Sunday Feb 14, 2016
I listened to Angel Haze already back in 2011/2012, but I really start paying attention to them (as Angel prefers to be referred to) with the release of their third (free) mixtape, Reservation. During the summer of 2012, I had this mixtape on the repeat. I also loved the videos that followed the release, for the songs New York and Werkin' Girls. The year after, I saw Angel Haze live for the first time at Montreux Jazz Festival. I actually decided to cover the festival after I saw that
they were performing and I wasn't
disappointed. They totally blew me away and for me and Gimme A Beat,
Angel was the highlight of the festival that year. This Thursday I had a chance to see Angel again. And with this gig, my slightly pointless, stressful week turned into the special one, just like that. There are not many artists out there like Angel.
Angel is real, raw, uncompromisingly honest about their life
experiences, their feelings and anything else that they have an opinion
about. Looking at their career and what is known about their life before
and when(after) they became famous, they are like phoenix, rising over
and over again from it's ashes.
Even though their recorded music is unbelievable, to experience true
magic of Angel Haze, you have to see them live. On the stage, their
energy is so powerful and intense that it makes you feel invincible and
reminds you that nothing is impossible. After the gig I had a
chance to sit down with Angel for an interview.They told me about the
experience that brought them to this moment, exploring of their
creativity, learning and searching for their freedom. We also
talked about their latest, phenomenal project Back To The Woods as
well as Angel's vision of the world they want to live in and how they
can help create it with their music and the message that it carries.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tune in tonight (15.02.2016) to Gimme A Beat for an interview, music from Angel's latest project and my impressions
of the gig and Angel Haze.Tune in for ..Angel Haze in Zurich with playlist and click-to-play playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:webradio lorafeaturing:gimme a beat on youtube Kisses, Babymonster————————————————————————–for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Dec 21, 2015
Monday Dec 21, 2015
Yaaay, it's Xmas time again !!!This is one of my favourite times of the year 🎅🎄😊! Time when people slow down, get friendlier and more
pleasant and when everywhere you go smells like Xmas cookies and Glühwein🍷Besides all those fun stuff that Xmas spirit brings, for me, the true essence of Xmas is .Not one kind of all , but all different kinds that we feel and that get intensified during the Xmas time: for your family, kids, partner, friends, pets or just in general, for life that we are living and choices that we made.
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Therefore, for Gimme a Beat tonight (21.12.2015), I've created eclectic playlist of songs with in mind.Tune in for ..
Xmas = with playlist and click-to-play playlist from 22:00 - 00:00 on:webradio lorafeaturing:gimme a beat on youtubeKisses, Babymonster ————————————————————————– for more info please go to: previous entries
Monday Nov 16, 2015
Monday Nov 16, 2015
Visiting and reviewing Rock En Seine festival is becoming yearly tradition for Gimme A Beat. What is the reason that every year I keep on going back to this festival? I guess it is a perfect balance of phenomenal line-up, location very close to Paris town and lots of cool, stylish visitors that are not only taking care of the style and what to wear, but really know how to enjoy the music and give it all when the artist they love is on the stage in front of them.
This festival never gets dull for me, so I and Gimme A Beat, of course, keep on coming back.
Rock En Seine is happening every year, since 2003, at the end of the summer, last weekend of August, at Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, at Château de Saint-Cloud's park just outside Paris, inside the garden designed by Le Nôtre in 17th century. In the beginning this festival was happening only during one day and had 2 stages and 10 bands. Nowadays, the festival lasts 3 days and features many local and international bands that play on either one of the 5 stages: Grande Scene, Scene De La Cascade, Scene De L'Industrie, Scene Pression Live and Scene Ile De France.
Even if Gimme a Beat explores female factor on the festivals, I've managed to see loads of non-female related bands and discover several new ones as well. In my short reviews on Gimme a Beat Facebook page I wrote something about every band I've seen.
But in tonight's show I will focus on 3 bands that fit my female factor theme and that I've seen performing at the festival and interviewing before or after their gig.
First band that I will focus on is Sparky In The Clouds, British French trio consisting from sisters Bryony and Miranda, with their beautiful harmony voices and Mathias, skilled guitar player and composer. To Scene Ile De France they brought mesmerizing sound that is folky traditional, fresh and funky soul-ish at the same time.
Second band that it will be in focus tonight is energetic duo from Seattle that is currently based in LA and goes under name Cardiknox. With their catchy sound and electro-pop beats, Lonnie and Thomas of Cardinox, delivered fun, energetic gig that made everybody dance at the early gig on Scene Pression Live.
Third focus of tonight's Gimme a Beat is phenomenal Mexican acoustic guitar duo Rodrigo Y Gabriela. With the virtuosity of very skilled musicians, Rodrigo and Gabriela delivered their music with so much passion and intensity that it felt like we (audience and I) are all part of some tribalistic experience.
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Tune in tonight (16.11.2015) to Gimme A Beat to hear my review of Rock En Seine 2015 and the gigs I've seen, interviews from Sparky In The Clouds, Cardiknox and Rodrigo Y Gabriela with chosen music from their latest releases.
Tune in for ..
Sparky In The Clouds, Cardiknox and Rodrigo Y Gabriela at Rock En Seine 2015
with playlist and click-to-play playlist (for the spotify-ed artists)
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Sep 21, 2015
Monday Sep 21, 2015
We had beautiful summer this year in Switzerland so reviewing the festival like Blue Balls that is partially set inside, partially outside and happening in the beautiful surrounding next to Lake Luzern, feels more like a blessing then an effort. This festival with slightly inappropriate name that is happening during two weeks of July, brings me back last few years, mostly because of it's awesome line-up, perfect combination of known and unknown artists different genres, playing on inside and outside stages in Luzern: KKL, Pavillon, Schweizerhof hotel. This year was no different and in my 5th year at the festival, I've chosen three days with female artists and/or bands with female vocalists that I wanted to include in
my review. Those were: Melody Gardot and Nina Attal on 18th of July, Hiatus Kaiyote on 21st of July and Sophie Hunger on 25th of July. I've also seen several awesome male artists, but since as Gimme a Beat, I explore 'female factor' of the festival that I review, review of their gigs is only included in the short review on Gimme a Beat Facebook page, but not in tonight's show.The first artist/band that I will focus on in tonight's show is Hiatus Kaiyote. I've discovered this band through their Grammy nominated song for best R&B, Nakamarra, that was (and still is) on the regular playlist at KCRW radio. I've met the band and sat down for an interview with them just after their soundcheck and before the gig on the Pavillon stage, one of the outside stages of Blue Balls Festival. What can you expect from the band that defines their music style as multi-dimensional, poly rhythmic gangster shit?! Exactly what happened.. fun and quirky, interesting interview occasionally interrupted by church bells of the nearby church !! True musicians, easy going and relaxed, the band members told me about their beginnings, growing up together and developing musically in creatively inspiring area of Melbourne; their latest album and tour. Following the interview, each member of the band brought their piece of talent to the stage: mesmerizing Nai Palm as a lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Paul Bender, Simon Mavin, Perrin Moss on several other instruments, where they created the beautiful music of Hiatus Kaiyote.In the 2nd part of Gimme A Beat, I will focus on young, talented, French artist, Nina Attal.Nina started gigging as a teenager, so now, even though she is only 23, she is already a true pro and she actually feels more comfortable travelling the world and performing than in the studio. I had a chance to sit down with her for an itw just before her gig at the Pavillon and she told me about her latest album, what made her an artist that she is today and her future career aspirations. Later on, on the stage, with her endless amount of energy and talent, backed by an awesome band, she had all eyes on her and made everybody move with her R&B, funky sound.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tune in tonight (21.09.2015) to Gimme A Beat to hear my review of Blue Balls Festival and the gigs I've seen, interviews from both: Hiatus Kaiyote and Nina Attal and chosen music from their latest albumsTune in for ..Hiatus Kaiyote and Nina Attal at Blue Balls Festival 2015 with playlist and click-to-play playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:webradio lorafeaturing:gimme a beat on youtube Kisses, Babymonster————————————————————————–for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Jun 15, 2015
Monday Jun 15, 2015
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (commonly known as Coachella) is
an annual three-day music and arts festival, founded by Paul Tollett, organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo
Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley. Due to popular demand, back in 2012, Coachella organisers "stretched"
the festival over two weekends. Of course, first weekend is more popular
then second, but let's be honest, the best would be to attend both
weekend for full on, don't-wanna-miss-the-thing, experience.Going back to it's beginnings, first official Coachella festival happened
in October 1999. Then, after the break of one year, to avoid intense
heat during the summer, the festival moved from October to April. In
following years Coachella
became an event with impressive line-up and amazing atmosphere that
attracted many people from all over the world. Nowadays the festival is
happening not only over two weekends, but on several stages/tents set-up
throughout the grounds, each playing live music continuously. The main
stages are: Coachella Stage, Outdoor Theatre, Gobi Tent, Mojave Tent,
Sahara Tent and newly introduced in 2013, Yuma stage. Coachella is also showcasing some impressive art: installation art and sculptures, located all around festival. Every year it feels that arts get better and better. And it is very
possible that it does, since apparently the amount of art that the team
of the Coachella Valley Art Scene needs to choose from, increases every year. This year there were so much art, that we had to use following guide to locate everything: Art of 2015.For me, the most impressive was (yet, another) piece of art from Poetic Kinetics, The Papilio Merraculous, caterpillar that during the festival transformed into the beautiful butterfly. This art installation was a beautiful reminder that the world around us is constantly changing, growing and evolving and many times in mysterious ways. Instead of being afraid of that change, we should learn to embrace it and celebrate it. I feel, that in the similar ways, the Coachella festival itself has been transforming and evolving over the years and I am happy to say that, since 2012, I've been witnessing and embracing this change. And, together with other festival goers, maybe, I've been even the part of that change.This is probably one of the reason why Coachella is still one of my favourite festivals, that I keep on coming back to. Another, very important one for the music lover that I am, is that no matter how hipster or mainstream it gets, Coachella never
forgets to include bands I am excited about, introduces some new,
awesome bands that I (could and usually) get excited about, seems to
brings the best out of most of the artists that are performing and big
part of the audience and continues to keep it's vibe in tune with what for me
California is all about, chilled, sunny and fckng gorgeous.Expect to hear about my desert festival extravaganza experience (probably) again next year. In the meantime...---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tune in tonight (15.06.2015) to Gimme A Beat to hear all about my experience at Coachella 2015, chosen songs of the female artists that I saw on the festival and many short interviews of friendly Coachella goers that were kind enough to step away for a moment from the festival fun and answer few of my questions.. Tune in for ..Coachella 2015 with playlist and click-to-play playlistfrom 22:00 - 00:00 on:webradio lorafeaturing:coachella 2015 on youtube Kisses, Babymonster————————————————————————–for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday May 18, 2015
Monday May 18, 2015
Since 1998, m4music
festival takes place every March here in Switzerland: two days in Zurich and one day in the chosen city in the French
part.The festival is organized by Migros Pour-cent and even though it features many concerts on the four stages in impressive Schiffbau
complex, it is not the typical music festival.M4music festival is more like the type of the cultural platform where artists, industry experts and cultural institution with strong focus on the
young artists meet and exchange ideas, experiences and vision of the future. There are several ways this festival makes this happen: by offering interesting panel discussions and workshops, conferences
on latest hot issues in music business, competition for the
next generation of musicians (Demotape Clinic) and simply the chance to meet many local, national and
international people at the venue, just hanging around, talking, sharing their
opinions and knowledge.I was visiting this festival for many years now,
but only start reviewing it last few years.But every year, I keep on coming back to it, not only because its convenient location (here in Zürich), but mostly because every year I discover new band(s), have a chance to interview interesting female artists/bands, meet great people (from music and non music industry) and see again some local people that I rarely find time to catch up during the year and with our busy schedules.And of course for the Gimme A Beat this year, like every other year, I managed to catch several, very talented artists, from different genres, for interviews.On Friday, I’ve sat down with Zola Jesus, American female artist with phenomenal voice, few hours before her mesmerizing, haunting gig. On Saturday, I've interviewed few more artists.. I started an interview session with amazing Nneka, that I was very excited to see again, first for an itw and later on afro-beating the main stage. 4 years after I've interviewed her last time, we revisited experiences that happened in the meantime, life wise and music wise. It was a busy day so I've also had a chance to interview more artists: Daniela from very talented swiss duo True (another member of the duo, Rico was stuck on the road and couldn't join), band that channels 80's music with the fresh, bubbly futuristic approach and Verveine, electronic swiss artist behind the solo project, that also closed the festival with her out-of-this-world, intergalactic gig. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Tune it tonight to Gimme A Beat (18.05.2015) to hear my impressions of the m4music festival and gigs I've seen .. as well as all the interviews and the music of the artists that I’ve interviewedZola Jesus, Nneka, True and Verveine at m4music in Zurich with playlist and click-to-play playlistfrom 22:00 - 00:00 on:webradio lora featuring:
gimme a beat youtube playlistKisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Mar 16, 2015
Monday Mar 16, 2015
Several years ago, I remember watching Akua Naru's video: The World Is Listening. And writing her name down to check her out. But years passed and even with the note, regretfully, I forgot to do that.Then one day last year, on my way home from work, totally drained and exhausted, I was passing by the stand with the posters and one of them caught my eye and something about it demanded my immediate attention.I recognised the name and this time I didn't forget.As soon as I got home I start googling Akua Naru and absorbing all the info I could find and of course, listening to her music.
I feel in love instantly with her (previous) album Live & Aflame Session. The videos available on the website impressed me even more.
Since the poster that I saw in the town was for her upcoming gig, seeing her was now marked in my calendar. And more I read about Akua, more curious I was not only to see and hear her, but to get an opportunity for an interview as well. To add to all the excitement, only one day before the concert, her album: The Miner's Canary came out.
From the first look, even before listening to it, the album mesmerized me with its cover (created by Tamara Natalie Madden) and impressed me with various collaborations: Georgia Anne Muldrow, Cody ChesnuTT, Dr Tricia Rose and few others as well as with the one song with the title assuming Toni Morrison dedication. And after listening it for the first time, with focus on Akua Naru rhymes, it made me wonder if the name of the album is anything to do with The Miner's Canary, interesting book that I came across few years ago.Fortunately for me, and listeners of the Gimme a Beat, I had a chance to get an answer to most of the questions when I sat down for an interview with this talented, powerful woman, herself shortly before she took over the stage at Moods.
During the interview I was captivated by the female power that comes out of every pore of Akua's being.
It felt like this talented poet carries the energy of her female ancestors and all the women that raised and inspired her during her upbringing. I believe that this created the self confident base for her life and gave her strength to follow her dreams, to explore the world and herself, and to become an artist and the woman that she is today.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For the whole story and interview, music from The Miner's Canary and Live & Aflame Session, impressions of the gig at Moods, tune in tonight (16.03.2015) for ...Akua Naru in Zurich with playlist and click-to-play playlistFrom 22:00 - 00:00:web radio on radio LoRaFeaturing:akua naru on the youtubeKisses,Babymonster---------------------------------------------for more info please go to: previous entries
Monday Dec 15, 2014
Monday Dec 15, 2014
I Xmas !! Xmas time is one of my favourite times..It
is the time of the year when people slow down, get friendlier and more
pleasant and when everywhere you go smells like Xmas cookies and GlühweinTonight, I am going to go back in time to swingy, jazzy, groovy and funky sound of Xmas.
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Tune in (15.12.2014) to Gimme a Beat tonight for eclectic playlist of vintage Xmas songs sung by female artists..
I ☕ Xmas with click-to-play playlistfrom 22:00 - 00:00:web radio on radio LoRafeaturing:gimme a beat on youtubeKisses, Babymonster ————————————————————————– for more info please go to: previous entries
Monday Aug 18, 2014
Monday Aug 18, 2014
The Internet is a funk/soul band formed in the late 2011 by OFWGKTA (Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All or simply Odd Future) members Syd tha Kyd and Matt Martians along with touring members Jameel Bruner, Patrick Paige and Christopher A. Smith.First time I saw The Internet on the stage, was at Coachella 2014. Being one of the Coachella nerds and making sure never to miss any gig (that is worth seeing), I managed to catch them performing an early gig on the Gobi stage. I didn't know what to expect but I, and obviously the rest of the crowd that kept on coming in (and staying), really enjoyed the gig. That gig was actually a perfect start of the day and looking back to it, it created the good vibe that kept flowing into the rest of it.When I saw that The Internet will be performing at Exil, local club here in Zurich, on one of the random Wednesdays in July, I jumped on the occasion, reached out to few kind people and fortunately (for me and listeners of Gimme A Beat), got a chance to interview the band.This interview was one of the easy ones. I had enough time to just hang around with the band members and ask them everything I was curious about: their beginnings, how did they became musicians that they are today, music that they created until now and plans for the future.What I was really impressed with, was very obvious connection between the members of the band. This is the connection
of the people that grew up together: musically and life wise, and it was
also very much reflected, later on, on the stage. In addition to that what, for
me, made this band even more likeable, is the fact that even if they
are all insanely talented, they are still down to earth, humble people,
that are perfecting themselves every day and still seem to know how to
embrace and enjoy life to the fullest.After the interview I joined the rest of the Zurich crowd for a soulful, warm live sound of The Internet, that was perfect escape for that (not very common for summer, even in Zurich) cold, rainy night.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tonight (18.08.2014) in Gimme A Beat together with an interview, I will bring to the Radio LoRA studio, warm sound of The Internet, as well as five songs of the female artists of their choice to round up the night.Tune in for ..The Internet with a playlist and click-to-play playlistfrom 22:00 - 00:00 on:webradio lorafeaturing:gimme a beat on youtube Kisses, Babymonster————————————————————————–for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Sunday May 18, 2014
Sunday May 18, 2014
m4music festival is happening every year, since 1998, at the end of the March, for 3 days in (2 days in Zurich and one day in the city of the French part of Switzerland). The event is organized by Migros Pour-cent.m4music is not just another music festival. While it features many concerts on the four stages in beautiful Schiffbau complex, it also offers interesting panel discussions and conferences on latest hot issues in music business as well as competition for the next generation of musicians (Demotape Clinic). And at the venue you get a chance to meet many local, national and international people just hanging around, talking, sharing their opinions and knowledge.That’s why m4music festival can be best defined as a type of exchanged platform artists, industry experts and cultural institution with a strong focus on the young artists.I've been visiting the festival for many years now, but only start reviewing it for last few years.But every year, I discover some new aspect of it, discover new artists, meet interesting people (from music and outside of music industry), so I keep on coming back.During those two days, I’ve manage to catch several artists for an interview. On Friday I’ve sat down with über cool Katerina and Angelo of Wolfman, local Zurich band and another young, talented swiss artists Nadine Carina. On Saturday I interviewed two more female artists, just before their gigs: another amazing swiss artist Ira May and awesome Charli XCX, that not only finished my interview session on the festival but also closed my m4music experience with her energetic, full-on, (girl)power gig.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Tune it tonight to Gimme A Beat (19.05.2014) to hear my impressions of the m4music festival, all the interviews and the music of the artists that I’ve interviewedWolfman, Charlie XCX, Nadine Carina and Ira May at m4music with playlist click-to-play playlist, for the artists present at from 22:00 - 00:00 on:webradio lora
featuring:
m4music festival playlistKisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Mar 17, 2014
Monday Mar 17, 2014
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a sound recording of a song in a different song or piece. This phenomenon used to be most obvious in hip hop, but with hip hop becoming mainstream and crossing to other genres (together with hip hop producers) it is nowadays visible everywhere in the music world. Listen more carefully to the music around you and you will be surprised to discover that every other song samples some other, more or less known song. From it's beginning sampling was controversial legally and musically. Legally it is becoming less controversial because of the copyright clearance that is today necessary to obtain before sampling someone's song. Musically, I believe, sampling will always be controversial and while praised by ones at the same time criticized by others.I am following this trend for many years now, not only because of my love for hip hop music, but also because by doing the research and checking out the samples of the song I love, I discovered many other great songs, that I otherwise wouldn't have a chance to find via my usual music sources.However, in the times when it feels that everybody seems to be using and abusing good, old music to create a hit instead of relaying on their own creativity, I am not as enthusiastic as I used to be about this trend.Thankfully, there are still creative, talented artists out there, that are using (and abusing) samples in the right way.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Tonight (17.03.2014) in Gimme A Beat I am going to dive deep into the world of sampled music. Tune in for my choice of songs from female artists that are either sampled or are sampling some other songs. And this time,
exceptionally, I will also play songs from male artists if they fit in
either group of songs.Use Me, Abuse Me, Sample Me with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lorafeaturing artists that I will play tonight:
gimme a beat on youtube
and TED speechWe Should All Be Feminist from Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieKisses,
Babymonster————————————————————————–
for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Sunday Feb 16, 2014
Sunday Feb 16, 2014
Since 2011, I've been doing special editions of the Gimme A Beat shows that I called appropriately Daytrottering. In these shows I show love for one of the coolest music websites out there: Daytrotter.
I started listening to Daytrotter long time ago. In the beginning, daytrotter dudes were giving 7 original sessions, 28 songs for free each week. Over the years they recorded more then 2000 sessions and gave it for free to million of music lovers like me. In 2012, the things have changed, but luckily for all of us, not the "Why" of Daytrotter, but the "How" of Daytrotter. Therefore today, in order to help Daytrotter continue doing what it has been doing throughout the years, all of you, real music lovers can purchase monthly pass to Daytrotter for ridiculously low 4$ a month or an annual pass for just $32 for the entire year.
Now, let me remind you again what the Daytrotter is all about and explain what kind of goodies are coming with a membership.Daytrotter sessions are exclusive, re-worked, alternate versions of old songs and unreleased tracks by some of your favorite bands and by a lot of bands that will be your favorites. Minimalist recording process used to records songs of the visiting band in the setup that is configurable, makes a very honest presentation of the band/artist on that particular day, in the physical and musical sense. These songs are them as they are on that particular day, on that particular tour - dirty and alive. Daytrotter membership allows you access to everything on the site: all new session postings (5 new sessions posted M-F - roughly 100 new songs weekly), the archive of over 2000 previous Daytrotter sessions and audio and video content of hundreds and hundreds of exclusive Barnstormer tour shows and other live performances throughout the years. Also members get a free vinyl upon annual membership purchase and another free vinyl at every renewal thereafter. You can also purchase a live session pass and listen in live as they tape sessions - they stream a bunch live every week, to your computer or daytrotter iPhone or Android apps, wherever you may be. It's as if you're in the studio with your favourite artists. In addition to the sessions recorded in the Horseshack studio (original daytrotter studio) in Rock Island, Illinois, daytrotter guys are working closely with Communion Records in London and friends/studios in in Montreal, Portland, Oregon, Nashville, Asheville, NC, Austin, Texas and San Francisco and few other places, in order to chronicle as much as they can.
The stuff like cute drawings of the artists (which makes it also very easy to search for them in extensive archive), short impression/biography stories on daytrotter session artists page as well as easy to use daytrotter mobile apps are available. There are concert videos showing artists performing live, from daytrotter's Barnstormer tours, to the stages of Austin and beyond. There are featured and artist playlist available as well. Last year, daytrotter dudes introduced Horse Power. If you click on *Horse Power* button, and Copy & share the link to tell your friends about Daytrotter you can earn fantastic Daytrotter prizes: vinyls, poster, daytrotter gift certificate and even your own daytrotter illustration.
Believing that live music is what the future of music is all about, it is only natural that I am big supporter of what Daytrotter is all about. Therefore I decided to Daytrotter at least once per year with Gimme A Beat listeners through my selection of the Daytrotter Sessions performed by female artists/all-female bands or bands with female vocalists.
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Tune in tonight (17.02.2014) to Gimme A Beat and let me try to convince you that this membership is the best deal you ever got in your life.
Daytrottering with a playlist and all the songs directly available on the Daytrotter website.
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lorafeaturing artists that I will play tonight:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster————————————————————————–
for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Sunday Jan 19, 2014
Sunday Jan 19, 2014
Andy Allo is Cameroonian born singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist, model and actress. Being a huge Prince fan, I came across Andy few years ago when she joined his band, the New Power Generation, and start touring with him around the world. Last year I got reminded about Andy when Prince covered one of her songs, People Pleaser, on his concert at Montreux Jazz Festival. After his gig, I re-discovered Andy's album Superconductor, that she wrote and perfected on the tour with Prince and recorded and released after. I wasn't surprised to find out that she was into the music from very early age because her talent is obvious, but more research I did about her, I realized that this gorgeous, smiling young lady, is also a hard working musician that knows what she wants and that is determined to keep full control over her music, image and her connection to the audience.I was very excited to find out that Zürich is planed as one of the stops on Andy's European tour. Curious to find out more about Andy, I reached out to her and her management for a chance for an interview. Finally, in December 2013, I was able to sit down with Andy, after her gig at Kaufleuten in Zürich, and ask her in person all those questions that popped up in my mind after listening to her music and reading her story and interviews. We talked about her life and her music, how much are her fans important to her and how does it feel to have Prince as a friend and mentor.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tune in tonight (20.01.2014) for an interview with Andy Allo and the music from her both albums: Superconductor and UnFresh, as well my impressions from her gig in Zürich
Andy Allo in Zürich with playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00:web radio on radio LoRa
featuring:andy allo on youtube
Kisses,Babymonster
---------------------------------------------for more info please go to: previous entries
Monday Dec 16, 2013
Monday Dec 16, 2013
Yaaay, it's Xmas time again !
Xmas time is definitely one of my favourite times of the year, when people get more friendly and pleasant and everywhere you go it smells like glühwein and Xmas cookies.
Therefore I prepared very easy going Xmas session for tonight, something that can be listened over and over again, this and any future Xmas.
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Tune in tonight (16.12.2013) for Xmas session, eclectic playlist of Xmas songs sung by female artists.
Xmas Session with playlistfrom 22:00 - 00:00:web radio on radio LoRafeaturing:gimme a beat on youtubeKisses,Babymonster---------------------------------------------for more info please go to: previous entries
Sunday Nov 17, 2013
Sunday Nov 17, 2013
Gavlyn is 23 year old LA based rapper. She is a member of the Organized Threat movement and part of the Broken Complex record label. Organized Threat is a collective of the international artists that aims to support good quality hip hop and keep it fresh, poetic and therefore timeless. Perfect place for somebody like Gavlyn to grow creatively and without any inhibitions.Gavlyn has been rapping since tender age of 16 and she has been touring Europe since the beginning of 2013, but I have only discovered her this summer.This year I was for the first time at Montreux Jazz festival as a Gimme A Beat and I was blown away not only by the concerts that I've seen but also with people that I met. It seemed to me that everybody at this festival: organizers, staff, members of the press and visitors were true music lovers. So one evening, while waiting for Angel Haze concert, I was chatting with local group of people and one of the guys living in the area asked me if I heard about Gavlyn. He saw her live in March and he was totally blown away by her music, her personality and of course, her live performance. I wrote down the name, checked her when I was back in my hotel room and instantly loved what I heard. And then I realized that she is having a gig in Zurich, in the next few days, just at the time when I was suppose to be back from the festival.I immediately reached out to the people that could help me with setting up an interview. Several days after, few hours before Gavlyn's concert, I was chatting with this talented, young artist. It was a perfect summer day and we were in the back yard of the house of her friends, taking a break from a BBQ and listening to some chilled hip hop music. Time flew by while I was chatting with Gavlyn about her life, European tour and her music. She was refreshingly open, raw and honest, very much like her lyrics. After that, perfect flow of the summer day continued into the night, with her gig at Gonzo. It felt very good to be there, feeling the good vibes of the people who truly appreciate hip hop music and embracing the talent of the young artist with bright future ahead of her..------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tune in tonight (18.11.2013) for ...
Gavlyn in Zurich with playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00:web radio on radio LoRa
featuring:gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,Babymonster
---------------------------------------------for more info please go to: previous entries
Monday Oct 21, 2013
Monday Oct 21, 2013
Since 2003, Rock En Seine festival is happening every year at the end of the summer, last weekend of August, at Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, at Château de Saint-Cloud's park just outside Paris, inside the garden designed by Le Nôtre in 17th century. In the beginning this festival was happening only during one day and had 2 stages and 10 bands. Nowadays, over the 3days this festival features many local and international bands that play on one of the 4 stages: Grande Scene, Scene De La Cascade, Scene De L'Industrie and Scene Pression Live.
Perfect balance of phenomenal line-up, location very close to Paris town and lots of cool, stylish visitors that are not only taking care of the style and what to wear, but really know how to enjoy the music and give it all when the artist they love is on the stage in front of them are one of the main reasons that Gimme a Beat keeps on coming back. This festival never gets dull for me. And even though 2013 edition of Rock En Seine only had one sunny day and two rainy days leaving everybody stuck in mud, this didn't stop me from enjoying.
Even if Gimme a Beat explores female factor on the festivals, I've managed to see loads of non-female related bands and discover several new ones as well. My playlist on the youtube and my short review after the festival on Gimme a Beat facebook page includes videos and list of all the bands that I've seen.
But tonight, in Rock En Seine 2013 review of Gimme a Beat, I will focus on following artists: VV Brown: talented British artist that stepped away from her previous style and brought her new, fabulous material in the performance at the Scene De L'Industrie of Rock en Seine; In the Valley Below: Californian duo with intense, sexy stage dynamics that adds something dark and fascinating to their already impressive debut album and La Femme: young french band with the name and songs that assume more female presence then bands agrees with (but you can decide what to think about this after you hear an itw and their music).
I will include impressions of their performances as well as whole-festival experience, while playing the interviews with these artists and chosen songs from their current albums..
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Tune in tonight (21.10.2013) for ...
VV Brown, In The Valley Below, La Femme at Rock En Seine 2013 with playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00:web radio on radio LoRa
featuring:rock en seine 2013 on youtube
Kisses,Babymonster
---------------------------------------------for more info please go to: previous entries
Saturday Sep 14, 2013
Saturday Sep 14, 2013
Blue Balls Festival is an annual music festival happening in a beautiful surrounding next to Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, on the various locations like an Open-Air Pavilion, the Lucerne Culture and Convention Center and The Club at the Schweizerhof Hotel.Started with an audience of 300 people, back in 1992, this festival, with slightly inappropriate name for an English speaking artists and audience, is today an international music festival with 100 000 visitors over nine days in July. It presents more then 100 shows with international artists different genres; with local, Swiss artists (Young Talents stage) as well as photography exhibits, video lounge and films dedicated to music. This was my third year of visiting Blue Balls Festival as a Gimme A Beat. In order to explore female factor of the festival, I've chosen two days with female artists that I wanted to include in my review.The headliner of the Blue Balls Festival 2013 was Laura Mvula, an amazing British artist that I came across through her nomination for this year's BBC - Sound of ... This poll has always been a great reference for exceptional musicians and I have been fortunate enough to, over the years, interview several of the nominated artists.The afternoon before the festival's opening night and Laura Mvula's first Swiss concert, i had a chance to sit down with this young, talented lady for an interview. The interview happened at Schweizerhof hotel in Lucerne, beautiful, family owned 5 star hotel with personal charm and elegant, period decor, renovated to accommodate it's classy guests. Appropriately, the surrounding suited my impressions of Laura's debut album: enchanting, fabulous world, but still modern and somehow approachable. And an interview only confirmed what was obvious before. Laura is beautiful, strong woman with a great sense of style and capability to experience music visually. And on top of that she is bubbly and has great sense of humor. All of this made an interview fun and I very much enjoyed talking to her.The day after, on the opening night of the festival, Laura continued to impress me with her mesmerizing performance. In addition to first part of tonight show, and my focus on Laura Mvula, exploring female vibe at Blue Balls Festival 2013 included another day at the festival and gigs from Trixie Whitley and
Monday Aug 19, 2013
Monday Aug 19, 2013
In 1967, while he was director of tourist office in Montreux, Claude Nobs organized his first Montreux Jazz Festival. Festival lasted 3 days and was immediate success, locally and internationally. Even
today, jazz is still very important part of the festival, however,
nowadays the festival features wide variety of music styles. The
festival also grew length-wise dramatically: from 3 days to 2 weeks of
tightly packed, always impressive lineup and many other interesting
happenings. It attracts not only audience but also volunteers and staff
from all over the world.The festival was originally held at the
old Montreux Casino, which burned down in December 1971 during Frank
Zappa's performance. From 2007, the Convention Centre hosts two main
stages: Stravinsky Auditorium and Miles Davis Hall, as well as the
smaller Montreux Jazz Cafe, and several smaller open-air stages around
the Centre. Most importantly for one festival, all venues have
impeccable sound system and lineup adapted to their style and size.2013 brought some very sad news and was the first Montreux Jazz Festival
without legendary Claude Nobs. But it also proved that neither Claude
Nobs nor his legacy will ever be forgotten. And this is not only
because the part of Grand Rue has been changed to Claude Nobs avenue, but mostly because his spirit will stay forever on the stages of Montreux Jazz
festival, protecting the legacy built on enthusiasm and love for art.This year one of the most obvious changes venue wise, Miles Davis Hall got a new name, Montreux Jazz Lab, and not
only that but also change in look and very up-to-date lineup with great, bit
edgy bands and artists with music style ranging from rock, hip hop to
electronica. And after midnight Lab was hosting free (most of the
nights) after show parties. Other venues as the Studio and Rock Cave
also gave opportunities for the visitors to dance the night away till
the early morning hours.And in the case that all of this wasn't
enough, as a part of the festival various workshops and competitions are
held at the nearby Montreux Palais and Le Petit Palais.I've
been many times at Montreux Jazz Festival but this year I attended it
for the first time as Gimme A Beat. Of course, as expected, I was blown
away with the festival vibe, concerts that I attended, but … I was also
amazed with invisible, perfect organization and staff that as motivated
and as excited about the concerts as audience. While exploring "female factor" at the festival for Gimme A Beat, I've seen following female artists: Emilie Nana, Trixie Whitley, Cat Power, Angel Haze and DaughterAlso,
in the Le Petit Palais, I attended *Gimme The Beat: rhythms in music,
the voice and the brain* workshop, hosted by Johanna Wiebke Trost and
Sascha Fruehholz.My main focus in the review of the festival will be on Emilie Nana,
multi-talented DJ and producer that creates beautiful music since very
early age. We sat down few hours before her gig at the Studio and she
shared roots of her passion and love for music and how she became an artist that she is today. She also
prepared short music mix for tonight's show.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Tune in tonight (19.08.2013) to Gimme A Beat to hear my impressions of Montreux Jazz Festival, gigs I've seen, music from the artists I've seen, interview with Emilie Nana, her music and short mix she did exclusively for gimme a beaters .. Tune in for..Emilie Nana at Montreux Jazz Festival 2013  with playlistfrom 22:00 - 00:00 on: webradio lorafeaturing: emilie nana at montreux jazz festivalcadenza podcasts from emilie nana
Kisses, Babymonster ————————————————————————– the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Jun 17, 2013
Monday Jun 17, 2013
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (commonly known as Coachella) is an annual three-day music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley.
First official Coachella festival happened in October 1999. Then, after the break of one year, to avoid intense heat during the summer, time of the festival moved to April. In following years Coachella became an event with impressive lineup and amazing atmosphere that attracted many people from all over the world. The event has several stages/tents set-up throughout the grounds, each playing live music continuously. The main stages are: Coachella Stage, Outdoor Theatre, Gobi Tent, Mojave Tent, Sahara Tent and newly introduced in 2013, Yuma stage.
For many years I was watching from the sideline (aka another continent) what is happening at this musical oasis in the middle of the desert until finally, last year, I decided to join excited Coachella festival goers. The experience was absolutely mind blowing. It combined many things that I love: opportunity to spend some time in California, before and after the festival, hanging around with some seriously awesome people (making friends for life) and seeing bands in the atmosphere that can't be explained, only experienced.
Having goose bumps every time when I thought about Coachella 2012 experience, there were no doubt in my mind that I have to repeat it and come back to the desert festival extravaganza again in 2013.
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Tune in tonight (17.06.2013) to Gimme A Beat to hear all about my experience at Coachella 2013, chosen songs of the female artists that I saw on the festival and many short interviews of friendly Coachella visitors that were kind enough to step away for a moment from the festival fun and answer few of my questions..
Tune in for ..
Coachella 2013 with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
coachella 2013 on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday May 20, 2013
Monday May 20, 2013
m4music is a 4-days music festival which, since 1998, at the end of the March, takes place every year in Zürich and in one other city of the French speaking part of Switzerland (usually Lausanne). The event is organized by the Migros Pour-cent culturel.
As a music festival m4music features four live stages in the beautiful Schiffbau complex. But m4music is much more then just another music festival. It is also a conference with presentations and discussions as well as a competition for next generation of musicians (Demotape Clinic). There are always interesting panel discussion on hot issues in latest music business held by industry experts. And at the venue, you can see many national and international people from music industry hanging around, sharing ideas, knowledge and opinions. And best of all you can meet them and join them as well.
Therefore maybe m4music can be best defined as a type of an exchange platform between artists, clubs and cultural institutions with a strong focus on young artists.
I have been visiting m4music for many years now, but this year I decided to review/cover one day of it and as usual, focus on the female factor on m4music.
On Friday, 22nd of March, I've managed to catch two female artists: singer/songwriter from Zürich: Evelinn Trouble (real name Linnéa Racine); beat-boxer and swiss-german female rapper from Bern: Steff La Cheffe (real name Stefanie Peter) and all-female, rock band from St Gallen: Velvet Two Stripes for a quick interviews while they were getting ready for their gigs later in the evening.
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Tune in tonight to Gimme A Beat (20.05.2013) for impressions of their gigs and the festival, interviews and to hear selected songs from their new albums.
Evelinn Trouble, Steff La Cheffe and Velvet Two Stripes at m4music playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
m4music festival playlist
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Sunday Jan 20, 2013
Sunday Jan 20, 2013
In late 1995, after he had just graduated from high school, Ryan Schreiber launched Pitchfork Media, one of the most innovative and relevant online music magazines. While it has been sometimes criticized as being too hipster and über cool, the fact is that guys behind Pitchfork have impeccable music taste and are usually very accurate in their recommendations and reviews. I think I share view of many of their readers around the world (and apparently there are more then 240,000 readers per day) when saying that I discovered loads of good music by reading Pitchfork.
In 2005 Pitchfork Media was hired by a music promotion company called Skyline Chicago to curate the Intonation Festival at Union Park in Chicago. In 2006, Pitchfork premiered it's own Pitchfork Music Festival in the same park.
In 2011, Pitchfork Music Festival crossed the Atlantic and landed in Paris, for it's first full-fledged festival outside of USA, addition to Pitchfork European presence on Primavera Festival and collaboration with All Tomorrow's Parties.
While Gimme A Beat missed 2011, this time I was happy to return to Paris, only few months after Rock En Seine festival, to finish my crazy festival packed 2012 with a bang, an amazing Pitchfork Music Festival Paris. The festival happened over 3 days, November 1st-3rd at a beautiful La Grande Halle de la Villette, a stunning 19th century glass and metal structure that stands in the center of the Parc de la Villette, the city's largest public cultural park. 2012 edition of the festival also featured 2nd stage. I thought that this was a very clever way of using this fabulous space, creating a seamless illusion of fluid ping pong transition while moving between gigs and two stages. 2nd stage and 3rd day (2011 edition of the festival was happening over 2 days) ensured twice as many acts and that created even more impressive line-up.
During the festival, as you would expect from Gimme A Beat, I've seen many good bands and discovered several new ones. I also had a chance to help out a friend and Parisian Flavor Magazine and capture the street-style and looks of the festival. And I had endless fun strolling around, hanging in the Converse sponsored backstage area; checking out stalls with fun products from local vendors and buying some cool, music related merchandise.
All of these impressions and much more I will share with my listeners in tonight's two hour show.
And in the true spirit of all-female vibe of Gimme A Beat, in the review of Pitchfork Music Festival Paris I will focus on the female artists and bands with female members that I've seen on the festival.
First part of the show will include interviews and music from following bands: AlunaGeorge, musical fusion of Aluna and George that creates sleek, seductive sound of electronic R&B;and Factory Floor, band consisting of Nik Void, Gabriel and Dominic that makes almost hypnotizing, journey-like electronic sound. I will round up my review by taking you through the impressions of performances of few more artists that completed my experience of the festival.
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Tune in tonight to Gimme A Beat (21.01.2013) for
AlunaGeorge and Factory Floor at Pitchfork Music Festival in Paris with playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
pitchfork music festival paris
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Dec 17, 2012
Monday Dec 17, 2012
Kimbra Lee Johnson, better known as Kimbra, is a New Zealand singer-songwriter/guitarist.
I saw Kimbra for the first time at Coachella in April this year when she came out at Gotye's gig and sang *Somebody That I Used To Know*, song that not only brought her and him mainstream success but Grammy Nomination as well. At the end of the summer of 2012, I saw Kimbra again, this time at Rock En Seine and without Gotye. She was exceptional. Kimbra does something very magical on the stage. Even though she only released one album, her debut album Vows, she improvises and performs the version of the songs very different from what you can hear on it. Charming, with amazing voice, working the stage with lots of energy it's hard not to follow her every move and fall in love with her. I, and I believe the rest of the audience, was mesmerized with her. However, my favorite performance was two weeks after, when I saw her again performing live here in Zürich.
On 11th of September, few hours before her concert at Kaufleuten, and before Kimbra put her fabulous outfit on, I sat together with her and talked about her music, how she became an artist that she is today and her plans for future.
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Tune in tonight to Gimme A Beat (17.12.2012) to hear an interview and listen to the music from Kimbra's album Vows as well as her choice of songs sang by female artists that inspire her.
Kimbra in Zürich with playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimmeabeat on the youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Sunday Nov 18, 2012
Sunday Nov 18, 2012
It is becoming some kind of yearly tradition for Gimme A Beat to visit and review Rock En Seine festival. What is the reason that every year I keep on going back to this festival? I guess it is a perfect balance of phenomenal line-up, location very close to Paris town and lots of cool, stylish visitors that are not only taking care of the style and what to wear, but really know how to enjoy the music and give it all when the artist they love is on the stage in front of them.
Since 2003, Rock En Seine festival is happening every year at the end of the summer, last weekend of August, at Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, at Château de Saint-Cloud's park just outside Paris, inside the garden designed by Le Nôtre in 17th century. In the beginning this festival was happening only during one day and had 2 stages and 10 bands. Nowadays, over the 3days this festival features many local and international bands that play on one of the 4 stages: Grande Scene, Scene De La Cascade, Scene De L'Industrie and Scene Pression Live.
This year, Rock En Seine celebrated 10th Anniversary and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac created very cool T Shirts for the occasion (I got one of course).
As it usually happens every year, and whenever I attend the festivals, I’ve seen loads of good bands and artists and even discovered few new ones. However, since Gimme A Beat is all about female artists, all-female bands and bands with females as a leading vocalist, I will of course focus my review on them.
Tonight, I will focus on the following artists: Deap Vally, sexy, powerful all-female rock duo from LA; Grimes, aka Claire Boucher, young, talented Canadian experimental pop artist; UME, mind blowing rock trio from Austin; Family of The Year, charming indie/folk rock quartet from LA and Hyphen Hyphen, electro rock french band based in Nice.
My review of the Rock En Seine festival will include impressions of their performances as well as whole-festival experience, while playing the interviews with these artists and chosen songs from their albums/EPs.
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Tune in for ...
Deap Vally, Grimes, UME, Family of the Year and Hyphen Hyphen at Rock En Seine 2012 with playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
rock en seine 2012 on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
————————————————————————–
for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Oct 15, 2012
Monday Oct 15, 2012
Blue Balls Festival took place for the first time in the evening of September 19, 1992, with an audience of 300 on the old steamboat "Stadt Luzern". Many years later and this festival with slightly inappropriate name for an English speaking artists and audience, is an international music festival with 100 000 visitors over nine days in July. The festival presents more then 100 shows with international artists different genres, with local, Swiss artists (Young Talents stage) as well as photography exhibits, video lounge and films dedicated to music. There is something called Meet The Artists as well, which is kind of an open, interactive studio, where moderator entertains audience until artists pop-by for a short chat. This can be either very dull or very interesting experience, depending of the artists popping by, something being total mystery until they enter the studio. The festival is happening in a beautiful surrounding around Lake Lucerne, Switzerland on the various locations like an Open-Air Pavilion, the Lucerne Culture and Convention Center and The Club at the Schweizerhof Hotel.
This was my second year of visiting Blue Balls Festival as a press. Like last year, this year, again, I've chosen two days with female artists that I would like to include in my review of the festival.
On the first day that I visited the festival I saw amazing Esperanza Spalding. During the concert, this talented lady managed to create the world of her own. World where she sings, plays different instruments, talks about different subjects from love till political and environmental issues; and crosses between soul and pop without losing her connection to the jazz roots. And even if it sounds contradictory she does all of this in the precise manner of professional musician but still very naturally. Amazing!
Second day of my Blue Balls Festival visit I saw another talented young artist, Lianne La Havas. In the very short time since I listened to her for the first time, Lianne La Havas became one of my favorite female artists. And after listening her EPs and debut album over and over again, I was very excited to finally see this young lady, live, on the stage. There are no words to explain how I felt that evening when I saw her live. Simple said, Lianne La Havas (just) gets me every time. Her music, her voice and her lyrics seems to be catching the deepest emotions and totally mesmerizing my soul. Her live performance was an amazing, emotionally intense and beautiful experience. And as a cherry on the top of it I had a chance to interview Lianne after the concert.
Interviewing Lianne was very easy. She is as honest, funny and approachable as her songs. We talked about her music, her inspirations, how she became an artist that she is today and how her talent gave her an opportunity to meet Prince and jam with him at his studio in Minneapolis.
To hear the whole story and the music from Lianne La Havas's debut album: * Is Your ♥ Big Enough? * as well as review of Blue Balls Festival, tune in to Gimme A Beat tonight (15.10.2012).
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Tune in for ...
Lianne La Havas at Blue Balls Festival 2o12 with playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
blue balls festival 2012 on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Sep 17, 2012
Monday Sep 17, 2012
Exit Festival is an annual music festival that is taking place at 18th century Petrovaradin fortress of Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia since 2000. It started as a student initiated project against the Milosevic regime and over the years grew into the festival that is adored by artists and audiences all over the world. There are seven stages that are considered to be bigger ones: Main Stage, Dance Arena, Fusion Stage, Suba Stage, Explosive, Elektrana and Happy Novi Sad and many smaller ones. With so many stages this festival manages to cover every possible genre, and range of the artists from mainstream, well-known ones, till underground, alternative and even many local ones.
This festival is to me much more then just another music festival. First of all it is happening in Novi Sad, my hometown. Second of all there is something wild, crazy, intense and totally untameable in the air.
It is kind of the vibe and energy that no one can really explain but like many powerful things in life, only experience.
Nevertheless I'll try to bring that vibe and my Exit experience in Gimme A Beat tonight.
In my review of Exit Festival I will include interviews and the music of following artists: charismatic Australian duo Sneaky Sound System ; charming Yukimi Nagano of Little Dragon; my favorite female DJ, über cool Miss Kittin and fabulous Andy Butler and Whitney Fierce of Hercules and Love Affair
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Tune in tonight (17.09.2012) to Gimme A Beat for ..
Sneaky Sound System, Little Dragon, Miss Kittin, Hercules and Love Affair at Exit Festival 2012 at Exit Festival 2012 with playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
exit 2012 on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Aug 20, 2012
Monday Aug 20, 2012
I've been visiting this festival for few years already and I never got disappointed with a line up or an atmosphere. And like in the previous years Les Eurockéennes de Belfort 2012 impressed me again. Still, let me remind you about this festival with few facts..
Les Eurockéennes de Belfort is a festival that is taking place on the peninsula of Malsaucy, near Belfort, France. Amazingly enough, even if this festival is happening since 1989, it’s line up seems to be always fresh, but not overwhelming, having just right amount of more and less known artists. Easy to access: if you are staying at the campsite you could take a walk or a shuttle buss and if staying in Belfort, there are free local trains running every half an hour, even during the night.
There are four stages on the festival: Grande Scene (main stage), Club Loggia (that got covered up this year), Esplanade Green Room (which replaced smaller Chapiteau from the last year) and La Plage (that moved to even better location from the beach to the water)... All of the stages are surrounded with beautiful scenery, water and green hills reflecting in it.
My review of Les Eurockéennes 2012, in tonight's Gimme A Beat (20.08.2012), will focus on, as I would like to call it, female factor on the festival. This will include an interview with following talented female artists: Hollie Cook, young British artist that successfully combines roots reggae and pop; Sallie Ford of Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, lead vocalist of american rocknroll band that continues to make amazing, fresh sound based on good old&curent music that she is constantly inspired with and The Buttshakers with lead singer Chiara Thomson, that will make you shake your ass whenever they are playing on the stage.
I will finish my review by playing the selected music of other female artists and bands with female leading vocals that contributed to my Les Eurockéennes experience.
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Tune in tonight (20.08.2012) to Gimme A Beat for ..
Hollie Cook, Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside and The Buttshakers at Les Eurockeennes 2012 with playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Jun 18, 2012
Monday Jun 18, 2012
Once upon the time, when MTV was still a music television, there was a magical show called Spankin' New Music. This show featured brand new releases of the moment.
Here we are today, in June of 2012 and I feel that since the beginning of this year, music world has already been overloaded with amazing music from hot new artists and returning ones.
So I decided to stop for a moment, take a deep breath before summer festival frenzy and look at all the releases that happened in 2012, till now.
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Tune in tonight (18.06.2012) to Gimme A Beat to hear my choice of spankin' new songs from brand new releases of the female artists or bands with female vocalists.
Tune in for ..
Spankin' New Music with playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday May 21, 2012
Monday May 21, 2012
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (commonly known as Coachella) is an annual three-day music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley.
November 5, 1993 is marked as non official beginning of Coachella when Pearl Jam performed before almost 25,000 fans on the lawns of Indio's previously rock-festival free Empire Polo Club. 6th years later, on October 9 and 10, 1999 the first actual Coachella festival was held. Then, after the break of one year, to avoid intense heat during the summer, festival moved to April. In following years Coachella became an event with several stages/tents featuring many genres of music, including rock, indie, hip hop and electronic music as well as large sculptural art.
This year, for the first time, Coachella became two weekend event that got sold out in only few hours after the tickets went on sale.
An impressive lineup and amazing atmosphere is what attracted me to Coachella in the first place. Over the years I followed excitingly what is happening in this musical oasis in the middle of the desert, imagining that one day I will make it there as well. Never being the one to shy away from a challenge of fulfilling my dreams, I finally made it in 2012.
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Tune in tonight (21.05.2012) to Gimme A Beat to hear all about my experience at Coachella, chosen songs of the female artists that I saw on the festival and many short interviews of friendly Coachella visitors that were kind enough to step away for a moment from the festival fun and answer few of my questions..
Tune in for ..
Coachella 2012 with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
coachella 2012 on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Apr 16, 2012
Monday Apr 16, 2012
California has been one of my dream travel destinations for many years. And even before going there i had an idea, vivid image of it, based on the movies, books and music.
Now, finally, at this very moment, I am not dreaming anymore about it, but experiencing it!
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And while i am soaking up the California sun, in tonight's (16.04.2012) Gimme A Beat I will share my image of California with eclectic choice of California themed songs sang by female artists.
Tune in tonight for..
California Love with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Monday Mar 19, 2012
Monday Mar 19, 2012
The Duke Spirit is an English rock'n'roll band based in London with frontwoman Liela Moss, Luke Ford and Toby Butler on the guitars, Olly Betts on drums and Marc Sallis on the bass guitar. Even before hearing their music i heard (and read) a lot about their fantastic, energetic live performances. The magazines that I trust wrote good things about them, people that have similar taste to mine and that are usually great references told me about their gigs, and I absolutely loved every of their records that I got in the meantime; but somehow, even if I am known to be total concert/festival freak, I keep on missing seeing them live.
Finally, I saw that they are coming back to Switzerland for one show only, at the small venue in Wil, Gare De Lion. And this time, I was in the town and I decided that no matter what happens I will make it to their concert and experience them live.
I was expecting a lot, and I wasn't disappointed. What happened on the stage, actually, right in front of me, was the rock'n'roll, the way it should be: raw, sweaty, sexy and seductively powerful. And even though only few minutes before the gig, I really thought that my energy levels are irreparable and that i will fall asleep somewhere in the corner and again miss the concert, with a first sound of music, the mind-blowing energy of Liela and the dudes from The Duke Spirit brought me back to my well-known Duracell mode and I couldn't stop any more. Nothing else mattered while I completely surrendered !
Few hours before the gig, i sat down for an interview with a charismatic frontlady Liela Moss. She is definitely one of the coolest and nicest people i ever met, proof that you can be über talented and still very approachable, and i really enjoyed listening to her stories in very unusual setting, out in the wilderness, near old abandon railroads covered with graffiti and with the sound of roosters in the background.
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Tune in to the Gimme A Beat tonight (19.03.2012), to hear all those stories from Liela as well as music from their last album, the Bruiser. I promise that you will become a fan if you are not one already.
Tune in for ...
Interview with Liela from The Duke Spirit with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Tuesday Feb 21, 2012
Tuesday Feb 21, 2012
Last year in March, in the Gimme A Beat show that I called appropriately Daytrottering, I showed the love for one of the coolest music websites out there: Daytrotter.
When I start listening to Daytrotter they were giving 7 original sessions, 28 songs for free each week. Over the years daytrotter guys recorded more then 2000 sessions and gave it for free to million of music lovers like me. Recently, the things have changed, but luckily for all of us, not the "Why" of Daytrotter, but the "How" of Daytrotter. So today, in order to help Daytrotter keep on doing what they are doing, which is frankly speaking much more then it used to be, all of you real music lovers can purchase monthly pass to Daytrotter for ridiculously low 2$ a month.
Now, let me remind you what the Daytrotter is all about and explain what kind of goodies are coming with a membership.
Daytrotter sessions are exclusive, re-worked, alternate versions of old songs and unreleased tracks by some of your favorite bands and by a lot of bands that will be your favorites. Minimalist recording process used to records songs of the visiting band in the setup that is configurable, makes a very honest presentation of the band/artist on that particular day, in the physical and musical sense. These songs are them as they are on that particular day, on that particular tour - dirty and alive.
Most of the sessions are recorded in the Horseshack studio in Rock Island, Illinois. In addition to those sessions, Daytrotter guys are working closely with Communion Records in London and friends/studios in in Montreal, Portland, Oregon, Nashville, Asheville, NC, Austin, Texas and San Francisco, California in order to chronicle as much as they can.
The stuff like cute drawings of the artists (which makes it also very easy to search for them in extensive archive) and the short impression/biography stories on daytrotter session artists page and easy to use daytrotter mobile apps are still there, but many new things are also available. There are concert videos showing artists performing live, from daytrotter's Barnstormer tours, to the stages of Austin and beyond. There are featured and artist playlist available as well. And if you are really somebody that believes that there is nothing like hearing it live, for a small additional fee per session, you can tune in and listen to the sessions live, as they are recorded in the Daytrotter studio.
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If you are still not convinced that this membership is the best deal you ever got in your life, tune in tonight (20.02.2012) to Gimme A Beat, cause I will share my membership goodies with you and play my choice of awesome Daytrotter sessions performed by female artists.
Daytrottering with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring artists that I will play tonight:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Sunday Jan 15, 2012
Sunday Jan 15, 2012
New Look is a Canadian husband-and-wife band currently based in Brooklyn, NY. The duo consists of synth-playing vocalist, former model, Sarah Ruba (doing mostly band related modelling nowadays ), and the multi-instrumentalist, producer Adam Pavao. They are signed with K7!, Berlin based label, established for over a decade and known for being one of the most influential independent labels worldwide for contemporary electronic music.
The first time i heard New Look, i got reminded on all those bands that i loved back in the days and on something coming out of the dark side of the disco compilations. Dark electronic synth-sound with a fresh twist of the futuristic dub pop and with a beautiful Ruba's vocals made me listen their debut album over and over again...
Since my NY trip was already in the plans, i contacted their agent and organized an interview. We met in a small cafeteria in Brooklyn on a rainy November day. They both looked relaxed and Sarah looked even more beautiful in person. I really loved how obvious their connection was/is and how they symbiotically told me their story and answered my questions. It is totally understandable that next to all the über-coolness, their music also has a warm tenderness of the harmonious couple that share so many things: talent, creativity, passion and love for each other and the music.
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Tune in tonight to Gimme A Beat (16.01.2012) to hear New Look story and listen to the music from their self-titled debut album.
New Look in Brooklyn, NY with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Sunday Dec 18, 2011
Sunday Dec 18, 2011
Nneka is the singer and songwriter, daughter of Nigerian father and German mother, who was born and raised in Warri, Oil City in the Delta region of Nigeria at the height of its new found wealth in the mid 70s. At the age of 19, Nneka made the big decision to leave behind the African way of life. In order to further her education, she moved to Hamburg in Germany, where she studied Anthropology and Archeology. What happened there as well is that even she, herself, discovered amazing talent that she carried all along, but never thought that it was that special. And like many African musicians before, once she left her home-country she discovered her own Africaness.
Today, Nneka's first home is again Nigeria, while Germany now takes 2nd place. She want's to discover more of Africa and give back to her Nigeria, raise awareness in Nigerians about themselves and their history.
I first saw Nneka at Rock En Seine 2011 in Paris. Even though I have listened to her album before seeing her live, I wasn't prepared for what I saw. Her live performance is indescribable, simply mind blowing. There is some kind of intensity that at that time I couldn't explain but now I believe that those intense emotions are coming from the life experience that Nneka had and that she somehow transformed into the music.
Of course, I was curious to find out the story behind Nneka's powerful performance, behind the powerful musician that I saw in front of me. On 6th of Decembar 2011, few hours before her concert at Kaufleuten, in Zurich, Nneka and I sat together and had a long conversation about her life, life in general, intensity and complexity of her music, her plans for the future, life-wise and music-wise, and what could make the world better place.
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Tune in tonight to Gimme A Beat (19.12.2011) to hear all about Nneka and listen to the music from hers, very appropriately named album Soul Is Heavy.
Nneka in Zurich with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace