Eurosonic2023
O.UK GhouljaboyESP VLURESCT Avalanche KaitoBEL
ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) is the Music Conference and Showcase Festival (18-20 January 2023 in Groningen, The Netherlands)
With 4000 delegates, showcases by 300 artists and a conference with 150 panels, keynote speakers, interviews and meetings, ESNS is the key exchange and networking platform for European music, European artists, international music industry professionals and organisations.
This is the VERA program for today:
20:45
O. (UK)
Joe and Tash make up O. – a baritone sax and drums duo blending live dubs and moshy beats. Starting in the pandemic lockdowns, their second ever gig was supporting black midi at a sold-out Brixton Windmill. Having played major roles in bands across the hip hop, London jazz, and indie scenes, O. take their favourite bits from their favourite music styles and mash them up into something heavy, unrecognisable, and continually surprising.
22:15
Ghouljaboy (ESP)
Is it possible to mix Japanese city pop with British indie rock? To sing English, Spanish and Japanese in the same song? Ghouljaboy says it is. Living on the Spanish coast the young artist surprised by debuting with an 18-song trap mixtape and an album drowned in guitars and distortion. He quotes Arctic Monkeys, Porches and David Cronenberg as inspirations, loves to crank up his guitar’s volume and released another sultry EP in 2022.
23:45
VLURE (SCT)
Glasgow five-piece VLURE blur the lines between live electronics, jarring guitars and the performance sensibilities of their post-punk contemporaries. Synth-laden hooks and heavy club influenced rhythms find their way twisting around emotionally confronting lyrics. With tear filled eyes and chest-pummelling penance, their dedication to audience engagement leads to an intense, yet life-affirming live show.
01:15
Avalanche Kaito (BEL)
Burkinabe griot and multi-instrumentalist Kaito Winse (vocals, tama, peul flutes, mouth bow) fortuitously collided with Brussels noise, post-punk musicians Benjamin Chaval (drums, electronics) and Nico Gitto (guitar) to form Avalanche Kaito. The trio develops the sound world of ancestral proverbs and data-inspired technology. The Wire says they play “freaked, juddering electronic punk”. Their first album was released in June 2022 on Glitterbeat.