Meet RaaDie, which is the latest musical project of Vienna-based trumpeter Lorenz Raab (Volksoper Vienna, XY-Band, Bleu) and the composer, bassoonist, and zither player Christof Dienz (Die Knoedel, Quadrat:sch, XY-Band). With a balance of composition and improvisation, the duo crafts music using trumpet and e-zither with electronic effects and looping station, at times spacey, funky, contemplative, and eerie.  

Besides Prokofiev, Ravel and Schubert, Dienz also names Prince, AC/DC, Björk and Xenakis as sources of inspiration, while Raab cites the Beatles, U2 and Queen, also lists Bach, diverse jazzers and Led Zeppelin as his influences. Ahead of their free concert on Friday, Jan. 18 at the Austrian Cultural Forum, RaaDie joins us premiere song-like compositions from their new record, Vast Potential (Traumton Records), in-studio. - Caryn Havlik