Swiss Triplets with Arthur Hnatek

For the last episode of Swiss Triplets, we meet Roberto Hacaturyan, the Swiss ethnomusicologist who shares his time as a percussionist for multiple groups and as a music specialist for Artlink, the Swiss agency for art and culture from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe which supports and networks cultural actors professionals from these regions of the world and encourage their access to the Swiss cultural market.
Born to a Sicilian mother and an Armenian father, Robbie has a fascinating journey that has led him to study percussion between Ghana, Cuba and Brazil. Today, through his involvement with Artlink, he tries to forge links, build bridges between groups from various regions.

Music : Congas, Bongos & Darbuka love Breakdance (feat. EzMike, RockSteadyCrew) watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tjmo2gv0ks / Check out Artlink : https://artlink.ch

Say hi : http://instagram.com/ahnatek/ -  https://www.arthurhnatek.com

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Laurence Desarzens is an important figure in the development of the Swiss scene
Committed to alternative culture and more particularly to music, she organizes concerts and one thing leading to another becomes manager from the newly founded group Young Gods.

Now president of Swiss Music Export, Laurence continues to provide her support and experience to the new Swiss scene. It should be noted in passing that one of his latest projects is "Téléphoner", a platform for exchange between cultural actors in times of health restrictions in collaboration with Helvetiarockt and Say Hi!

The discussion with Laurence was very inspiring. From anecdotal with the Youngs Gods' first trip to London to more economic and political themes with the worldwide reputation of the Swiss music industry, to end with a burst of optimism and hope for the future and for the next generation musical!

Music : Static(Arthur Hnatek Trio) / Say hi : http://instagram.com/ahnatek/ -  https://www.arthurhnatek.com

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Today we meet up with Brandy Butler. She is a singer, instrumentalist, actress and activist living in Zurich for 16 years. Originally from Pennsylvania in the United States, Brandy has an impressive career and is present in the multidisciplinary artistic milieu of my beloved current hometown. 
I enjoyed collecting her memories and her honesty on the musical situation in Switzerland, which according to her lacks a strong "identity" (despite the positive points she brings up in this regard). She underlines the progress that she has seen taking place locally, in particular the new generations that she finds much more free than before, but also the diversity of interactions... and much more !
Please check out her music at https://www.brandybutlermusic.com and follow her all around https://www.instagram.com/auntieactivist/ The song you hear is "Gentle Beating Heart" on the album "The Inventory of Goodbye" thanks for listening !

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In part 2, Andreas reinforces what I have been hearing since my first meeting with Nik Baertsch. He talks about the big changes that he witnessed on the Swiss scene (which is reassuring) compared to the little progress in audiences attitudes (which have changed little). He compares the musical ideological situation to the change that is also happening in sport. His outlook is rather positive, although he regrets the lack of confidence Swiss society gives to the idea that Swiss music (and its business) can also be a vector for export.

Music : Mise en A (Arthur Hnatek) / Say hi : http://instagram.com/ahnatek/ -  https://www.arthurhnatek.com

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For this third interview, I wanted to meet someone who had experience more directly related to the promotion and distribution of music in Switzerland.  Andreas Ryser, and his label Mouthwatering Records, is one of the emblematic figures of the pop and electronic scene in the region and his contribution as promoter / manager seemed interesting to me to question. Very involved in the various Swiss musical agencies, Andreas is at the core a musician himself and a high level athlete (even today he coaches for fun a regional kids football team). In the first part of our meeting, Andreas retraces his journey from his beginnings as a volleyball player, his discovery of the turntables at the Reitschule in Bern, his surprise performance at the Sonar festival in Barcelona and the history until the beginnings of his label.

Music : Mise en A (Arthur Hnatek) / Say hi : http://instagram.com/ahnatek/ -  https://www.arthurhnatek.com

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In this second part, I ask Carine about the Swiss musical identity and if she has noticed a change in public perception during her career with regard to the Swiss scene. Finally, I ask her what are her main motivations for investing so much energy in her musical activities and how the Covid situation has changed her attitude and her practices.
Music : 27 (Arthur Hnatek Trio) / Say hi : http://instagram.com/ahnatek/ -  https://www.arthurhnatek.com

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Today, we continue the series of conversation about the swiss music scene. We meet up with Carine Zuber whom I have known and admired for a long time. Her experience as a programmer and organizer of concerts and her point of view on the development of the scene in Switzerland seemed important to me to question. In the first part of our meeting, Carine tells me about Moods club and why she considers it ideal. She also traces her journey from her childhood in the countryside outside of Biel to her studies in Lausanne, her stay in Paris, her meeting with Erik Truffaz and her return to Switzerland. Have a listen !
Music : 27 (Arthur Hnatek Trio) / Say hi : http://instagram.com/ahnatek/ -  https://www.arthurhnatek.com

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This is the third and final part of my meeting with Nik Bärtsch.
"All music is political," Nik said some time ago. This podcast was a good opportunity to ask him to develop this idea.
To conclude, we mention the Montags concert series and the next generation of jazz musicians, especially in Switzerland.
thanks for listening !
Music : Nik Baertsch's Ronin "A". Say hi : http://instagram.com/ahnatek/ -  https://www.arthurhnatek.com

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This is the second part of our meeting with Nik Bärtsch.
I ask him about the evolution in the perception of Swiss music abroad between his beginnings in the end of the 90s and today.
Music : Nik Baertsch's Ronin "A". Say hi : http://instagram.com/ahnatek/ -  https://www.arthurhnatek.com

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This is the first episode about our deep dive into the Swiss music scene. Today, we meet Nik Bärtsch.
In the first part of our meeting, we discuss his musical journey from his childhood to his first experiences on the Zurich scene, his meeting with Kaspar Rast and his questions on the “clichés” of Swiss identity while his group Ronin gradually rose to the rank of European jazz groups that “represent” Switzerland. We also talk about the gradual export of his music and the lesson to be learned: Patience and passion were essential for the development of the project.
Music : Outuo (SWIMS) / Nik Baertsch's Ronin "Modul 35" / Nik Baertsch's Ronin "A". Say hi : http://instagram.com/ahnatek/ -  https://www.arthurhnatek.com

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