BEIRUT x BERLIN is an exchange residency program between artists, technologists, and curators from our two favorite B-cities. We join forces with iconic Beirut cultural hub Riwaq to launch a residency program focusing on the intersection of music, AV technologies, and societal reflection. The program consists of Beirut and Berlin artists visiting each other’s city, mentoring workshops centered on music tech, and creating new music collaboratively to be showcased both IRL and URL, plus an open source soundpack. The program is funded by the Goethe-Institut Libanon, with the support of Elektron, Moog, and Orchestral Tools.
BEIRUT x BERLIN aims to foster existing connections between the two cultural hot spots, making introductions between new-comers interested in each other’s cities and artistic or technological practices, opening this connection to the public both locally onsite and worldwide online, and incorporating progressive approaches to every step of the project. Our first focus artists, in Beirut and in Berlin respectively, are:
x Elyse Tabet: AV live performer and expert technician, DJ, arts instructor in higher education, community organiser, and co-founding member of the Beirut Synthesizer Center.
x Anthony Sahyoun: guitar and electronic musician, composer for films and installations, producer at Tunefork Studios, and programmer of acoustic elements electronic processor to be premiered at the residency.
x Zeina Azouqah aka Zazuka: Circassian performer from Jordan, soundpack specialist for Orchestral Tools, Native Instruments, and Steinberg, producer, film scorer, and music teacher.
x Peter Kirn: American of Lebanese descent founder of famed blog CDM, mentor at CTM hacklab, electronic producer and performer, music tech speaker/lecturer/writer.
x More info on workshops in Berlin on April 7 and 8, plus concert on the 8th, and on workshops in Beirut on April 19, 20, and 21, plus concert on the 21st, HERE.
x View the press release, download artist photos and visuals, check out pictures on Facebook and Stories on Instagram.
x Listen to the project radio mixes by Elyse Tabet on dublab, by Anthony Sahyoun, Almevan, and Peter Kirn on Reboot FM, to the Arts x Music x New Tech podcasts aired on FC Radio and Reboot FM featuring Katia Isakoff and featuring Hany Manja on dublab, and finally read Resident Advisor‘s announcement HERE and the CDM piece HERE. You can also check out our sound person Hany Manja on Bitwig‘s blog, CDM, and Reboot FM.
x Download the open source sounpack by Elyse Tabet, based on Julia Lorenz’ bat recordings HERE (or use it on educational DAW OceanWaves) and discover the Marseilles x Beirut x Berlin AV collaboration between Almevan, Turbo Torsi, and Aya Barada HERE.
Flyer illustrations by @sndtxtimg