11 & 12 October · Reset, Brussels
For its first edition, Abrupt will open a space for reflection and encounters at the heart of its festival with Abrupt Lab.
Powered by the discourse program platform, European Lab, the forum will take over Reset for 2 days of exchanges, with a variety of formats: radio broadcasting round tables and workshops.
In a world and Europe in disarray, Abrupt Lab will question the role of artists and players from the independent cultural sector before today’s socio-political turbulence.
Abrupt Lab
From Ukraine to Gaza, passing through Georgia, Abrupt Lab will tune in to territories in resistance advocating for their rights, freedom and sovereignty. Musicians, thinkers, activists: through the perspective and voices of these individuals, Abrupt Lab aims to explore current political and geopolitical issues. What role does sound play in a context of war or police violence? How can club culture and the independent cultural sector embody spaces of freedom in countries where they are perceived as “foreign agents”? How can these cultural ecosystems play a role in bridging the territorial and social divides that are widening across Europe? On October 11 and 12, Abrupt Lab will bring together artists and a variety of independent cultural structures to address these questions.
Abrupt Lab will also serve as a professional meeting and networking space for the music scene and the independent cultural sector, through Reset! and TIMES, two projects powered by the Arty Farty ecosystem. TIMES (The Independent Movement for Electronic Scenes) is a collaborative project bringing together 10 European festivals to create original works combining contemporary music and visual arts. The European network Reset! gathers over a hundred independent cultural and media structures from across Europe. During Abrupt, the network will further its live podcast format, initiated last March in Brussels, which aims to document the state of the European independent cultural scenes. By hosting these two projects, Abrupt Lab wishes to highlight the need to build connections and reach beyond our bubbles to address the challenges of our time.
Programme
11:00 —13:00
Workshop · Politics of Curatorship: Ethics and Best Practices
The challenges related to cultural programming are exacerbated today: gender criteria, representation of different communities, diversity within programming teams… How can contemporary issues be addressed in artistic curatorial practices? What happens when programming practices are seen as plural and multivocal? How can an event be opened to a diversity of voices and narratives? How can we address the imbalances of representation present within the contemporary music landscape? Far from a depoliticized vision of curatorial practices, this workshop aims to examine the role of those in charge of such curatorial missions within cultural organizations, offering tools and insights for a curatorial policy rooted in its time.
Host: Souria Cheurfi (Psst Mlle, Belgium)
14:00 – 18:00
Radio Lab with Microwave
The Belgian webradio Microwave will take over for 4 hours of programming: radio interviews, talks, listening sessions and of course, music!
14:00 | Interview with Maxime Denuc
15:00 | Talk · Taking a Stand: Fostering Solidarity in the Electronic Music Scene
From Gaza to Ukraine, how do contemporary wars resonate within the current artistic scenes? Between charity events, fundraisers, highlighting artists from conflict zones, and raising awareness on these issues, how are artists, venues, radio stations, and collectives addressing these realities? While part of the music ecosystem continues to operate while ignoring this geopolitical context and the world around them, others strive to rethink their projects in light of such upheavals and aim to cultivate networks of solidarity.
With: Jonathan Cant (M0nt4ge | BE), Laura Conant (M0nt4ge, | BE), NVST (Artist | Switzerland) Moderation: Seppe Claes (Microwave | Belgium)
16:00 | Listening session with DJ Diaki
18:30-19:30
Talk • Club culture and the Independent Cultural Sector: ‘Foreign Agents’?
Since the adoption of a law last May, Georgian NGOs receiving at least 20% of their funding from foreign sources are required to register under the label of “foreign agent.” This decision, inspired by Russia—where a similar law has been in effect since 2012—threatens the survival of many independent media, cultural associations, and civil society organisations. In such a context, how can these structures continue to operate and carry out their activities? During the protests against this law, clubs, festivals, and collectives from Tbilisi’s electronic music scene mobilised and took a stand against this legislation. In response to this law, which “alters the European trajectory of (their) country and (brings them) back into the Russian sphere of influence,” this independent cultural sector advocates for unity and solidarity among these organisations. This solidarity has also been expressed for over two years with their peers in Ukraine, where the electronic scene and independent cultural ecosystems play a crucial role in the current struggle against Russian imperialism.
With:
Mariana Berezovska (Standard Deviation | Ukraine / Germany), Liza Bezvershenko (Promote Ukraine | Ukraine), Mariam Morchadze (Independent Culture Researcher, Georgia)
Moderation : Nino Davadze (Mutant Radio | Georgia)
10:00 —13:00
Workshop with Resident Advisor · How to Run an Independent Record Label?
In a competitive music industry, the idea of creating and managing an independent record label captivates many artists, entrepreneurs, and music enthusiasts. The workshop How to Run an Independent Record Label curated with the media Resident Advisor and hosted by Nyksan from the label TraTraTrax will offer a dynamic and educational space for learning the essentials. This workshop is tailored for those who want to understand the inner workings of the music business while maintaining a DIY ethos and an authentic artistic vision. By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of the challenges and rewards of running an independent record label, as well as the confidence to take their first steps in the music industry.
Host: Nyksan (TraTraTrax | United-Kingdom / Colombia)
14:00 – 18:00
Radio Lab with LYL Radio
European webradio LYL Radio takes over for 4 hours of programming: radio interviews, talks, listening sessions and of course, music!
14:00 – 14:50 : Interview with Elisabeth Klinck
Moderation: Stevie Ango (LYL | Belgium)
15:00 – 15:50
Radio Talk | Mental Health in Independent Music Industry
Work overload, work underload, pressure to gain and maintain success, racism, sexism, homophobia, discrimination, performance anxiety, band dynamics, pressure from labels, lack of autonomy, social media toxicity and job insecurity… A lot of valid reasons to be impacted the mental health of the music industry. According to Help Musician UK studies, musicians, managers, music or label publishing, audio production, and live crew, 71% said they had experienced panic attacks or high levels of anxiety and 65 % said they had suffered from depression. This raising voice on mental health, common in all levels of society, finds a significant echo in music industry. While we usually emphasizes the power of music on mental health in psychology studies, why musicians and music workers feel the opposite?
With: Harsh Agarwhal (PSST | BE)
Souria Cheurfi (Music on a Whim | BE)
Moderation: Matéo Vigné (Journalist | BE)
16:00 – 16:50
Listening session with Xaxalxe
Moderation: Matéo Vigné (Journalist | Belgium)
19:15 – 22:00
Discussion with Rebecca Salvadori
London-based Italo-Australian video artist and filmmaker Rebecca Salvadori will introduce her creative work and artistic process. As she took part in the first creation developed by TIMES (The Independent Movement for Electronic Scenes), called A Forbidden Distance, she will present the collaborative work she carried out with Iranian-Canadian brothers Mohammad and Mehdi (Saint Abdullah) and Irish sound-designer and musician Ian McDonnell (Eomac).
Co-curated with TIMES (The Independent Movement for Electronic Scenes)
