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Lyon17 — 19 may 2023

Nuits sonores Lab
HEAT Lyon, H7, Hôtel71

Free!

Nuits Sonores and European Lab will give the floor to mobilised artists, thinkers, journalists and activists who will present the keys to understanding the major challenges facing our world.

Over three days, this programme will offer festival-goers an experience – neatly complementing the daytime and nocturnal programmes at Nuits Sonores – in the Confluence district of Lyon, spread between Hôtel71, HEAT and H7.

With Lab, the musical programming of Nuits Sonores will be enhanced by idea debates, transmission and testimonies thanks to a series of meetings, interviews, workshops, discussion panels, audio conferences, radio broadcasts, artistic performances, training sessions, masterclasses and speeches.

Edito

For 20 years, Nuits Sonores has been sending out vibrations to audiences and communities thirsty for shared experiences, partying and collective celebrations. Bringing hope for a better future, these vibrations are formed out of the emotions transmitted by the artists onstage. This is partying as understood by historian Patrick Boucheron, who will speak at the opening event of NS Lab: letting go, breaking rules and inventing new ways of living alongside one another.

Beyond the festival, the same vibrations are resonating in territories at war, on the front line, in the street, online, spread by dissident, independent, sometimes marginalised voices. Throughout the year, in Lyon and elsewhere around Europe, these voices assemble at European Lab forums. They defend an ideal of freedom, fighting for their rights and our shared future. NS Lab – the Nuits Sonores forum powered by European Lab – will once more echo these reverberations over the course of three days of debates.

From east to west, people all over Europe are standing up to today’s uncertainties. These vibrant forms of collective action are emerging from art scenes and independent cultural ecosystems. Faced with the polarisation and brainwashing of all-powerful algorithms, communities of journalists, emerging media platforms and online radio stations are fighting to save our spaces of free expression; for proof, look no further than Refuge Worldwide in Berlin and 20ft Radio in Kyiv. In Ukraine, clubs, labels and artists are working behind the scenes to support their army, just like Nastia, a figure on the electronic scene who has given himself over to his country since the beginning of the Russian invasion. All over the continent, creative spaces and projects like Space of Urgency are coming up with solutions to contemporary challenges, from the cost of energy to the climate crisis to issues of inclusion (equality, parity, diversity).

The emergence of these vibrations is forcing cultural scenes to reconsider their place and the role they play at a time of such uncertainty. At the same time, the energy of these waves – which are at the heart of the visual identity of this year’s festival – gives cause for optimism. Far from any feelings of resignation, these vibrations will resonate throughout NS Lab, rekindling the joy of being together and encouraging reflection and action.

 

Program

10.30
Workshop • Hôtel71

Becoming an Independent Music Critic

This workshop will explore navigating the music industry as a freelance journalist. Topics include: finding your own voice through writing about music, storytelling, the art of of the interview, and pitching & payment for commissioned work.

With :
Christine Kakaire (Journalist, Germany)
registration
15:00
Talk • H7

Let’s Get this Party Restarted!

Patrick Boucheron, a historian at the Collège de France, opens Nuits Sonores Lab with a special intervention on the meaning of partying in Europe. If it is legitimate to want to party, then what impact has partying had on societies throughout history? It is generally considered to serve as a tool for liberation or emancipation, and there is no shortage of examples of major festive events that have laid the grounds for or precipitated political upheaval, social change or increased cultural awareness. But just as often, the subsequent revolutions then crack down on the partygoers themselves. By way of a long-term historical analysis, we will look at the political and symbolic effectiveness of these festive communities.
With :
Patrick Boucheron (Historian, France)
registration
16:45
Talk • H7

Space and Dance of Urgency: How Can we Enable Access to Space for the Next Generation of Culture?

Liese Kingma and Bogomir Doringer, both alternative cultural actors, will present their concepts: Space and Dance of Urgency. Space of Urgency is the name of an emergent concept used to describe the current state of independent cultural spaces. It refers to the challenges underrepresented cultural communities face trying to establish and maintain spaces within disabling social, legal, and political environments, as well as the urgent and protective role cultural space has in sheltering such communities.
A Dance of Urgency is a dance that rises in times of personal and collective crises. Such a dance aims to empower individuals and groups. For a dance to happen people need space to practice it. Sometimes movement nests inside a space, and sometimes it creates new spaces.avec Liese Kingma (Space of Urgency, DE) et Bogomir Doringer (Space of Urgency, SE)
With :
Bogomir Doringer (Dance of Urgency I Serbia)
Lise Kingma (Space of Urgency I Netherland)
registration
17:00
Talk • Hôtel71

International Career Development, Management, and Empowerment

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Nuits sonores festival, the Adami is supporting French female artists by offering them a workshop focusing on international career development, management, and empowerment.
With :
Jennifer Cardini (DJ and producer, Journalist)
Béatrice Bonnefoi (manager and editor, France) Peggy Szkudlarek (show producer, France) Moderator :
Georgia Taglietti (ICNAC, Spain)
registration
17:30
Radio Lab • HEAT

Carte Blanche to Mutant Radio

Sur cette première journée de Nuits sonores Lab, la prescriptrice webradio Mutant Radio, basée à Tbilissi, s’échappe de son célèbre wagon pour diffuser 4 heures d’émissions depuis Lyon. Un takeover rythmé par deux discussions centrées autour des défis écologiques et du rôle des réseaux dans le paysage culturel européen contemporain.
Panel 1 // Sound sustainability: How Live Music Venues are Taking on Environmental Challenges?A As the ecological crisis looms large, the question remains: what can cultural venues do to make a difference? This radio discussion will showcase concrete examples of sustainable actions that some clubs and live music venues have adopted. It will focus on sharing good practices that cultural venues are exploring to create a sustainable future, covering topics from slow-touring to energy management, without compromising any artistic integrity.
With :
Garance Amieux (Le Périscope I France) Nino Davadze (Mutant Radio, Georgia)
Panel 2 // Shaping Tomorrow’s Europe: The Role Of Cultural NetworksHow do European cultural networks shape contemporary culture in Europe? What role do they play in supporting independent organizations and new generations? This panel discussion will examine how such networks foster a more diverse and inclusive cultural landscape and amplify the voices of independent artists and grassroots organizations.
With :
Giorgia Taglietti (ICNAC I Espagne)
Moderator:
Nino Davadze (Mutant Radio, Georgia)

Mutant Radio Listening Session:
An artist from the Nuits Sonores lineup or a renowned figure from the artistic sector will share and discuss their musical influences in the Labo at Heat: an hour spent delving into record crates and mp3 collections, offering a new perspective on musical selection, fully annotated and placed in context.
Free
10:30
Workshop • Hôtel71

Crowd Power: Using Dance for Renewable Energy

Have you ever been dancing in a hot crowd and wondered how much energy is being produced by the crowd? David Townsend pondered this question with his engineering team, and decided to design and build a renewable heating and cooling system called BODYHEAT at the SWG3 arts and events venue in Glasgow, which captures, stores and recycles the body heat of dancers as a source of renewable heating and cooling. This interactive workshop will discuss the renewable energy potential of crowds of dancers, exhibit the operational system in Glasgow with photos and video, and broaden the discussion to the positive impact we can all have on tackling climate change by doing the things we love.

With :
David Townsend (TownRock Energy, Royaume- Uni)
registration
13:00
Radio Lab • HEAT

Carte Blanche to Radio Béguin

Talk: The Lyon Scene: State of Play Lyon boasts a vibrant electronic scene that has a significant influence on the city’s cultural life. However, many clubs and concert halls – above all those in the city centre – are still not well suited to electronic music and can be subject to certain restrictions, thereby hindering the development of artists, particularly up-and-coming acts. This debate will reflect on the issues facing electronic music venues, both in the local area and around Europe, and the crucial role they play in driving musical diversity and cultural vitality in urban centres. How can we innovate and support the next generation without offering spaces for them to express themselves? How can we bring the local electronic scene closer together?
With:
Mathilda Bonsoir (Photographer - activist I France)
Léa Courcelle (Artistic director Péniche Loupika I France)
Camille Viguié (Radio Béguin I France)
Free
15:00
Talk • H7

Prescription and Algorithms, who influences our listening experiences?

Before the digital era, music magazines and record shops were the most authoritative voices when it came to music recommendations. Since the turn of the 2010s, and the rise of the algorithms developed by digital behemoths and streaming platforms, the status of the music press – and human recommendation in general – has been in constant decline. To take just one example, young rapper Lil Nas X held the number one spot in the USA for 17 weeks thanks in no small part to the power wielded by the algorithm of a famous Chinese app. Streaming services are deploying increasingly sophisticated algorithms designed to offer recommendations for songs or podcasts based on a multitude of criteria: from listening preferences to age, gender, location, and more. At the same time, other organisations are attempting to place algorithms at the service of the general public; such is the case at Radio France, where they recently implemented a public service algorithm intended to prioritise the editorial skills of their staff and the choices of users. To what extent do these algorithms really influence our listening? How can we strike a balance between human-powered editorial choices and the recommendations of algorithms? Ingenious tools to some, the death of human choice to others: the speakers will debate the role of algorithms in our listening experiences.

In partnership with CNM Lab.

Avec : Julie Knibbe (CNM I France)
Mehdi Maïzi (Journalist, Head of Hip Hop Apple Music I France)
Valentin Lecomte (Radio France I France)
Moderator :
Yvan Boudillet (Utopia Music I France)
Registration
16:45
Talk • H7

Another Perspective on the Ukrainian Cultural Scene

Created with the artist Nastia, an iconic figure of the Ukrainian electronic scene, this exchange focuses on how alternative artistic scenes, particularly the club culture in Ukraine, have mobilized since February 24, 2022. More than a year after the start of Russia's massive invasion of the country, multiple solidarity networks continue to operate throughout Ukraine. The youth have found ways to keep dancing, clubs continue to operate, community radios continue to broadcast music from local DJs, and artists continue to create. This situation demonstrates the strength of a people, their courage and positivity despite adversity. By showing how many actors in Ukrainian society are taking part in the current war effort, this discussion aims to understand how a Ukrainian collective imagination is shaped, motivated by the refusal of any form of fatalism.
Avec:
Nastia (DJ and producer, UA)
Moderator:
Vlad Fissun (journalist, Ukraine)
Registration
17:30
Radio Lab • HEAT

Carte Blanche to 20ft Radio

The Ukrainian webradio 20ft Radio will programme Radio Lab for 4 hours of discussions between Kyiv and Lyon. Two listening sessions will be offered with, on the one hand, the Ukrainian artist Katarina Gryvul who interacts between the digital and the analogical, the authentic and the virtual, and on the other hand, Stakhan (Everybody Trance) whose music from Lyon will be broadcasted in Kyiv.

With :
Katarina Gryvul (Artist and producer, Ukraine)
Stakhan
free
18:30
HEAT

Carte Blanche to Standard Deviation

In this panel, the team from the Ukrainian label Standard Deviation will discuss the issue of the integration of Ukrainian artists, and other artists of migrant background, into the new scenes in countries and cities where they were forced to relocate. In the last year, they have observed that despite all the good intentions and support from the international community, many of the relocated Ukrainian DJs, producers, etc. have ended up in a bubble of their own, often performing mostly at Ukrainian-organized events and for Ukrainian audiences. The discussion will also put the spotlight on how to support artists who have remained in Ukraine by need or by choice.
entrée libre
10:30
Workshop • Hôtel71

Building an Eco-responsible Soundsystem

How to get the most people dancing with the least amount of energy used? This is the question that the engineers of Pikip Solar Speakers asked themselves, in order to build a solar and mobile soundsystem with a high acoustic pressure. Or how to reinvent the loudspeaker, by mixing electro-acoustic common sense, energy autonomy and object design. In this workshop, participants will learn the techniques to build an eco-responsible soundsystem, from design to transport and power systems.
With :
Jean-Paul Deniaud (Pioche!, France)
Julien Feuillet (PIKIP SOLAR SPEAKERS, France)
Regiistration
10.30
Workshop • H7

Building your Own Community Radio

The co-founders of Refuge Worldwide, a radio station and educational platform based in Berlin, will discuss how to set up a radio station, what it means to make radio in 2023, what the day-to-day operations look like and some of the challenges you might face. Expect an interactive workshop session with a strong focus on building a community around your project.
Moderators :
Richard Akingbehin (Refuge Worldwide I Allemagne)
George Patrick (Refuge Worldwide I Allemagne)
Registration
10:30
Workshop • Hôtel71

How to get started in field recording with Shouka

Are you a fan of ambient music or sampling? From sampling real sounds to capturing background noise, using recorders, knowing your equipment and understanding the mechanics of sound, this workshop will introduce you to the techniques and culture of field recording.
Registration
13:00
HEAT

Carte Blanche to Radio Béguin

Cultural appropriation is a controversial concept, associated with a lack of respect for so-called “minority” cultures and synonymous with humiliation, exploitation and provocation. Electronic music is an inherently hybrid art form that is bursting with influences drawn from cultures around the world. Increasingly, people are speaking out against cultural appropriation at a time when cultures and traditions are being mined to generate profits, while their creators are denied appropriate forms of recognition and compensation. How can we avoid the pitfalls of cultural appropriation and place the correct value on musical heritage? What is the difference between appropriation and appreciation? What action can we take to ensure that the music industry represents different cultures in a respectful and fair way?
With:
Pedro Bertho (DJ I Brasil / France)
Moderator :
Camille Viguié (Radio Béguin, France))
15:00
Talk • H7

Impact(s) and Future of Independent Music Journalism 

Electronic music has long relied on independent journalism to document and contextualize its history. While the mainstream media has for decades latched on to the most outlandish aspects of the culture, amplifying tales of wild youth and unchecked debauchery, independent outlets have generally taken a more nuanced approach, evaluating the genre on its own terms and seeking out its place in the larger sociopolitical narrative. Driven largely by passion, that effort has rarely been a highly profitable endeavor, and given the tumultuous state of contemporary media, it’s become harder than ever for independent outlets to stay afloat. Amidst that instability, questions have arisen about the continued value of independent cultural journalism, particularly in a time when social media has opened up discussions to a litany of new voices and the wider culture has become oversaturated with content offerings. What exactly does independent media bring to cultural discourse, and how is independent even defined now that electronic music has blossomed into a global, multibillion-euro industry? Do the efforts of independent media outlets to platform particular narratives, artists, communities and viewpoints have a real-world impact?

With :
Rachel Grace (Crack Magazine I UK)
Kwame Safo (Mixmag Blackout I UK) Joel Penney (media sociologist, USA) Tanya Voytko (Journalist I UA)Shawn Reynaldo (First Floor, ES/USA)
registration
16:45
Talk • H7

Post-colonial Narratives: the New Voices of Cultural Independence

The colonial legacies of the European continent compel it to examine the cultural domination it has exerted on the world. Few cultural scenes seek to deconstruct the persistent colonial representations in today's media and cultural industries, despite their shaping of our perspectives and ways of life. The war waged by Russia against Ukraine has reignited discussions on the decolonization of culture in Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, in the West, Portugal faces a resurgence of debates on the subject, including the toppling of statues and discussions. In Lisbon, Canal180 led a workshop on this theme in October 2022 as part of the European network Reset!, bringing together several actors from the independent scene to discuss and propose solutions for rethinking how the cultural sector responds to this challenge. These exchanges invite us to also reinvent our relationship with the rest of the world, to build more virtuous and respectful cultural relationships with others.In partnership with Canal180.

In partnership with Canal180

With : Mariana Berezovska (Borsch Magazine, Ukraine)
Jesualdo Lopes (The Blacker The Berry Project, Portugal)Joana Seguro (Canal180, Portugal)
Moderation :
Christine Kakaire (Journaliste / États- Unis)
Registration
15:30
HEAT

RA Exchange with Nastia

The weekly podcast RA Exchange is a series of conversations with artists, labels and cultural players shaping the electronic music landscape. This year, DJ and producer Nastia will answer journalist Christine Kakaire's questions on issues related to the Ukrainian cultural scene.

With :
Nastia (DJ and producer I Ukraine)
(Journalist, Germany)
free
18:30
H7

Regional Sound Heritage and Electronic music

From Morocco to Isère, there is an abundance of traditional sound heritage, often originating at the grassroots level. By showcasing the oral practice of ancient songs, whose authors and performers are often unknown, we are able to revive regional languages that have been forgotten or erased by colonialism, centralisation or cultural standardisation. For example, singer Widad Mjamid is interested in Aïta (a Moroccan word meaning cry, appeal or lament), a traditional and poetic form of song mostly performed by women. Deena Abdelwahed, a Tunisian DJ and electronic music producer, explores Arab music in all its diversity, influenced as much by club music as by today’s experimental scene. At the same time, in the Rhône-Alpes region, the work of the Centre des Musiques Traditionnelles Rhône-Alpes (CMTRA) aims to recognise and disseminate immigrant music and oral culture. These are the practices that will be presented to us by Loup Uberto, a multitalented musician who works to promote regional sound heritage in Isère, and film-maker Priscilla Telmon (Petites Planètes, Territoires). By reappropriating these traditional practices, artists are fighting back against cultural appropriation and claiming the roots and plural identities of the sound heritage of their homelands.

With :
Deena Abdelwahed (DJ and activist I Tunisia)
Widad Mjama (Shouka, Marocco)

free
17:30
Radio Lab • HEAT

Carte Blanche to Refuge Worldwide

For this last day of Nuits sonores Lab, the Berlin-based webradio Refuge Worldwide is taking over Radio Lab! 4 hours of exchanges, debates and discussions connected to the major issues that cross the contemporary artistic scene, from the role of webradios in the current cultural ecosystem to the highlighting of artists forgotten in the history of music.
Listening session: “Unsung Heroes” with Funk Butcher 

With :
Funk Butcher (Mixmag Blackout, UK)
Moderators:
Richard Akingbehin (Refuge Worldwide I Germany)
George Patrick (Refuge Worldwide I Germany)
free