Wishing you a wonderful 2019

…via this brand-new newsletter where you can stay up to date about my work as a freelance composer, vocalist and independent radio maker.
You’ll be the first to hear about any of my upcoming performances, lectures, master classes, free downloads, album releases, published books, or interviews. And I will probably drop you a line every one or two months. If at any point you want to unsubscribe there is a link down below this and every other newsletter you’ll receive from me. No hard feelings. But of course I hope you feel like staying a little longer… Welcome !

Organo, an Intimate Debut Album

I am thrilled to introduce you to trio Organo and our self-titled debut album featuring me as soprano voice and Ábel Fazekas & Riccardo Marogna both on bass clarinets. Organo unfolds an intimate, acoustic and minimal approach to improvised music in which sound and silence are equally important. You can hear Organo – for free or any price you are happy to support us with – via Bandcamp. Huge Gratitude !

We first started playing together sometime in early 2017 when we met as students at The Royal Conservatory of The Hague, not too long after participating in some inspiring masterclasses and performances with Wandelweiser composer Michael Pisaro. The three of us share a passion for both improvisation and composition, and it’s the combination of these two approaches to music-making that continues to serve us as a basis for all our musical ideas. In our self-titled debut album Organo we didn’t use pre-agreed forms or musical material, but nevertheless our improvisation cannot be said to be totally free either. Through constant reflection and discussion when rehearsing, we ‘composed’ a quite strict and distinct musical universe within which we could improvise ‘freely’. Organo is a (slightly) edited and mixed version of our very first studio recording session. We are hoping that Organo may keep you warm during this cold holiday season and perhaps further accompany you into a continuously blissful 2019.

Cover Organo – photo Riccardo Marogna

Organo | music hear | social media here | booking
Voice Aurélie Nyirabikali Lierman
Bass Clarinets Ábel Fazekas & Riccardo Marogna
Recording, Mixing, Mastering: Madhav Agarwal

Africa On Tape 2018

… click here if you’d like to see a selection of snapshots from my most recent field recording sessions in the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda (November – December 2018) where I continued my ongoing conversations with my 109 year old grandfather about his practice as one of the last living Rwandan traditional  doctors, hunters and beekeepers.

Africa On Tape 2018 – photo Aurélie Nyirabikali Lierman

Press & Print

Then some other news: Kunstenpunt (Flanders Arts Institute) published an interview (in Dutch) where I am talking about the possible origins of my current art practice: a.o. recalling my accidental encounter with Ousmane Sembene (Senegalese pioneering film director) in my mid teens  in my hometown Bruges. Also discussed is how my art practice very gradually took shape but then suddenly found its way through various international platforms and channels across the globe.

(Non) Humanism & Animism at Gaudeamus 2018 – photo Herre Vermeer / installation view Aurélie Nyirabikali Lierman

Overview

Counting my blessings: the year 2018 has been filled with some very beautiful moments, inspiring encounters and collaborations.
And I’m very hopeful for 2019 too with some new collaborations to look forward to – as a performer and as a composer.
Huge Gratitude To All Involved !! (and here a little selection)

# 07.09.2018 expo Senses Working Overtime, new work premiered by But What About, Gaudeamus, Utrecht
# 01.10.2018 CTM 2019 Radiolab Prize, Berlin
# 24.10.2018 – 19.09.2019 Anosmia at expo Radiophonic Spaces (HKW (Berlin), Museum Tinguely (Basel) & Bauhaus (Weimar))
# 02.11.2018 The Talking Drum: An Antique African Analog Radio lecture performance w. Moussa Coulibaly, HKW, Berlin
# 05.11.2018 – 07.11.2018 Pratiques d’Hospitalités, lecture performance and masterclasses for Radio Papesse /ESAD Grenoble
#17.11.2018 – 06.12.2018 Africa On Tape, field recording in the Virunga Mountains (RW)
# 18.12.2018 Organo debut album release

# 30.01.2019 new work premiered by But What About at CTM2019, HAU2, Berlin
# 21.02.2019 – 24.02.2019 Forum 1 – 54, lecture, Marrakech (tbc)
# 14.03.2019 But What About, Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht
# 22.03.2019 radio premiere for CTM2019/Deutschland Radio, Berlin
# 01.04.2019 – 30.05.2019 Lucas Musicians & Composers Fellowship, Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga, California

# 22.03.2020 new work premiered by Ictus Ensemble, Klarafestival 2020, Bozar, Brussel