2024 was an even more successful year for Zurich Film Festival than its organizers expected. It was an important year as the Zurich Film Festival festival celebrated its 20th year. The dates moved to the beginning of October, but that didn't stop the visitors. This year the festival attracted 140’000 visitors (even more than the previous year). A t…

It's 2024, and I am back again with a bunch of my favourite NPR Tiny Desk concerts. NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concerts were always one of my favourite things to listen to, but with the pandemic, my interest turned into an obsession. In 2020, I did two shows dedicated to them: Obsessed with Tiny Desk 2020 Part I and Part II, in 2021 I did one more, in 2…

Last month I did the first part of the review of m4music festival 2024. This month I will continue with the review of m4music festival and share two more artists who were part of my exploration of the "female factor" of the festival. In tonight's show, I will keep my focus on the Swiss music scene, covering the fascinatingly cool band and music lab…

Since 1998, m4music festival takes place every March here in Switzerland: two days in Zurich and one day in Lausanne. This festival is a project from Migros Culture Percentage. This is a flawlessly organised festival at one of the coolest locations in Zürich: Schiffbau; with many concerts happening on the seven (+1) stages, at or close to the main …

In October's and December's Gimme a Beat, I reviewed the 19th edition of Zurich Film Festival. I have been exploring the female factor of the Zurich Film Festival for several years now. But this year, I had a chance to get together with so many female filmmakers and actresses that I decided to breakdown my review of the ZFF into several shows. Whil…

Last year, sometime in June I got an email from the 57th Montreux Jazz Festival about new names on their programme. The email included Swiss singer-songwriter NNAVY. She was already well-known to Montreux Jazz Festival audiences, as she performed there earlier. In addition to this, in 2022, she was the first Swiss artist ever to play one of the COL…

In my previous Gimme a Beat, I reviewed the 19th edition of Zurich Film Festival. I have been exploring the female factor of the Zurich Film Festival for several years now. But this year, I had a chance to get together with so many female filmmakers and actresses that I decided to breakdown my review of the ZFF into several shows. While I've seen 3…

2023 was another successful year for Zurich Film Festival. The 19th edition of Zurich Film Festival attracted 130’000 visitors (slightly less than the previous year). A total of 150 films were screened, 52 of them as World or European premieres – more than ever before. First held in 2005, Zurich Film Festival established itself very quickly on the …

The first time I heard Little Dragon was back in 2007, just after they released their debut album. From that moment on, I was completely captivated by their unique sound. A few years later, seeing them live for the first time only confirmed their talent and deepened my interest. Over the years, I followed their work and saw them live many times, an…

Primavera Sound (or simply Primavera) is an annual music festival held in Parc del Fòrum, a park situated directly at the Mediterranean seafront in Barcelona, Spain. The festival takes place between the end of May and the beginning of June, every year since 2001. In addition to the best-known edition in Barcelona, Primavera Sound expanded to other …

NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concerts were always one of my favourite things to listen to, but with the pandemic, my interest turned into an obsession. In 2020, I did two shows dedicated to them: Obsessed with Tiny Desk 2020 Part I and Part II, in 2021 I did one more and in 2022 another one. So what is it about NPR Tiny Desk Concert series that I love? It…

I discovered Arooj Aftab, like many others, through her Mohabbat song. After hearing this song, I listened to her's Vulture Prince album and fell in love with it. Then I heard her NPR tiny desk session and loved it so much (I was literally obsessed with it) that I included it in my (latest) *Obsessed with Tiny Desk 2022* Gimme a Beat. From that mom…

Yaaay, it's Xmas time again 🎄🎅🎄! Xmas time is definitely one of my favourite times of the year when people get more friendly and pleasant, and everywhere you go it smells like glühwein and Xmas cookies. In tonight’s Gimme a Beat (19.12.2022), I will be focusing on Xmas and playing an eclectic playlist of Xmas songs sung by female artists. Check als…

First held in 2005, Zurich Film Festival established itself very quickly on the national and international film festival scene. The formula for its success it's probably a mix of an attractive location: an international but small city of Zurich a great selection of movies and different programs/events. The best way to explain Zurich Film Festival's…

I had the pleasure of attending and reviewing Flow Festival (commonly known as Flow) this summer. You can find more details about the festival, my impressions, interviews with Marcia and Helena and selected DJ mixes in Part I: Marcia Carr and Helena Star at Flow Festival 2022. You can also check my reviews for each day of Flow Festival 2022: day 1,…

Flow Festival (commonly known as Flow) is an urban music and arts festival in Helsinki, Finland. It was created by the Finnish music producer Tuomas Kallio and his friends from the Helsinki-based music collective Nuspirit Helsinki. Since 2004, the festival has been organized annually. Over the years the festival grew from 4000 visitors to 90'000. I…

My personal experience with music in the movies is that if chosen correctly, hearing the music when watching the scene will make it more intense and therefore memorable. My rationale behind this is simple: there is an emotion that music triggers in us because of the music itself or/and the lyrics of the song. For me and I can imagine that this is t…

I love this part of the year!That time of the year when we are almost in summer, but not fully there yet. The mornings are still cool and refreshing, days are warm and sunny and evenings are warm enough to hang outside but still with enough breeze to make the night cosy and pleasurable.This kind of weather reflects my mood, it makes me happy, hopef…

NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concerts were always one of my favourite things to listen to, but with the pandemic, my interest turned into an obsession. In 2020, I did two shows dedicated to them: Obsessed with Tiny Desk 2020 Part I and Part II, and in 2021 I did another one.So what is it about NPR Tiny Desk Concert series that I love?It is very simple, th…

Roadtrips are my favourite type of travelling. My favourite roadtrips are the ones where I travel alone. There is no better feeling than driving in the car by yourself for miles, on, if lucky, empty roads, enjoying your music or only your thoughts in your mind in silence, while soaking up the nature around you. Every year I do at least one road tri…

Sónar CCCB 2021 is/was a 2 day festival of music, debate, experimentation and inspiration, with more than 60 activities spread over 5 spaces, with 40 concerts and DJ sets and an extensive program of lectures, debates, presentations, workshops and an exhibition space with local and international projects. This festival and its program was set in pla…

First held in 2005, Zurich Film Festival established itself very quickly on the national and international film festival scene. The formula for its success it's probably a mix of an attractive location: international but small city of Zurich; great selection of movies and different programs/events like ZFF Masters, ZFF Talks, Zurich Summit, ZFF for…

NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concerts were always one of my favorite things to listen to, but with pandemic my interest turned into an obsession. Last year I did two shows dedicated to them: Obsessed with Tiny Desk 2020 Part I and Part II. So what is it about Tiny Desk Concert series that I love?It is very simple, this series brings an intimate concert vi…

Last weekend, I was reorganising my vinyl collection and reminiscing about the good times, before the pandemic. The time when nights were never ending and standing closer to the people meant that you were having good times. Frankly speaking, I already stopped going out to the clubs regularly long before the pandemic. As a matter of fact, I stopped …

As we entered the second year of Covid-19 pandemic, I am craving traveling, festivals, concerts.. live music in any form! Since it is obvious that this will not happen any time soon, I like to explore the next best thing: recordings of the live music.I've already covered my ultimate favorite: NPR's tiny desk concerts in April and May 2020. This tim…

Women in Switzerland gained the right to vote in federal elections after a referendum in February 1971. Even though the fight for women’s suffrage in Switzerland started in 1863 (canton Zürich), women had to fight for more than 100 years to get it. And in some cantons it took a bit longer to get there.. last canton to grant women suffrage was Appen…

Xmas is one of my favorite times of the year It is usually a time of the year when things start slowing down, everybody gets a bit friendlier and merrier, and everywhere you go it smells like xmas cookies and glühwein.But this is 2020, year of Covid19 pandemic and with everything happening around us, it feels like Xmas vibe has lost its charm and j…

First held in 2005, Zurich Film Festival established itself very quickly on national and international film festival scene. The formula for it success it's probably mix of an attractive location: international but small city of Zurich; great selection of movies and different programs/events like ZFF Masters, ZFF Talks, Zurich Summit, ZFF for Pupils…

Last month I did this year's Obsessed with Tiny Desk edition. But two hours Gimme A Beat just wasn't enough for me to play all the music I wanted. Especially since due to Covid19 pandemic all summer festivals are already canceled and I can imagine that the same will happen for the ones planned in the second part of 2020 as well.At this point of tim…

I've been obsessed with NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concerts for a while now. But I covered them for the first time only last year in Obsessed with Tiny DeskSo what is it about Tiny Desk Concert series that I love?It is very simple, this series brings intimate concert vibe through approx 20 minute video performances, recorded live at the desk of All Song…

Zürich Openair started in 2010, but I attended it and reviewed it for the first time only in 2016, because somehow I was always busy at that particular time with some other festivals across Europe. This year I've decided to keep it local, stay in Zürich and re-visit it. Regardless of my attendance :-), this fairly young festival seems to attracts m…

Since 1998, m4music festival takes place every March here in Switzerland: two days in Zurich and one day in the chosen city in the French part.It is flawlessly organized at one of the coolest locations in town: Schiffbau; with many concerts happening on the seven (+1) stages, at or close the main building.M4music festival is more of the cultural pl…

Insecure is HBO's original series, created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, starring Issa and Yvonne Orji as two young black women, best friends since university. Shot on location in the Los Angeles area, the show closely follows Molly (Orji) and Issa's friendship as they cope with their own flaws, insecurities relationship troubles, and the general …

First held in 2005, Zurich Film Festival established itself very quickly on national and international film festival scene. The formula for it success it's probably mix of an attractive location: international but small city of Zurich; great selection of movies and different programs/events like ZFF Masters, ZFF Talks, ZFF 72.Personally, I feel tha…

2016 has been insanely intense and not always easy to handle. The whole year felt as an emotional roller-coaster, looking at it from any perspective. From political point it showed rise in power of right wings parties and their candidates in majority of the countries, world wide tragedies, wars, terrorist attacks and similar. It also felt as an end…

I listened to Angel Haze already back in 2011/2012, but I really start paying attention to them (as Angel prefers to be referred to) with the release of their third (free) mixtape, Reservation. During the summer of 2012, I had this mixtape on the repeat. I also loved the videos that followed the release, for the songs New York and Werkin' Girls. Th…

Visiting and reviewing Rock En Seine festival is becoming yearly tradition for Gimme A Beat. What is the reason that every year I keep on going back to this festival? I guess it is a perfect balance of phenomenal line-up, location very close to Paris town and lots of cool, stylish visitors that are not only taking care of the style and what to wear…

We had beautiful summer this year in Switzerland so reviewing the festival like Blue Balls that is partially set inside, partially outside and happening in the beautiful surrounding next to Lake Luzern, feels more like a blessing then an effort. This festival with slightly inappropriate name that is happening during two weeks of July, brings me bac…

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (commonly known as Coachella) is an annual three-day music and arts festival, founded by Paul Tollett, organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley. Due to popular demand, back in 2012, Coachella organisers "stretched" the festiva…

Since 1998, m4music festival takes place every March here in Switzerland: two days in Zurich and one day in the chosen city in the French part.The festival is organized by Migros Pour-cent and even though it features many concerts on the four stages in impressive Schiffbau complex, it is not the typical music festival.M4music festival is more like …

Several years ago, I remember watching Akua Naru's video: The World Is Listening. And writing her name down to check her out. But years passed and even with the note, regretfully, I forgot to do that.Then one day last year, on my way home from work, totally drained and exhausted, I was passing by the stand with the posters and one of them caught my…

I Xmas !! Xmas time is one of my favourite times..It is the time of the year when people slow down, get friendlier and more pleasant and when everywhere you go smells like Xmas cookies and GlühweinTonight, I am going to go back in time to swingy, jazzy, groovy and funky sound of Xmas.-----------------------------------------------------------------…

The Internet is a funk/soul band formed in the late 2011 by OFWGKTA (Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All or simply Odd Future) members Syd tha Kyd and Matt Martians along with touring members Jameel Bruner, Patrick Paige and Christopher A. Smith.First time I saw The Internet on the stage, was at Coachella 2014. Being one of the Coachella nerds and m…

m4music festival is happening every year, since 1998, at the end of the March, for 3 days in (2 days in Zurich and one day in the city of the French part of Switzerland). The event is organized by Migros Pour-cent.m4music is not just another music festival. While it features many concerts on the four stages in beautiful Schiffbau complex, it also o…

In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a sound recording of a song in a different song or piece. This phenomenon used to be most obvious in hip hop, but with hip hop becoming mainstream and crossing to other genres (together with hip hop producers) it is nowadays visib…

Since 2011, I've been doing special editions of the Gimme A Beat shows that I called appropriately Daytrottering. In these shows I show love for one of the coolest music websites out there: Daytrotter. I started listening to Daytrotter long time ago. In the beginning, daytrotter dudes were giving 7 original sessions, 28 songs for free each week. Ov…

Andy Allo is Cameroonian born singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist, model and actress. Being a huge Prince fan, I came across Andy few years ago when she joined his band, the New Power Generation, and start touring with him around the world. Last year I got reminded about Andy when Prince covered one of her songs, People Pleaser, on his concert at…

Yaaay, it's Xmas time again ! Xmas time is definitely one of my favourite times of the year, when people get more friendly and pleasant and everywhere you go it smells like glühwein and Xmas cookies. Therefore I prepared very easy going Xmas session for tonight, something that can be listened over and over again, this and any future Xmas. ---------…

Gavlyn is 23 year old LA based rapper. She is a member of the Organized Threat movement and part of the Broken Complex record label. Organized Threat is a collective of the international artists that aims to support good quality hip hop and keep it fresh, poetic and therefore timeless. Perfect place for somebody like Gavlyn to grow creatively and w…

Since 2003, Rock En Seine festival is happening every year at the end of the summer, last weekend of August, at Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, at Château de Saint-Cloud's park just outside Paris, inside the garden designed by Le Nôtre in 17th century. In the beginning this festival was happening only during one day and had 2 stages and 10 bands. …