Spring Sessions: Robert Machiri & guests

05.04.2024 – 06.04.2024

with hinna, Philo Tsoungui & Kim Vu

Robert Machiri is an archivist, a (re)searcher, a transient, and a connector. He connects people, stories, epochs and places by weaving sounds with images, objects with sound, language with silence, spaces with ideas, rituals with utopia. With this unique approach he draws musics from different decades and continents. Making references to mixtape practices, he creates sound travels (moving across experimental, jazz, afro beats, electronic music, field recordings and spoken word) as well as spaces, in which the audience can meet the spirits of the past and summon a common future.

Together with Memory Biwa, Robert Machiri was a fellow of the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program as Duo Listening At Pungwe in 2021/22. He has been based in Berlin since and focusing more and more on personal music productions, however involving interactions with other musicians and artists from the diaspora and beyond. First results of these endeavours to be presented during these interventions at the gallery are his works in progress: recordings of sessions at Morphine Raum in Berlin and in Valencia at Lorenc Barber’s residency (under Barber’s tutelage for Maerzmusik 2022), field work in Papua, Indonesia and Houston, Texas. Presented solo and with guest musicians, live and in DJ sets. 

The sessions will welcome spring at daadgalerie. With a widely open glass window front, the gallery space will invite all to a moment of togetherness and deep breaths. It is an invitation not only to exorcize the winter ghosts, but also an invitation to a space without fear that is so needed in these times.

Friday April 5th from 7pm
live performances by Robert Machiri, Philo Tsoungui & Kim Vu

Philo Tsoungui is a versatile artist with a background in classical percussion, timpani, and jazz drum sets, leading to a Master of Arts focused on popular music. They have performed internationally, from the USA to Hong Kong, and collaborated with notable artists and institutions. Philo’s work spans drumming, composing, producing, and video art, characterized by a blend of classical, spiritual Cameroonian, and electronic music. Their art breaks genre boundaries and is marked by interdisciplinarity, influenced by their Cameroonian heritage and a commitment to innovative artistic expression.

Kim Vu is a Viet-Polish musician based in Berlin. Trained in classical music and guitar, Kim’s passion for exploring unconventional sounds led them from a Euro-centric music education to subcultures such as hardcore punk and metal. As Kim’s musical interests continued to expand, their journey transitioned into engaged collaborations with producers and artists from various fields, resulting in several gigs as a session musician and curator across different genres. Currently Kim is a member of the metal band ‘Graien’. Beyond playing music, Kim is one of the founding members of the Decolonoize Collective.

Saturday April 6th from 7 pm
Listening Session with archival material & personal recordings by Robert Machiri
DJ Sets by hinna & Robert Machiri

hinna, a passionate music selector, hinna weaves Leftfield Electronica, frenetic drums, Disco, & Soul into her DJ sets. Catch her on the regular at the Hotel Telegraphenamt where she holds a weekly residency & once a month spinning records & manning the vinyl section at The Store X (Soho House).

Photo: Eunice Maurice