Interview: Hauschka

By Bas

Volker Bertelmann, aka Hauschka, is preparing his show at the Goethe Institute in Amsterdam. In his case this means cases full of accessories and duct tape. Lots of duct tape. He opens the lid of the grand piano, and within minutes it’s full of all kinds of foreign objects. Pieces of wood, bottle caps, a tambourine and the aforementioned duct tape make Hauschka’s piano into the one of a kind instrument he uses for his unique performances.

After the show we asked him some questions on music, film, and the use of ping pong balls in a piano.

Preview: This Friday, May 31 @ Goethe Institute Amsterdam

This is Hauschka, real name Volker Bertelmann, from Düsseldorf, Germany. When he performs he sits behind a piano. But what he does to this instrument does not even come close to what you think of when you imagine someone simply 'playing' a piano. His piano's are prepared. This means he upgrades the instrument using anything from pingpong balls to aluminum foil, getting all kinds of alien sounds out of it. Combining his prepared piano's with electronic music, expect anything but your average piano soundtrack to accompany the selected works shown this at this Friday's installment of Cinesonic.

Check out this video of Hauschka performing for Dutch broadcasting company NPR.

Hauschka VS Mono No Aware & Desire. This Friday, May 31, 8:30 PM, Goethe Institute Amsterdam.

Interview: Sebastian Diaz Morales

By Bas

Letting go of your work and having someone play with it without having anything to say can be hard. Argentinian video artist Sebastian Diaz Morales dared to surrender his work to the mercy of experimental guitarists Raphael Vanoli and Mark Morse, for Cinesonic's latest session last April. He kindly answered a few questions on this project and his work in general.

Interview: Raphael Vanoli & Mark Morse

By Bas

On a rainy Friday night in Amsterdam, two men are building up a vast array of effect pedals and amplifiers in preparation for the 45th installment of Cinesonic. Tonight three short films by Sebastien Diaz Morales will be provided with a new, original soundtrack by guitarists Raphael Vanoli and Mark Morse, for whom this occasion also marks their first ever collaboration as a duo.

'So what do you think?' Mark asks Raphael, concerning something probably to do with one of the many cables and amplifiers scattered around the floor of one of the Goethe Institute's stately halls. 'Shoes off', he answers, removing his soaked footwear. Everybody made it to the venue through what one could call a spring shower, but this was soon forgotten after everybody settled down in a beanbag with a cold beer, ready to be taken on a trip through Insight, Oracle and The Apocalyptic Man.

After their show, we sat down with Mark and Raphael to ask them all about their Cinesonic adventure.

Preview: Tonight @ Goethe Institute Amsterdam

This is a video of Knalpot rocking out in St. Petersburg. Tonight one half of this Amsterdam-based indie duo, Raphael Vanoli (the one on the right), will join forces with Mark Morse to provide a score to the work of Sebastian Diaz Morales. Two guys, five amplifiers, three films. You don't want to miss this!

It will probably not sound anything like this, but hey, who doesn't like a good Youtube clip on a rainy afternoon?



Raphael Vanoli & Mark Morse meet Sebastian Diaz Morales, Goethe Institute Amsterdam, 20:30.