a5cd8cd7

Eurotoire: Equaliser kicks off

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 14:46:09 GMT

Louvana Records kicks off collaboration to platform artists of underrepresented genders from underrepresented regions through EU:EQ

With Eurotoire’s co-creation scheme bringing together twenty emerging artists from across Europe to the EU’s easternmost island of Cyprus last year to collaboratively create and release the album “On A Red Thursday”, independent label Louvana Records are all the more emphasising how important access to transnational collaboration is for artists with a second round of the programme. Called “Eurotoire: Equaliser” (EU:EQ) the programme was recently launched with a team of twelve artists and music professionals to boost the circulation of music made by emerging artists of underrepresented genders from underrepresented regions in Europe.

In response to the pandemic’s impact on the European music industry and reaching a just and resilient recovery, Eurotoire: Equaliser combats comparatively high barriers in accessing networks and important export opportunities that woman-identifying artists from underrepresented regions in Europe face. With EU:EQ, artists and music tastemakers are disrupting the playing field in Europe’s music industry by lifting each other up, sharing consensus and collaborating artistically and professionally.

The team of twelve emerging producer-songwriters and music media professionals from ten countries were selected through an open call, and all met online for the first time this past week to head straight into the collaborative process. Later in September, the artists will head to Studio eleven63 in Cyprus’ capital of Nicosia to co-write songs that will morph into an album, to be released on Louvana Records in 2023.

The EU:EQ team of artists and music professionals:

Artists:

Anastasiia Kyslynska (Ukraine)

Andria Maria Kounna (Cyprus)

Celia Tsioufi (Greece)

Fani Solomun (Croatia)

Nora Mincheva (Bulgaria)

Rafaella Antoniou (Cyprus)

Music Professionals:

Maria Hadjiloizou (Cyprus)

Marija Vitas (Serbia)

Monika Wyrostek (Poland / Spain)

Tanya Korenika (Latvia / Estonia)

Tereza Morich (G ermany)

Social Media: @louvanarecords

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louvana

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louvanarecords/

Eurotoire: Equaliser is an action awarded by MusicAIRE (An Innovative Recovery for Europe), co-funded by the European Union under the 2020 Annual work programme for the implementation of the “Preparatory Action – Music Moves Europe: Boosting European music diversity and talent”, and managed by the consortium to which the grant was attributed, composed of INOVA+ and the European Music Council (EMC).

Experiencing Eurotoire in Nicosia, Cyprus

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 11:08:18 GMT

Experiencing Eurotoire in Nicosia

Songwriter, Raveloe (Kim Grant) from Scotland writes about her experience at Eurotoire's first residential session at Studio eleven63 in Nicosia, Cyprus on 6-12 June 2021.

With the way my flights worked out I was a little earlier to arrive than the other participants. I spent my time recovering from my journey, exploring beautiful Nicosia a little and feeling the growing anticipation of meeting my fellow songwriters, producers and the Louvana Records team.

Amongst the excitement and curiosity was a nervousness. What would my collaborators be like? Would we all feel comfortable enough to get creative together? Will I have something to contribute of worth?

It was clear from meeting everyone at the bar Prozak on the first evening we were together that we all felt equally excited to be a part of this project and were enthusiastic to get to know one another and create something. I also tried the local speciality drink, coined Brandy Sours, which myself and roommate Maris thoroughly enjoyed, lifting the haze of the long day travelling. The tables were abuzz with conversation which was surely a good sign of the relationships that were just developing that evening.

The next morning we set out on the mini bus with our driver Hector, he was a man of few words but as the days wore on he seemed to warm to us and would crack the odd joke on the early morning commute.

When we arrived at the studio we were greeted with coffee, delicious local pastries and the warm faces of Maria, Lefteris and Andreas who would be our mentors and motivators. Our first session began by making our way round the circle we had formed all stating our intentions and musical styles, it then became apparent that openness, growth and being taken out of our comfort zones were common threads that bound us. Before long we broke off into smaller groups, embarking on our first creations together. The energy in the air was palpable and every corner of the studio was abuzz with music and conversation. It was this energy that was born from the first session that kept on growing, giving us momentum and focus and drowned out any hangovers from the night before.

I was in a group with Laura, Eva and Maris, which was an eclectic bunch with our background in various genres from pop, experimental, rock, electronic and folk. We started by sharing each other’s own music and then ventured into collaboration tentatively at first. Laura gave us the first block of the song, a melodic bed, she suggested could be a pad of vocals. From that moment we began to grow the song together and the room was full of suggestions and sounds. Eva put down a bass line on the keys, Laura another melodic layer, then I chimed in with a vocal melody for the verse followed by Maris who added one for the bridge. The song continued to grow in this way as we all became more comfortable sharing.

Meanwhile Lefteris would also move between the spaces lending his ear and gentle creative suggestions, sensitive to his interpretation of where we were coming from and encouraging us to make decisions based on what we felt was right. Andreas was with the producers walking them through various ideas and processes who also moved through the spaces and sounds and Maria worked away tirelessly, a logistical queen.

On return into the larger studio room it was evident we were not alone in our productivity and connection with one another; everyone was passionately working away in their various groups until we went upstairs for a delicious lunch. What came as a great surprise was also that we could have a cold pint, which went down very well at that point in the day.

After lunch we continued to work away until it was time to return to our hotels. Little time was wasted and we regrouped in the hotel lobby before we headed out to the bar and restaurant Evergreen. We all chatted into the wee hours of the balmy warm evening with our wine, beer and cocktails to wash down the food.

Anastasia, Jérôme, Tamara and myself were the last to leave and we meandered through a park admiring the large palm trees and the stars on our way home to rest before the second day in the studio began.

Posted by Raveloe, member of the Eurotoire team

Kim Grant is a singer-songwriter based in Glasgow and performs under the moniker Raveloe. She has been writing and performing in bands for several years, including her former project Tongue Trap. Recently Raveloe released her debut EP Notes and Dreams on Olive Grove Records after self producing and recording from home as well as collaborating with friends in Melbourne and Derby, remotely. Inspired by the likes of PJ Harvey and Adrienne Lenker, "Raveloe's hushed folk missives give you that feeling of comfort and devastation in equal measure."

The song seeds have been planted

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 13:32:52 GMT

The song seeds have been planted

Songwriter, Josh Island from Luxembourg writes about his experience at Eurotoire's first residential session at Studio eleven63 in Nicosia, Cyprus on 6-12 June 2021.

As I’m writing this blog post, six of us are on the same plane back to Frankfurt after the very first session of Eurotoire. Laptops are flipped open on the cramped tray tables in front of us, Pro Tools sessions running, earbuds plugged in, heads bobbing subtly to new grooves. A relaxed steward allows us to spread out across the last four empty rows, a well-deserved treat that feels like being superstars in business class. Jutta is scribbling down lyrics in her notebook, Maris is finetuning a demo, Jérôme and Laura are experimenting with awkward clapping rhythms on their thighs, Tamara is catching up on a book and re-listening to phone recordings before taking a three-seat nap.

Sleep-deprived faces and sunburned skin aside, we only now begin to realise how intense and beautiful this last week has been.

Eurotoire was one of the big surprises of 2021. For me, Covid-19 has left a significant mark on my mental health and creative ability, and talking to my musician colleagues this week has shown me I’m not alone in this struggle. I felt stuck writing music, finding myself in dreaded moments of questioning about why I am in this profession. There were days when I even considered putting it all aside. Until the moment you start playing and writing again in a like-minded environment, and the energy, faith and passion that has gotten you to where you are today in the first place bubbles back to life. Eurotoire allowed us to do what we love most: make music. It has given me so much energy.

We hit the ground running on day one as we gathered at Studio eleven63, the scorching sun beating down on the patio outside for our morning coffee and snack breaks. (How can you get sunburned within five minutes? Go to Cyprus). We introduced ourselves in a circle and shared our expectations. It was nice to put faces to names, away from Zoom, and hear how your peers envisioned the week. The plan was for us to be writing at least a dozen songs in f our days in small groups of 2-4 people (but with no restrictions to the number of songwriters or genre) and rotate around every few hours to interact with as many people as possible. There was an urge to launch into it straight away, but also a weird element of nervousness. What if we couldn’t come up with anything? Would we even match as people and be able to write? Writer’s block? What if there’s no music after these days?

Well, those doubts were squashed within the first hour. The level of professionalism in terms of musicality, composition, attitude and dedication around the room was inspiring. The booths were filled with participants who strive to be professional musicians for the rest of their lives, and they took it seriously - it could be felt in lyric and song. Compositions started forming as soon as personal stories started flowing. Thoughts about where we’re from and where we’d like to go, our fears, dreams, insecurities, hopes and beliefs enabled us to come up with at least 15 rough demos by the end of the week. And they weren’t just some random demos thrown together, they were serious hits. Ranging in styles and arrangements but with a very clear, common thread: a group of young musicians from all over Europe who love doing what they do, who don’t have to compete, but work together and draw the best out of each other. The songs were awesome.

This writing process was encouraged even further by the evenings we spent together. Following ten-hour sessions at the studio, we got together for dinner and drinks, and even managed a dip in the ocean. Five hours of sleep became sufficient. Laura and Tamara celebrated consecutive birthdays. Strangers became friends. We’re having serious withdrawal symptoms now.

The story behind Louvana Records and Lefteris, Andreas and Maria is inspiring. To raise an infrastructure from the ground up with resources for a local community of musicians that is not having an easy time expressing their art given their circumstances and industry at present requires guts and determination. The line “there was nothing for us, so we did it ourselves” stuck with me every day, a line we have surely all taken home. Andrea Solomonides, who shared a workshop on entrepreneurship beside Henry Walton on management and Michalis Karakatsanis on networking, said that entrepreneurs are those who jump off a cliff and build their plane on the way down. That’s exactly how we feel. Thank you, Lefteris, Andreas and Maria, for bringing us together, and putting in a tremendous amount of work to write up the proposal.

Being in conversation with my peers made me realise how privileged I am to be a musician in Luxembourg. When it comes to touring, recording and financial support, the infrastructure here is steadily available, something I’ve been taking for granted. It has taught me to open my eyes further, and then to encourage others with their own development, see what resources and knowledge we can share and exchange that we can benefit from as a team. Eurotoire has not only established a co-writing project, but a community of driven musicians and young professionals that can feed off each other.

I can’t wait to be back in July, this time in the rolling hills at Fengaros Music Village with more interaction with local musicians. How cool does it feel to say ‘goodbye’ to someone, but then adding: ‘see you in six weeks?’. We’re already finetuning the demos we finished in the first session, and it will be great to welcome a further six session musicians next time around to bring a fresh perspective on the compositions. The song seeds have been planted, now let us attend to them carefully and the album will flourish.

Posted by Josh Island, member of the Eurotoire team

Josh Island is a Dutch singer-songwriter based in Luxembourg. He has performed extensively across Europe, forging ties with producers and musicians across the continent. His European identity was shaped by an international upbringing, and thanks to this he has become a prominent figure in promoting the EU's shared values and opportunities through musical performances for political institutions and organisations. Josh also worked as a radio DJ for a local community station, and is an active journalist for RTL Luxembourg.

Eurotoire's first residential session wraps up

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 13:23:09 GMT

Eurotoire's first residential session in Cyprus wraps up

Eurotoire’s very first residential session kicked off at Studio eleven63 in Nicosia, Cyprus’ capital from the 6th until 12th June 2021. Organised by Cypriot independent record label Louvana Records and co-funded by the European Union, Eurotoire is a co-creation and co-production scheme for twenty emerging musicians from across Europe. The goal: gather songwriters, producers, and session musicians to write, record, release and promote a ten-song collaborative album together - and with the completion of the first session, Eurotoire’s participants are more than ready to head to Lefkara this July and develop their demo recordings in the meantime.

After a series of virtual meetings and online mentoring sessions in March 2021, participants shared song ideas, references and intentions with one another in preparation for the collaborative residential sessions. Upon the songwriters’ and producers’ arrival in Cyprus, the studio was abuzz with creativity; listening sessions were underway and plenty of demo recordings were soon added to file.

In between the collaboration, Eurotoire hosted a series of seminars on networking, funding opportunities, and promotion in a “phygital” format for both the songwriters and producers taking part in the residency and the session musicians joining us digitally. Mentors included artist manager Henry Walton from Isn’t It Odd, and Giraffes in the Kitchen partner Andrea Solomonides among others. The participants left Eurotoire’s first residential session geared with a strategy for their upcoming album recording and release, and ready to head to the traditional Cypriot village of Lefkara along with Eurotoire’s session musicians in July.

Above all, they left with a newly-created network of international songwriters and producers, and fresh ideas about the potentials of collaboration.

Posted by Eurotoire Team

Various ways of co-writing

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 13:23:07 GMT

Various ways of co-writing

Collaborating on a song can have various meanings. There are plenty of approaches to how two or more people can engage in writing/creating a song and that can vary according to the style of music. Today I will go over the case where one person provides lyrics and another the music.

A classic way of collaborating on a song is one person writing the lyrics and another putting music on those lyrics. Even a seemingly simple and straightforward approach like that still has many scenarios and techniques deriving from it. Let us first take the case of the finished lyrics handed to the composer to make them a song. These lyrics can be written in a classic song form, like verse, chorus, bridge etc. They might also be in free form, meaning no particular meter in syllables or rhyming. It might be written as a poem and not a song. Maybe the lyrics are minimal, and the lyricist is open to the composer to use certain phrases repeatedly, stretching them, cutting them up and so forth. The lyricist and composer could either be in close collaboration, meaning that the composer could be communicating ideas back and forth with the lyricist, especially if the lyricist is also a musician themselves, or have no communication at all after the handing over of the lyrics. In the first case, it is possible that the two collaborators shift things as they go, replace words, change rhymes, tweak melodies around and so forth until the result satisfies both. In the second case there will be minimal or no communication.

On the flipside, we have the scenario where a composer / producer creates a piece of music. This can be a chord sequence and a melody, it can been a rhythmic pattern with a simple harmonic sequence and no melody. It could be a full-blown production with a complete form, which just needs melody, lyrics and vocals. This is where the term ‘topliner’ comes into play, a job description that is very common in the music industry these days. In this case, we usually have a producer creating the track and handing it over to the topliner, who will be constrained in key, tempo, and the biggest aesthetic part of the track. This is a typical way of how two artists can have a long-distance collaboration, probably never even meeting in person, managing to have a finished product over a few emails and phonecalls. But, again, this process can also be stretched out into new areas. For example during lockdown in Cyprus in 2020, my friend with whom we have an electronic music project for many years sent me a complete track of synths. As far as I remember, the idea was initially to topline the track. Eventually I ended up adding acoustic piano and lots of acoustic percussion taking the track into new areas texture-wise and form-wise. This was all done from a distance with a lot of discussions through video calls. My point is that there is never one way and it is always exciting to keep stretching the possibilities.

We will discuss other ways of co-writing in later blog posts.

Posted by Lefteris Moumtzis / Louvana Records Artistic Director

Eurotoire’s 20 Emerging Musicians Revealed!

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 09:07:29 GMT

We’re very delighted to announce the twenty emerging musicians that will participate in Eurotoire’s songwriting and production programme.

The participants make up a diverse group of songwriters, producers/sound engineers and session musicians from across Europe, who will collaborate together to write, record, produce and release an album as well as perform at Fengaros Festival.

We received a very large amount of applications, making the final selection process a very difficult task. The emerging artists were selected according to their experience, musicality, technical skills, commitment and potential for collaboration.

This past Saturday we had our kick-off meeting where all twenty participants got the chance to meet one another on Zoom, marking the beginning of Eurotoire . Participants with specialisms in songwriting are starting the collaboration process off and are working on song ideas to share with the producers and session musicians in the team. We’re looking forward to a very fruitful and creative next few months, filled with lots of bonding, new networks and some great new music!

Posted by Eurotoire Team

a5cd8cd7

Eurotoire: Equaliser kicks off

Louvana Records kicks off collaboration to platform artists of underrepresented genders from underrepresented regions through EU:EQ

Experiencing Eurotoire in Nicosia, Cyprus

Experiencing Eurotoire in Nicosia

The song seeds have been planted

The song seeds have been planted

Eurotoire's first residential session wraps up

Eurotoire's first residential session in Cyprus wraps up

Various ways of co-writing

Eurotoire’s 20 Emerging Musicians Revealed!

Meet the twenty team members here .