There’s just over a week to go before Le Guess Who? takes over Utrecht. With over 150 artists set to perform, how do we make sense of such a monumental line-up? We made a list of the artists we’re most excited to see and asked them for their recommendations.
Ami Dang
Performing Saturday 9th November at Janskerk
Based in Baltimore, Ami Dang has woven herself into the fabric of the local DIY music scene for a decade now. An extraordinary vocalist, sitarist, producer and composer, Ami released a new album last August, Parted Plains, a mesmerizing and transcending all instrumental record blending ambient, trance and electronic music, and inspired by South Asian and Middle Eastern folktales. We are thrilled to see her live at Le Guess Who? and asked her what other artists she is looking forward to seeing live. Read on to find out.
“I very intentionally focused on womyn (and POC) artists as my choices, even though I’m also interested in some male and male, white musician.”
Dossier X
Performing Sunday 10th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by Patrick Higgins
“I met Monica Mirabile ten years ago when she was making costumes and helping with art direction for an avant musical theatre adaptation of the Japanese story Matsukaze. I saw her blossom into an amazing movement artist and dancer in Baltimore and then further develop her work after she moved to Brooklyn. She is one-half of FlucT, and continues to surprise and impress me with every project she’s involved in. I would never miss an opportunity to see her work! She also choreographed Mitski’s video for “Washing Machine Heart.”
Haco
Performing Saturday 9th November at Stadsschouwburg, curated by Jenny Hval
“I’m really surprised (and maybe embarrassed?) that I hadn’t heard of Haco before now. She’s been around for a while, so I was surprised that I hadn’t heard of her. But then I thought, of course we haven’t heard about her much: she a womyn artist of color who uses electronics/technology–which is a very white, cis-male-dominated space.
I checked out her work, and it seems that she might be a jack and master of all trades: performance art, sound art and music, visual direction–she does it all! Listening to her work was like walking through a park of classical sculptures that turn into cyborgs right before your eyes.”
Lafawndah
Performing Friday 8th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by Iris van Herpen & Salvador Breed
“In 2015, I was obsessively listening to Lafawndah’s Soundcloud page. I was totally absorbed in her expressive yet somewhat nasal voice and the mashup of splashy beats and contemporary electronics. I haven’t gotten a chance to see her live, but her videos and photos offer a glimpse into a fantastic world that can only manifest into a grand production.”
Le Guess Who? will take place 7-10 November. For the full line-up, tickets and more info visit leguesswho.com. And take a look at other artists we’re excited about picking their own Le Guess Who?’s Who.