Edition #110
Today, we recommend the new songs by Hugo Trist, Harmless, Anna Erhard, Superdark, and Barbicop.
Welcome aboard, and enjoy today's roundtrip from Switzerland to Los Angeles, with a little layover around Berlin. We will serve you an exceptional variety of electronic sounds, a blend of driven indie-rock, topped off with some raw sprinkles of kraut-y psych-rock. Sit back and relax—if you can.
Hugo Trist – Say It, Mean It
Hugo Trist is Switzerland's emerging future garage enigma. Say It, Mean It demonstrates the artist's love for nostalgia-dripping 2-step sound. Despite the history's weight, Hugo Trist effortlessly catapults the track into a contemporary field of tension, meandering between melancholia and excitement. And the massive bass drones make you feel so small. What a banger!
Harmless – CYA
Formerly known as Twin Cabins, Harmless just released the album Springs Eternal, which deals with a near-death accident with a drunk driver. One of the eleven tracks, CYA, is especially intriguing: urging and fast-paced yet still airy. The song feels like a callback to early The Cure, blended with sun-flooded Californian indie vibes.
Anna Erhard – Botanical Garden
Anna Erhard was inspired by a joke Google review about how the middle of the Atlantic has terrible parking. She created a persona who is constantly unsatisfied, not even enjoying the flowers in the botanical garden. Botanical Garden is a warm and grooving composition, one that puts a smile on your face with the hilarious lyrics.
Superdark – Opposite Thumb
Opposite Thumb by Switzerland's Superdark roars and rumbles through a sea of so-called wisdom and advice to improve one's life. The raw, breathlessly pushing rock sound is a fitting anachronism to contrast the modern promotion of self-optimisation. Building up intensity, Opposite Thumb gains more and more despair but also energy.
Barbicop – Electric by Feel!
There was a glitch in the matrix between Berlin and Switzerland, and through the digital cracks, Barbicop suddenly appeared with a sound as quirky as smooth and ethereal. In Electric by Feel!, Barbicop tackles the ever-mounting pressure to be productive and to find inspiration. The atmospheric composition definitely puts Barbicop on our watchlist.
You can listen to today's curation on selected streaming services:
Spotify • Apple Music • YouTube Music • Bandcamp
Markus Nikolaus – Pure Tears
Markus Nikolaus is about to play his first solo gigs in the US. Meanwhile, we are hosting the premiere of his beautifully stripped-down track «Pure Tears».
A message arrives at 2 am—sent by Markus Nikolaus, who is currently on the other side of the pond, in the United States of America, and about to play his first gigs in the land of the free and the home of bravely divided politics.
«Do you want to present my new single?» he asks—and the question might very well be rhetorical. Of course, we do.
Markus Nikolaus, singer of Lea Porcelain and the embodiment of general creative craziness, already starred in a previous premiere. With Hartes Porzellan—a collaboration with Simon Kaiser—he delivered the rumbling All In Your Head. And solo, Nikolaus made it even in our 2023 best list with the heartfelt Never Let You Go.
With his new song, Pure Tears, Markus Nikolaus stays on the soft and gentle side, similar to Never Let You Go, and yet, the composition has a unique vibe. Recorded with a great deal of room for the sound to expand, he kept it as stripped-down, as reduced as humanly possible: a flamenco guitar, a voice.
«Pure tears are the nicest way to die before your eyes»
However, the profound beauty of Pure Tears reaches deeper than its simplicity. It is an intimate feeling that the song is created while you are listening—a sonic stream of consciousness, underlined by its DIY-styled, lo-fi production, which, for once, does not feel like an act but a deliberate choice to facilitate immediacy.
Our Diary of m4music 2024
Negative White is attending the m4music Festival 2024 in Zurich. Two days of conference and live performances. Here is our diary.
Part I
Preparation
15.03.2024 • 08:45
Okay, the countdown is running: One week until m4music officially opens its gates.
And I can’t postpone the necessary preparation work any longer. I have to have a plan, which I will inevitably throw overboard during the festival because that’s just the festival’s nature.
But here’s my preliminary plan for the conference on Friday:
- A love story – SRG and the Swiss music industry
- Sexualised violence in the music industry – prevention and awareness
- Music and AI Now is the Future of the Past
On Saturday, I’ll probably only attend «Fair pay in the music scene: between expectations and reality» since I’ll also hang out at the invite-only «Business Mixer Brunch» by Swiss Music Export.
By the way, the official conference panels are free, so if you’re curious about any of them, you should definitely drop by. Here’s an overview of all panels.
I feel that the panels have become way more artist-focused, which is not bad but less attractive for me to cover as I’d be more curious about industry challenges. Also, a more fun and lighthearted panel is missing.
18.03.2024 • 07:25
After my recommendations for the conference, it’s time for the concerts I’m most looking forward to at this year’s m4music festival.
Moonpools
My favourite Moonpools memory dates back to July 2022. They’ve released their single, Damaged Goods, which immediately landed in my heavy rotation. We spent a week in Scotland and, one day, picked up two hitchhikers. The song was playing faintly in the background. One of the guys was in awe and asked who was playing. So far, I haven’t seen the Swiss band live. After their incredible new single, Never Mind, I can’t wait for their show.
Mary Middlefield
I could get a taste of Mary Middlefield’s raw live performance at last year’s «Musikfestwochen» in Winterthur, leaving me wanting more. She performs her indie-folk songs with the verve of a rockstar: intense, pressing, demanding.
BARON.E
The Swiss electro-pop duo BARON.E has been floating around my head since 2021’s COMME RÊVE. Their oscillating quality, paired with a love for detailed melodies, always grabs my attention. As with the Moonpools, I haven’t had the chance to catch them live on stage. It’s finally time to see them.
Hannah Jadagu
Last year, US artist Hannah Jadagu released the exceptional debut album Aperture. Songs like Warning Sing or Lose combine refined songwriting, soul-esque grooves, and rough-edged rock flair. And since up-and-coming musicians from the States rarely come to Switzerland, it’s definitely a must-see for me.
Deadletter
Skimming through the festival’s line-up, Deadletter stood out, but then again, I’m a sucker for UK post-punk, and the band adds a flavour of DIY and 2000s indie-rock to the sound. I’m predicting a sweaty and escalating show.
Part II
Festival
22.03.2024 • 08:21
Good morning. Today, I will start scribbling in this festival diary for real. And the first day obviously needs to start with fuel.
I’d say I’m more or less prepared for the whole thing, but I still need to pack the essentials. In a way, m4music is unique since I get to sleep in my own bed tonight, but simultaneously, it’s also a drag not to have a place to sleep really close by—even if it just would be a tent.
22.03.2024 • 12:30
Okay, all set and on the way. I’m not sure if the laptop will be really necessary; we’ll see. Better save than sorry.
22.03.2024 • 13:30
Okay, it feels like always: A slow start, people hanging around, chit-chatting, saying hello. Some drink beers, while others still rely on coffee. The sun’s shining, life’s good.
And as always, the growing crowd is a unique blend of business casual industry guys, cliché rocker dudes, and everything in between. For now, I’m just waiting for the first panel to start. And I think I’ll stick with Mate for now.
22.03.2024 • 16:00
As expected, the plan starts to fall apart. I’ve been to the SRG panel; however, as soon as I sat down, I thought this might get quite boring: It was supposed to analyse the relationship between Swutzerland’s public broadcaster and the music industry. «A love story,» as the panel’s title hinted.
The panel started with a speech by Gilles Marchand, the soon-to-be-ex director of the public broadcasting institution. He obviously praised the SRG’s efforts in promoting Swiss music, and some of the numbers he presented were quite impressive. Then again, this speech could have been a PDF.
The essential question, the political threat against the SRG, was only touched lightly. If you’d like to know more about the potential impact of cutting the public broadcasting fees in half would have on the music industry, check out this article:
Janosch Troehler
Marchand’s speech was followed by individual presentations of the language divisions of SRG. Also, impressive numbers, cool visual trailers, but ultimately nothing new or controversial. The actual discussion panel, featuring two SRG people and two people from the music industry, started off with enough cringe to get out and start with the first beer.
22.03.2024 • 18:00
My plan completely derailed. I skipped a couple of panels and caught up with some people instead. Mary Middlefield drones over the place outside of Schiffbau, the festival’s primary location.
We’re talking about wokeness, awareness, and the fact that the Swiss music industry is too nice. No drama. No scandals. Everybody’s playing ball. Cheap supermarket beer fuels the debate.
22.03.2024 • 20:00
I’ve been slacking around a bit. Undoubtedly, witnessing the saddest moment so far when Neil, singer of Bahnhofbuffet Chancental, kicked and spilt his beer.
Also, I had a quick chat with Frank from Lautstark, a music promoter. Now, it’s time for music. Club Exil. Deadletter.
22.03.2024 • 21:00
It smells like sweat, beer, perfume, and maybe a bit of piss. The only atmosphere the UK band Deadletter truly deserves.
They play with the aggression of earliest post-punk, dressed in 90s grunge, handling their instruments with the exceptional sophistication of art-rockers. Explosive. Disruptive. Angry.
One can’t be sure if it’s their attitude or the frontman is actually pissed. The audience could have been more enthusiastic, but that’s just Switzerland for the most part… No comparison to a pub full of drunk Englishmen.
And the saxophone… oh my! If you can, see them!
22.03.2024 • 22:25
After Deadletter, it can only go down. Well, probably. Right now, and that’s the exhausting thing about m4music, I can’t walk 10 meters without saying hi to someone.
That’s why I sit in the Hall, the biggest stage at the festival, and a guy from Paris is playing. Aime Simone. I don’t know, and it sounds rather underwhelming.
23.03.2024 • 00:16
On the train home, or at least in that direction. I’ll have to call a cab to get home. But it was time and a good opportunity to say goodnight. The first day is done—and, unfortunately, but expectedly, relatively unspectacular.
However, some of the conversations I had (which made up the bulk of my first day) went deeper, discussing the broader challenges the music industry is currently facing. But, let’s be honest, we also reminisced a lot about past times.
It’s the beauty but also the dirty little secret of m4music: The music is incidental. It’s about seeing and being seen, about connecting and networking—building relationships—especially for younger artists. I met a woman who worked in my team a few years ago, moderating comments for a big media brand. She has now started creating music. For her, the festival provides the perfect opportunity to learn and meet people.
The industry aspect of m4music seems more profound this year: The conference mainly provides hands-on information for musicians, event organisers, or other professionals. Admittedly, for me, the unfortunate thing is that these topics make rather boring stories, even for overly interested music fans. It’s too nerdy.
Nevertheless, tomorrow—well, later today, actually—there are definitely more bands I plan to see. But you know, plans and m4music don’t really work out as intended.
23.03.2024 • 09:15
After two coffees, I’d consider myself halfway living again. A glance out the window offers all the reasons you’d need to stay inside: It’s cold, wet, and terribly windy. But it can’t stop me from finally seeing Moonpools today, whose song Never Mind is already a high-chance contender to land on this year’s best list.
I had the chance to talk to Alain and Arthur from Young+Aspiring, Moonpools label and booking agency. They assured me their upcoming EP, Hide and Seek, will feature another excellent banger. They also revealed that there are about ten demos for their debut album. I’m already excited.
23.03.2024 • 12:30
I’m later on the train to Zurich than I originally intended. I needed more time to get in a ready state, ready for another night of standing around, talking, and listening.
Some of yesterday’s discussions are still ringing in my head—especially those around the function of music journalism in small Switzerland.
If you’re a regular reader of Negative White, you might find that we rarely write negative things about Swiss artists. There are two reasons:
First, Negative White is a volunteer project. Nobody earns any salary, and at least I have no interest in spending my free time ripping apart music I don’t like. Then, I would not write about it, although I know it would generate way more traffic.
Second, I see a significant difference in writing about an artist’s work, critiquing or praising it, and reporting on the industry itself. The latter requires much more journalistic distance and rigour. There is no reason or need to be overly cautious reporting on institutions and large organisations.
23.03.2024 • 14:15
Just came out of the interesting «Fair Pay» panel, which definitely needs some more digestion. But now, with perfect sunshine, Moonpools.
23.03.2024 • 15:11
Moonpools promised. Moonpools delivered. The Swiss band pushed its already heavy wall of sound with pressure over the sunny place without compromising on the dreamy wave elements.
23.03.2024 • 15:55
Waiting for Obliecht to start. First beer.
23.03.2024 • 16:15
Obliecht. Atmospheric dulcimer indie rave sound with Swiss German and English lyrics. Weird but good.
23.03.2024 • 19:25
Alright, a quick update on what happened. Had a couple of beers and met a couple of people—old and new. And I saw EDB, a Swiss guy, live on stage. With his Swiss German lyrics, he certainly has boundaries, but his show was energetic and charismatic. Now, I’m mostly looking forward to Hannah Jadagu.
And, completely honest, after that, I’m probably done.
23.03.2024 • 20:50
Hannah Jadagu hammered heavily in Exil Club. Between sugary melodies, raw rock energy, droning noise, and R&B groove, her performance was incredibly cool. The loudness perfectly contrasted with her soothing voice, and when the sound got more complex, Jadagu and her band really shined in sophistication and brilliance.
23.03.2024 • 21:30
Alright, final entry of the festival part of this diary. I call it a day shamefully early, but I’m too old for FOMO, and Hannah Jadagu’s concert seemed like the perfect final closure.
Over these two days, I’ve experienced great performances by local and international artists, reconnected with musicians and industry people, and generally had a good time. But there’s also some criticism, which I’ll elaborate further in the diary’s third and last section in the coming days.
In the meantime: Thank you if you followed my reporting so far. 🙏
Part III
Final Thoughts
The m4music 2024 is now part of history. Although an overall urgency was absent from both the festival’s line-up and the conference, it was again a must to be there. It is the one event almost everybody in Switzerland’s indie music scene is attending and for me to have some face-to-face time with people whom I only am in contact via email throughout the year.
So, in a way, it doesn’t really matter if the programme is better or worse—the main focus remains networking and relationship-building. However, that makes for a terrible report.
On the other hand, I could still experience some musical highlights: Deadletter, Moonpools, Obliecht, EDB, and Hannah Jadagu delivered all energetic and impressive performances I shall fondly remember. Also the moments of genuine laughter and fun. Or profound debates with people, which added new insights and perspectives to my understanding of the challenges of the music business.
Nevertheless, when I reflect on this year’s festival edition, everything felt a bit too cosy, a bit too nice. There may be no need for a big scandal, yet a pinch of controversy and opposite opinions might create more intrigue and new ideas. I couldn’t shake the feeling that the business remains stalled in the face of significant global shifts.
The Most Idiotic PR Email We Ever Received
From its initial premise to the execution and intention: This is undoubtedly the most trash PR spam we received so far.
As a music magazine, we receive dozens of emails every week promoting new music, pushing news, and providing reporting opportunities. Combing through this never-ending flood in the inbox is maybe the most tiresome task running Negative White.
However, once in a while, a PR email stands out—and today’s contestant is so bad, so moronic, that we can’t withhold you of its stupidity. Let’s start with the headline:
«Your taste in music invites bacteria into your home.»
Intriguing, without a doubt. So, what’s lying underneath this bold claim?
«Are your favourite Spotify playlists turning your home into a breeding ground for bacteria? Experts at Company X sound the alarm and warn of a surprising link between music streaming habits and household hygiene.»
Yes, I’ve censored the company’s name for reasons I’ll explain shortly.
But the email goes on with a quote by the company’s CEO, who cannot be found anywhere on the web: «Different music makes people feel different things—that’s a fact. What is surprising, however, is how these feelings translate into behaviours that change the microbiome of our environment.»
The PR article then explains how it works, claiming the following:
- Relaxing music reduces the heart rate, and we move more calmly, allowing dust and bacteria to settle.
- Lively music raises the heartbeat, and we move more hectically, which then stirs up dust and displaces bacteria so that they may find more suitable breeding grounds.
- Music can also affect bacteria that live on our skin. Emotional responses to music can make us sweat, creating a moist environment where bacteria like to colonise.
The article then suggests ways to mitigate the risks with handy tips like balanced playlists, regular dusting, and skincare. Thanks so much; what would I do without you?!
AI-generated SEO Bullshit
The article’s premise is already so idiotic that I had to look deeper at the article and the company behind this «research paper». Yes, they really call it that.
The text is stuffed with obvious keywords like Spotify or organisations like Harvard Health, The Daily Beast, and CNN, which apparently should provide some legitimacy but are only in the article to optimise the text for search engines. The general practice is called SEO, Search Engine Optimisation.
The article, written in German, clearly shows signs of being generated with an AI tool. The sentence structure is unnecessarily complicated and weird, and the overuse of bullet points is also something AI-generated text is prone to.
A short experiment with ChatGPT offers similar results in text as the email we received, boldly voicing claims of research, studies, and experts—obviously without any sources.
A Cycle of Garbage
The email came from an address that leads us to a crappy content factory called WireRelay which pumps out garbage like «Experts warn: answering calls with your right ear could cause brain damage!».
But the most obvious giveaway that we deal with some otherworldly bullshit here is Company X. What is this company actually doing?
They offer AI chatbots for influencers where users can pay $10 to chat with an AI version of their influencer. So far, they offer two influencers you can chat with. Impressive! Nothing in the article remotely has to do with their business, nor do they have any music, hygiene, or health expertise.
Unfortunately, a quick search reveals that this article has been published several times by self-proclaimed media outlets, perpetuating the trash. Some even cared so little that the final ask in the email was included: «Please refer to URL of Company X if you decide to use the research.»
It’s a whole shitty ecosystem: content farms promoting fake business with fake research published by fake media websites.
Mind Wanderer: Songs for Reflection and Deep Work
Today, we launch «Mind Wanderer», our new and exclusive playlist with a blend of ambient, instrumental, and lo-fi tracks for introspection, relaxation or deep work.
Are you listening to music while working, thinking, and generating new ideas? Then «Mind Wanderer» will be the playlist you want in your pocket.
With its blend of ambient sounds, neo-classical compositions, and lo-fi tunes, it helps you get into the flow and deep work or encourages you to reflect and let your mind roam freely.
Edition #109
Today, we recommend the new songs by Tusks, GHLOW, Pina Palau, Clocktopus, and Michele Ducci.
This week’s edition has two faces: a loud, overwhelming, maybe even aggressive one and a soft, tender, calm one. Yet both are equally intriguing—from the sensitive ballads of Tusks and Michele Ducci to the raw power of GHLOW and the gigantic opulence of Clocktopus.
You can listen to today's curation on selected streaming services:
Spotify • Apple Music • YouTube Music • Bandcamp
Tusks – Body Ache
Featured last year with the exceptional Artificial Flame, Tusks’ next album release, Gold, is coming closer. Body Ache is the latest and last single, perfectly incorporating the essence of the British singer-songwriter’s beauty: A slow ballad maximising effect through radical minimalism. Tusks leaves room for brief silences and places subtle decorations into the song’s composition.
GHLOW – Levitate
Last week, the Stockholm-based duo GHLOW released their new album, Levitate, including a namesake track. The sound of Emille de Blanche and Nikolay Evdokimov is abrasive. The guitar screams and lurches like sirens in the night. Chainsaw synths. Levitate lingers between the raw energy of punk and the melancholy of post-punk—but primarily, the song is an unstoppably forward-pushing bolt of energy.
Michele Ducci – River
Italian musician Michele Ducci used to be one-half of the electro-pop band M+A. Now, Ducci switches lanes, pursuing another sonic vision that results in River, the first single of his upcoming album, Sive. The song is a hauntingly stunning piano ballad, highlighting Ducci’s whispering-smokey voice. River flows slowly yet with intense intimacy, providing a calming counterpoint to NYC’s overstimulation, which prompted the song.
Clocktopus – My Riders
The Dutch band Clocktopus is a beast with many tentacles, each bringing different sounds to the table. The collective built a studio in the Thai jungle and recorded an album. And the result—as demonstrated in the track My Riders—sounds incredible. A groovy banjo hook meets raspy vocals until the composition explodes in shouts and massive brass lines, and strings add depth in the background: It’s an overwhelming thing.
Pina Palau – Get A Dog
Swiss singer-songwriter Pina Palau just released her second album, Get A Dog. The namesake song is a heartfelt indie-folk song, warm and earthy, accompanied by captivating storytelling. Driven by a steady beat, the slow electric guitar spreads tenderness, while the acoustic one indulges in playfulness. Get A Dog warps around you like a blanket and crawls under your skin.
CLOSED: 4x2 Tickets for m4music's Saturday
We are giving away 4x2 tickets for Saturday, March 23rd, at the m4music Festival. Learn more about the contest.
On Friday and Saturday, March 22nd to 23rd, the m4music Festival again takes place in Zurich. Negative White will be on the ground, covering both days in our festival diary.
And maybe we will see you there as well because we have 4x2 tickets for Saturday to give away. Although there are amazing free entrance shows to enjoy, the ticket opens the doors to even more acts:
- Hannah Jadagu [Negative White recommends]
- Ray Laurél
- BARON.E [Negative White recommends]
- EKKSTACY
- Julia Alexa
- Say She She [Negative White recommends]
- Steintor Herrenchor
- Bibiza
- Wa22ermann
- Barry Can't Swim
- Nnavy
- Domiziana
- Sam Quealy
- UTO
- Meg 10
- Luca Durán
Take Part In The Contest Today
To enter the contest, simply fill out the form below until Wednesday, March 20, 8 pm. The four lucky winners will receive their two tickets via email.
Good luck!
Dressed Like Boys Debuts Heartfelt First Single, «Nando»
Belgian musician Jelle Denturck premieres the debut single, «Nando», with his solo project Dressed Like Boys today.
Jelle Denturck, a Belgian musician, is known as the frontman of the indie-rock band DIRK. The band plays a raw, fast-paced sound. However, Denturck hits different tunes with his new solo project, Dressed Like Boys.
The debut single, Nando, will be released tomorrow, celebrating its exclusive premiere today with Negative White.
The musician explains his sonic love letter to the most trusted people: «Being in a relationship will inevitably cause turbulence. That’s what Nando is about. We all suffer insecurities, injuries, doubts and regrets for the sake of love.»
As Dressed Like Boys, Denturck displays tender honesty and intimacy. He wants to write «truthful, heartfelt songs that sound like they’ve always existed.» Exploring the themes of personal freedom, relationships, and homosexuality, Dressed Like Boys is not a mere outlet for an artistic vision but a vehicle for introspection and reflection.
Nando, can you hear the drums
Hold me while we're dancing
Until the morning light
If you like
Inspired by pop and rock legends of the 1970s, such as, Bowie or Elton John, Nando combines fragility and vulnerability with expression, and large parts. There are soft, reduced parts, with only a piano accompanying his voice. But the composition builds to a full-blown arrangement with all the flourish of pop—vocalising choirs, strings, and escalating drums—before collapsing again into simplicity.
Nando is beautiful, like any piano pop-rock ballad. It is, at times, overwhelming in its burst of opulence. But even in this big moment, it always feels close to the heart and never out of touch or put on a pedestal. It is filled with authenticity.
