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Noteworthy

Shorter bits and pieces of news and noteworthy developments.

Hello Tomorrow • Slate

Cardiff’s Slate are going to play at „Hello Tomorrow“ in Zurich on March 22. Let us dive into their loud yet poetic sound.

Slate. Photo: Sam Steves

Hello Tomorrow, a two-day showcase of up-and-coming artists, brings the quartet Slate from the Welsh capital, Cardiff, to Zurich. And what a sound it is hailing over the channel.

The band released their first singles, Tabernacl and St Agatha, in 2023—fast-paced and clearly post-punk-inspired tracks with a hint of wave melancholia.

Last spring, Slate released their debut EP, Deathless, demonstrating a vastly more complex sound than the first singles indicated. A wild, bold, despairing, and daring array of songs like the long-winding Remoter Heaven explores post-punk beyond the traditional format, roaming into Britpop and indulging in monumental instrumentals.

Remoter Heaven sounds like the crossover of Joy Division and The Doors I never knew I wanted.

James Auton concluded in his review for Cardiff-based magazine God Is In The TV: „Slate feel like a band that are doing this because they have to not because they want to. Like this is their calling.“

Auton also saw Slate live already, reviewing their gig at the Focus Wales festival last year:

Slate are fantastically intense. Singer Jack is a captivating frontman, he contorts and twists as he sneers into the mic, leaning into the crowd as the band hammer out thunderous bass and cutting, angular guitar lines, underpinned by tight and concise drums.

I’d say Auton’s verdicts are highly convincing arguments to check out Slate’s first gig in Switzerland at Hello Tomorrow. Get your ticket here.

Experience Tomorrow’s Music Today

On March 22 & 23, Just Because invites you to witness tomorrow‘s music today. Learn all about this two-day newcomer event.

„Tomorrow’s music today.“—that’s the motto of the two-day event titled Hello Tomorrow, taking place at Papiersaal Zurich on March 22 and 23. Hosted by Just Because and presented by Negative White as a media partner, Hello Tomorrow offers a stage for international up-and-coming acts not yet able to play their own tours in Switzerland. It’s a perfect opportunity for music enthusiasts to witness four acts with serious breakthrough potential.

Friday, March 22

Paula Cendejas (ES) is one of the most exciting discoveries in Spanish pop and R&B. With the La Cendejas project, she brings her innermost emotions to the outside world. The songs were written crying, screaming and laughing and are a testament to strength and courage.

Slate (UK) from the Welsh capital Cardiff unleash the intensity of post-punk with the melodic power of new wave. At the heart of their identity is a love of poetry. They are the heirs of their country's storytellers.

Saturday, March 23

Soft Launch (UK) have made a name for themselves with energetic live shows without any previously released music. London’s „The Grace „was sold out within an hour. Major publications such as Dork and DIY Mag are already focussing on the band. These are signs that should not be ignored if you don't want to miss the beginnings of a great band.

Some voices immediately get under your skin, and JERUB (UK) has one of them. His compositions are both intimate and anthemically grand. With his emotional power, he manages to make you feel personally addressed by him.


In the coming weeks, we will take a deeper dive into each of the artist’s work and get to know them a bit better. Stay tuned.

ESC 2024: Non-Binary Artist Nemo Wins for Switzerland with «The Code»

Non-binary artist Nemo (24) won the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland.

With his stunning performance of The Code, Switzerland‘s Nemo won the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden. The non-binary artist convinced both the jury and the public to vote for them.

With his participation, the former rapper Nemo Mettler, who lives in Berlin and started focusing on English lyrics, followed in the footsteps of Luca Hänni (4th place), Gjon's Tears (3rd place), Marius Bear (17th place) and Remo Forrer (20th place) and was fighting for the fifth Swiss ESC final qualification in a row.

The 68th Eurovision Song Contest took place in Malmö from 7 to 11 May 2024, after Loreen won in 2023 in Liverpool with the song Tattoo.


On February 26, the Swiss newspaper «Blick» reported, citing multiple sources, that Nemo (24) will compete for Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden. The Swiss public broadcaster SRF did not comment on the report, as the official announcement, including the song's premiere, will be made later that week.

As we now know, the reports were confirmed by the announcement that Nemo will participate in the contest with the song The Code. Watch the video clip here:

According to the initial report, SRF's show director, Yves Schifferle, announced on Instagram that Switzerland would not be represented by a man with a ballad, as was the case for the previous three years.

Last year, Nemo announced that they identify as non-binary—followed by the single release This Body.

On Instagram, Nemo wrote: «I haven’t opened up about it publicly, but some of you already know: I don’t identify as a man or a woman. I’m just Nemo. I love thinking of gender as a galaxy, picturing myself as a little star floating somewhere within. That’s where I feel most like myself.»

From Dialect Rapper To Sensitive Singer-Songwriter

Nemo in 2017 when he still was a Swiss dialect rapper. Photo: Matthias Hoffmann

The song own sh¡t, released in May 2022, already signified a path towards quirky pop music, away from Nemo's origin in dialect rap sound.

The artist, born in 1999, showed early talent in music—playing the violin, the piano, and drums. With a celebrated participation at the SRF Bounce Cypher in 2016, only 16 years old, Nemo jumped into public consciousness.

2017, Nemo's single Du reached platin status.

Malummí's «The Universe Is Black» Awarded with IndieSuisse Album of the Year 2023

The winner of the IndieSuisse Album of the Year award has been announced: «The Universe Is Black» by Malummí convinced the jury.

Switzerland's independent music scene has chosen the «Album of the Year» for the ninth time: This year's music prize, awarded by IndieSuisse, the association of independent Swiss music labels and producers, goes to the album The Universe Is Black by Malummí, which was chosen by a 28-member jury. The award will be presented at the m4music Festival in Zurich.

In November, all IndieSuisse members had the opportunity to nominate two releases from their catalogue of albums released in 2023 for the IndieSuisse Album of the Year and the Futuristic Perspective Award. For the latter, the members had to argue why the album they nominated offers a futuristic perspective.

Out of a total of 19 nominated albums, The Universe Is Black by Malummí was voted into first place by an independent jury of Swiss and European industry specialists. When selecting the jury, attention was paid to a diverse composition.

Following their debut album Blood (2021), Basel-based project Malummí released their second album The Universe Is Black in November 2023. It marks a departure from the quiet and soft electronic-coloured pop of the debut and ventures into a broader alternative rock sound. The familiar elements of intimate folk-pop with the distinctive, expressive vocals remain.

The Universe Is Black, by Malummí
10 track album

On the new album, Malummí applied new forms of composition and arrangement, breaking away from stylistic conventions. The new album is characterised by a captivating blend of minimalist, experimental indie rock and warm folk-pop, and explores different forms of relationships: to oneself, to other people, to society.

Influenced by personal experiences, it deals with themes such as self-love, mental health, rebirth and the joy of living. The Universe Is Black also takes a critical look at social constructs in a patriarchal, white society.

m4music Festival 2024: New Acts Announced

The m4music Festival takes place from March 22 to March 23 in Zurich. Here are the new acts confirmed to take the stage.

The m4music Festival is one of the most significant events in Switzerland's music industry. During two days, the festival provides a range of panels, discussions, and workshops and a wide variety of up-and-coming artists from around the globe.

New Artists In The Line-up

Today, the m4music announced additional acts which complement the already communicated line-up. Here are the latest announcements:

Friday, March 22nd

  • Aime Simone
  • Éna Vera
  • Leila
  • Mount Jacinto
  • Natascha Polké
  • Polarbæren

Saturday, March 23rd

  • Edb
  • Nathalie Fröhlich
  • Wa22ermann
  • Sam Quealy

On November 29, 2023, m4music announced the first round of acts in their line-up. Here are all the acts you can expect alongside our personal recommendations within the line-up:

Friday, March 22nd

  • Noemi Beza
  • Mary Middlefield [Negative White recommended]
  • Berq
  • Deadletter [Negative White recommended]
  • Siren of Lesbos
  • Bipolar Feminin
  • Dave Okumu & The Seven Generations
  • Benjamin Amaru
  • Yunè Pinku
  • Fulmine
  • Teezo Touchdown
  • Sofia Kourtesis live
  • UTO

Saturday, March 23rd

  • Moonpools [Negative White recommended]
  • Obliecht
  • Hannah Jadagu [Negative White recommended]
  • Ray Laurél
  • BARON.E [Negative White recommended]
  • EKKSTACY
  • Julia Alexa
  • Say She She
  • Steintor Herrenchor
  • Bibiza
  • Barry Can't Swim live
  • Nnavy