Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/939870
maltatoday SUNDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2018 This Week 33 WHAT'S ON Valletta: February 10 (17:00, 18:00, 19:00), Ħamrun: Febru- ary 11 (09.30), Victoria: Febru- ary 11 (15.30 and 18.00), Nadur: February 11 (20:30) and Għaxaq: February 12 (19.30). The show is directed by Jacob Piccinino and co-produced by Festivals Malta, Karnival ta' Malta, Gozo Carni- val, and the Department of Mal- tese at the University of Malta. FEBRUARY 24, 25 Años Luz Shadow puppetry performance by Spanish theatre company Luz Micro y Punto at the Mqabba Primary School Hall, Mqabba at 18:00 (February 24) and 16:00 (February 25). The story centres around a composer caught in the process of musing over her next score, which she serendipitously uncovers through a playful crea- tive process. Bookings: http:// tickets.valletta2018.org. PUBLIC TALKS FEBRUARY 15 Pioneers Of The 3s-Escapes: George Sand And Frederic Chopin In Valldemossa Talk by Dr Julia Szołtysek of the Department of Postcolonial Studies and Travel Literatures at the university of Silesia in Katowice at the Mediterranean Institute, University of Malta at 18:00. In her presentation, Dr Szoltysek will look at George Sand's A Winter in Majorca from the perspective of con- temporary tourism and the ever more popular winter escapes to warmer climes, assuming that Sand and Chopin indeed played a pioneering part in the develop- ment of the trend. The argument will not, however, focus directly on the adventures (or calamities and mishaps) of the two art- ists, offering instead a tentative analysis of the phenomenon, inherent in contemporary tour- ism and the machinery of the 'holiday industry.' Entrance is free of charge and open to the public. Students are encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served after the event. MARCH 1 Culture Matters Annual seminar about the impact of Valletta 2018 taking place at 09:00 at the KSU Com- mon Room, University of Malta. The seminar includes discus- sions by the researchers tasked with assessing the impact of the European Capital of Culture ti- tle and the Foundation's work over the past three years. The seminar focuses on the topics of cultural participation, branding, tourism, the impact on the com- munity and the impact of the infrastructural projects such as The Valletta Design Cluster, Is- Suq tal-Belt, MUŻA and Strait Street. The seminar also features a guest presentation by Szilvia Nagy from LOCOP, a research organisation focused on cul- tural policy and supra-regional- funding across the EU. The pub- lic is invited to register for the seminar by February 26 through www.valletta2018.org. For more information contact research@ valletta2018.org. FILM SCREENING FEBRUARY 17 Icon Island Valletta 2018 project by Vir- gil Widrich at the Salesians' Theatre, Sliema at 20:30. The Austrian filmmaker and direc- tor known for his experimen- tal films and multimedia works will be presenting a collage of visuals inspired by films dealing with the mystic and romantic journey to islands representing alternative societies or different states of mind, questioning local customs and identity. Music for the people Operating at the fringes of the local music scene, the electro- rock quartet Kill the Action speak to TEODOR RELJIC about their freshly-released EP, 'For All You People' How does it feel to finally have your first EP out there? How long did it take to roll out, and what was the process of putting it together like? It feels great to have finally immortalised six of our songs. We had tested the waters with different arrangements during our live performances over the past year or so and we all felt that it was time to enter the studio to focus on another dimension of the band's creative process. 'For All You People' was actually recorded over a couple of months at Digital Black Productions, where an 'outside the box' ap- proach was definitely key to discovering unchartered territory. Certain songs were written a couple of years ago and later tweaked in line with the sound of our more recent tracks, whereas others were written with greater attention to capturing the band's current phase of experimentation and development. There appears to be a cohesive sound to the EP even if you mix in elements of genres like indie rock and electronic music. How did you achieve this balance? It was a conscious decision not to constrain ourselves to a one-dimensional style of music. The fact that the band's sound is predominantly synth-driven opens up new sonic spheres which leave room for other influences to surface. To our mind, achieving a 'bal- ance' implies that certain genres might be difficult to reconcile, whereas, we would argue that the reality of things is that the band has developed its own tailor- made approach aimed at creating a unique sound which blends two different worlds – rock, which we were all accustomed to in varying degrees or forms, and the world of electronica, which also carries with it infinite possibilities. What do you make of the local music scene, and which are your favourite local musicians right now? There are some great Maltese bands out there at the moment. Beesqueeze, Plato's Dream Machine and Brodu come to mind, particularly in view of their particular sound and innovation – a different type of approach to doing things, and something which we easily relate to. However, whereas the scene may have gained in terms of quality over the past twenty years, it has also lost a number of performance venues, as well as exposure and added value. With only a couple of venues actually acting as a showcase for the under- ground music scene, most bands nowadays rely mainly on festivals in an attempt at building their own audience. This, in itself, is seen by many as cre- ating a limited inner circle of friends which is difficult to penetrate. Given that Valletta is currently serving as the European Capital of Culture, do you think local music – particularly the genres you form part of – stand to benefit from it? Not really. Whereas, certain musicians, particularly the more mainstream ones, definitely have more to gain from this, the true alternative music scene will most probably be unaffected. It is common knowl- edge that artistic direction in Malta, particularly where state entities are involved, has always taken a very conservative and safe approach which has failed to recognise that 'culture' is a living and breathing concept. The promotion of one's cultural heritage should also entail the promotion of contemporary music culture, which, in itself, is not only limited to the mainstream. The last time we checked, a handful of aspiring bands were still waiting for the govern- ment to make available rehearsal spaces which actu- ally fit their needs. Best not to hold one's breath! What's next for you? After the release of 'For All You People', we were eager to get back to the song writing process and we have already started working on new material to be included in our second EP to be released sometime during the latter half of this year. We will also be releasing the majority of the songs off our first EP as singles accompanied by music videos, as part of the promotion leading up to our second EP. In the mean- time, we will also be focusing on live performances, which are always the highlight of any live band's plans. So make sure you stay tuned for more action coming your way very soon… Kill the Action: "It was a conscious decision not to constrain ourselves to a one-dimensional style of music" Last chance to see: Sarah Maria Scicluna's work at The Snake Show, Valletta