Urban Cosmonaut Radio

In Vedic philosophy, So’ham (सो ऽहम्) means identifying oneself with the universe or with ultimate reality. This says a lot about our very own Urban Cosmonaut artist, whose incredible music collection is wildly diverse and full of treasures, yet consistent in that each track has an inherent notion of truth that is intangible and gentle and also powerful and driving. His music library is a treasure chest of diamonds in the rough - we can catch a glimpse of it during his long, evolving live performances or in his b2b project “Popov Marconi”, when he plays with his partner in crime; UCR label founder Burntale. So’ham’s sets are obsessively curated and expertly mixed on 4 decks, with samples and loops weaving in and out of each other, effortlessly blending together into a textured journey full of ethnic influences and shamanic soundscapes. As a DJ, he imagines his mixtapes being heard on a dance floor, where people are moving with closed eyes and naked skin, falling in love collectively while the music builds a

When listening to Dandara’s tunes, it’s easy to hear where he gets his inspiration from. Although he’s originally based in Basel, Switzerland, you can currently find him exploring beaches and jungles in South America - where he is touring and travelling the continent, spreading his positive musical vibes as he goes. His sound reflects his interests and philosophy in life: he collects sounds and inspiration from his travels, using them to fuse electronic dance music with ancient and traditional sounds, blurring the boundaries different eras while never losing sight of the omnipotent groove. At times his music is driven and bouncy, sometimes it’s ethnic and deep. But at all times, it’s the creative result of the environments he is exploring and the experiences that are shaping him. This is an evolving set, taking the listener on a journey through different styles and productions, some of which we have never heard before. In the words of the man himself: “Listen, dance, enjoy”. Yes sir! Find Dandara on: http

In a place called Arkhangelsk, on the shore of the White Sea, a musician watches the water flow into the Arctic Ocean. The stars are much brighter, and more twinkly there than here, lighting up the sky in northwestern Russia. Lush forests, harsh climate and a seemingly endless Milky Way are the only – and constant – source of inspiration for our next Urban Cosmonaut Radio artist Donev. His live set is a reflection of the world in which he lives in. You can hear the sound of vast lands in his intro as he looks far into space, onto water, upon trees. And you can feel his love for starry skies, and how he interprets them in his productions. Donev produced this piece of music with a message in mind: to preserve the Earth we live in, and all its beauty and diversity, and to know that this is our unique journey. We wish you a peaceful dive, Urban Cosmonauts. Find Donev on: https://soundcloud.com/do_nev

We’re kicking off 2017 with the always vibrant, always spirited Martha van Straaten. She’s given us a special podcast to remind us all of our diversity, but also our interconnectedness as human beings on Earth. Voilá her curated selection of tracks that are universally relatable, inspired by our collective’s cosmic theme. Her set will send you on spacey inner travels, free-wheeling through your own cosmos to discover the beauty of diversity, nature and multiculturalism in an epic 1,5 hours of damn good music. A self-described collector, her love for combining and putting things together is audible. This mixtape features uniquely different tracks that are entwined so effortlessly, it’s like they were meant to be woven together to create something bigger and cohesive. And that’s her message to us: that *if we learn to enjoy the differences, oneness will follow* Yes, few of us will ever have the chance to look down from space on to the face of the earth. We probably won’t ever witness the Aurora lights from abo

Some say music is a matter of the heart. Others say it’s mathematics. But our next Urban Cosmonaut Radio artist thinks about music in his own way: he imagines the architecture in which he creates soundscapes, and then conjures up a narrative for melodies and rhythms. Kurup’s music is unexpected. It catches you off guard, constantly fusing themes in unusual musical trips on the dance floor. His sound journeys are colourful, full of character, different elements and little surprises. They are possibly somewhat a mirror of himself: a multi-platform digital artist, collector of stories and lover of carneval hailing from Brazil. Kurup’s roots lie in Cerrado, one of the most lush tropical savannas in the world and home to thousands of colourful species, bizarre tree formations and what he calls mosaic habitats. Perhaps this is where he draws inspiration for his producing, an endeavour he started 2 years ago after DJing for years on CDJs before moving on to vinyl, until finally crossing the digital frontier with hi

Somewhere, way up there in a galaxy far, far away, there was a boy floating around in space. This boy’s head was filled with sounds so trippy, so unique and so melancholic – that when an idea came, it was unlike anything you’d ever heard before. The boy’s ears were filled with endless amounts of recycled stardust – so that whenever he put on his headphones to make music, everything he created sounded like heaven. And the boy’s mind was constantly buzzing with impulses – so that whenever he expressed himself, they came pouring out of him in the form of sublime music. To us, he is known as Ninze. Ninze is multi-faceted, yet utterly recognisable in his style. Having first taken the music scene by storm with unique productions and famously slo-ow DJ sets alongside his 2nd half Okaxy, he has since evolved as a solo artist as well as a member of the production- and live performance trio Wide Awake. No matter what he does, you can always hear it: that distinct sound that makes your knees feel like jelly and your tho

Arutani - an almost extinct language spoken by native inhabitants in Roraima, Venezuela. Arutani - a young and especially talented producer hailing from Caracas, Venezuela. Arutani - our next Urban Cosmonaut Radio artist, taking us on a trip through the cosmic universe. For those amongst you cosmonauts who are drawn to melancholy, enchanted by spherical sounds and driven by all things deep; we’ve got something special in store for you. This next podcast is a voyage through the mind and soul of a young artist who has tickled our ears ever since his first forays into music production. Consisting exclusively of his own tracks, Arutani has given us a podcast that showcases his distinct sound: minimal, dark, organic and slow. With his creative percussions, soulful melodies and deep atmospheres, he has created music that is inspired by his roots but also goes beyond any existing genre. His productions are unmistakeable in vibe and moving in emotion, gently urging us to reflect on ourselves in the process. Find Ar

When you travel to a foreign place, chances are you’d rather experience it through the eyes of a local. Someone who knows the hidden gems of the city, who understands how to move from one place to the next. Our next Urban Cosmonaut has done just that - this podcast isn’t just a bunch of tracks mixed together, oh no. It’s a carefully selected guide into the emotive experience of Mateo - a Colombian artist living in New York by day, and musical story teller at night. He’s curated a mix that shows his roots in the Spanish language - with vocals and instruments by Simon Dias, Mercedes Sosa and Guillermo Rodriguez Fiffe - combined with his contemporary influences in multicultural electronic music. As a DJ whose biggest influence was Pink Floyd - a band that broke through sound boundaries and kickstarted an era of psychedelia and experimental music - it’s fascinating to hear where his exquisite taste came from, forming a distinctively recognizable sound that resonates with the label he’s shaping along with founder

Light, love and Lemurian ...is all we need to awaken our senses. Podcast #29 was created specially for the Urban Cosmonaut Radioverse and consists of unreleased & mesmerizing productions, collaborations and remixes that come together in a gentle wave of beautiful melancholy. Describing his own music as an “ear massage” that translates downtempo vibrations of love, his sound is soulful, ethnic and shamanic. Heavily influenced by the music of Nicolas Jaar and Nu, the native Peruvian started producing music at 17 upon his arrival in America in an effort to express what was inside himself when mixing wasn’t enough. And although his own productions touches listeners from all corners of the globe, Lemurian hasn’t forgotten his roots and regularly seeks inspiration from his mystical home of Peru. This podcast is a true expression of just that - his unique self: influenced by many cultures, driven by a sense of melancholy and bound to transcend barriers. Prepare to lift off, over, above and beyond Find Lemuria

It’s funny how sometimes, you know that you’re boarding a vehicle to go on a trip without knowing exactly what the destination will be. Our next Urban Cosmonaut Radio Ship pilot #28, Luis Rosenberg, is known for doing just that - showing himself and his passengers just how many colours of the rainbow exist, and how many ways there are to explore them. If Luis Rosenberg were an art collector, people from all over the world of all ages and tastes would stand in line to admire his exhibitions. The Austrian born, Berlin-based DJ has a refined taste for music that makes him truly un-prejudiced. He doesn’t discriminate in his choices - as long as it has groove, it will catch his ear. Luis tends to select tracks for his eclectic sets that are interchangeably timeless, unique and innovative - a tendency that is reflected in the music of his biggest influences: Bob Dylan, Nicolas Jaar and Acid Pauli. Having started out of passion in 2006 with A Numark „DJ IN A BOX“ set, loads of vinyls from the flea market and a ca

For our next podcast we present to you the Berlin-based, yet world-grown Caleesi. The “mother of dragons and lover of magical festivals” is one of those artists able to tell multi-faceted and fascinating stories – expect a thousand and one legends in one musical pilgrimage in her sets. Her mixes beautifully intertwine sounds, rhythms and melodies that will teletransport you to eras, destinations and cultures yet to be discovered. Her sound builds on deep basslines and moody tunes - but for this podcast, she explored a more rhythmic side, including more pulsating and tribal melodies to her already smooth and spirited sound. We embrace and salute Caleesi, who, with her profound harmonies, will surely take you on a voyage of multi-cultural narratives. Find Caleesi on: https://soundcloud.com/caleesi_music www.facebook.com/djcaleesi

The following Urban Cosmonaut Radio artist is a multi-layered musical spur, grabbing the world by storm. We proudly welcome Pigmalião. Also known as Daniel Lucas, Pigmalião is a Brazilian producer and honcho of the Latin American music label Frente Bolivarista. Using Brazil’s complex ethnic history as canvas, he takes his music from there to numerous sources, free of local, provincial or national ideas. This makes of Pigmalião a truly cosmopolitan artist. His sound transcends and takes us, vivid listeners, on a voyage of global serenades and transcultural melodies. This mix indeed goes way beyond his Latin American roots. As a matter of fact, this particular set – recorded live at KaterBlau this past 22 July – is a multifaceted fusion of cadence and multiregional tunes that ebb and flow in one musical expedition. For Pigmalião, music is proof of how united we all are as a human race and this set is a lucid testimony of it. We will be taken on an eclectic road of percussions, vocals and cadence from here, th

When the past fuses with the present, you’ll find us immersed in Barrio Lindo, flipping through his musical sketchbook of colourful landscapes from South America. Influenced by traditional music from Bolivia, Peru and Colombia, our Urban Cosmonaut Radio guide #25 creates music that somehow reminds the listener of the roots of contemporary music while still breaking the boundaries of genre, time and locality. His music is eclectic in the sense that it doesn’t fit any boxes, and at the same time instantly recognizable through his signature knocking percussions, colourful soundscapes and rhythmically erratic heartbeat phrases. Barrio Lindo’s taste in music was born in Colombia, in the sound of the rivers and the chants of marimbas and drums. When he’s not making music, he’s making instruments - and playing around with old techniques, mixing them with digital production, finding a balance between traditional and contemporary ways of expressing himself. After doing a Chancha Via Circuito workshop with Sidirum

Please meet Ricardo Vincenzo, your shaman from Sao Paolo for the next hour in the next Urban Cosmonaut Radio podcast #24. But he’s not just a shaman - he’s also an avid collector of samples and an audio collage enthusiast with exquisite taste in forgotten old songs and Brazilian tropicalia infused music. In a melange of leftover samples, organic shamanic sounds and spiritual tunes, we are immersed in sounds and spheres unique to him. Having learned the piano as a kid, Ricardo had been making experimental music for a few years before starting his solo project, which he describes as having more dance floor friendly elements. His productions are inflenced by funk carioca music, which also produced as live sets with samples, repetitive phases and vocal percussions. Like a chef creating a culinary experience, we’re hungry to discover the sound scapes he has cooked for us and say: Bom apetite! Find R. Vincenzo on: https://soundcloud.com/rvincenzo www.facebook.com/rvincenzomusic

Our next podcast is a special live set by the Paris-based musicians Nato & Sahalé. Individually, they bring us to worlds of ethnic vocals, percussions and wonderfully tantalizing melodies - each in their own special way. For the 23rd Urban Cosmonaut Radio podcast, they have combined their powers in a timeless live set that takes listeners on a gentle journey through mysterious lands of the oriental past. Inspired by their travels and diverse musical influences, this set is the symbiosis of computer scientist Nato and sound craftsman Sahalé. Their productions take their time in building up, releasing in vast spheres of melody, haunting voices and tribal rhythms. We close our eyes, letting them guide us to distant moons in different galaxies, knowing that with Nato & Sahalé, a kind of delicate beauty will engulf us if we trust them enough to follow them on a trip through cosmic portals of endless, profound music. We welcome our brothers to the UCR clan and say: bon voyage to the moon, the moons beyo

Our next Urban Cosmonaut Radio artist is a tornado of visceral musical energy. Felipe Torquato, otherwise known as Spaniol, is a Brazilian producer and founder of the famous party series Sonido Tropico in Sao Paolo. His productions reflect a creative spirit stimulated since his time in a classical music conservatory at age 9, having been surrounded and influenced by Brazilian classical music, 70s psychedelic rock and Gigolo records from the early 2000s (no joke) for much of his life. His music moves with rhythms that get your feet antsy, whirling up dance floors in playful bursts of melody, bouncing sounds and complex layers of cumbia-induced percussions. In the next episode of our Urban Cosmonaut Radio show, he has selected music that intertwines Brazilian folk, contemporary eclectica and ethno slow house in a colourful rainbow of music. ***We’re happy to follow him wherever he takes us, shakes us, breaks us *** Find Spaniol on: https://soundcloud.com/s_paniol www.facebook.com/spaniolsonido https://sou

I come from a place beyond the border I live in the space between the lines I am the black gold of the sun These are the words of Noema, the sound shaman, producer and DJ who has long graced us with organic, sexy journeys and trippy-shizzle-galore frenzies of psychedelic rhythm. In this podcast, we are gently taken by the hand and guided from darkness into light. Slowly oscillating back and forth and left and right in subtle cumbia drives, he takes us to a place beyond the border in the next Urban Cosmonaut Radio podcast #021 Originally from Wiesbaden in Germany, Noema is currently based in Berlin and has found a second home in Brazil, where he feels a deep connection to the music that has influenced his vibe immensely. Among the artists that have shaped his sense of musical aesthetic are Esbjörn Svensson, Matthew Herbert, Marvin Gaye, John Gage, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Voodoohop, the traces of whom can be found in Noema’s eclectic selections. Noema is the founder of the Magic Movement, a platform that sup

Vruno quotes Violeta Parra: music is a free bird flying. Born in Valparaiso, Chile, this bird has flown to many places - absorbing inspiration from Mexico City, Reno, Cancun, Carrillo Puerto, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Prague and Berlin and translating them into his own productions. A believer of the power of musical vibrations, Vruno’s sound has an ancestral feel that resonates from within. As long as he can remember, he has heard music in his head - music that he needed to externalize by “printing” them onto speakers for the world around him to listen. Moved by the wonders of the planet we live in, his music is organic and celebratory, with ethnic elements woven into a multitude of textures. This mix consists 100% of his own productions and was recorded in Prague whilst watching the sunset with a spectacular view. Conveying a somewhat spatial sound, it embodies the global beat we Urban Cosmonauts want to convey: with a constant motor of rhythm propelling us to melodic heights and organic symphonies of soun

Mistura tudo! We are all stars We are made Of recycled star dust A fusion of cosmic energy A spiral of the cosmic fugue Rippling out In all directions Of love. Our next Urban Cosmonaut personifies the essence of this podcast series. Peter Power's music is a multi-dimensional exploration of sounds that takes the reader on a voyage, to a ritual gathering in a sacred temple, where we find ourselves in the heart of the jungle on a remote planet, spiraling into percussive, vocal and atmospheric loops blended with music from around the world. Peter Power is a medium. He saturates himself with input from the ambience of his environment, from the beating of his own and others' hearts. Channeling his inspirations into mixes that oscillate, vibrate, pulsate, girate, elongate - his own edits, remixes and productions reveal a celestial sound that is unique to him. After emerging from a darker place these past few years, this mix is his attempt to reconnect with the warmer light of humanity. We asked Peter w

How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? How do you catch a moonbeam in your hand? How do you describe a sound that knows no genre? The answer is: you can’t. At least not in Mika Dutsch’s case: his taste is colourful, timeless, genre-blind and all encompassing. His influences are as diverse as his sound is uplifting, somehow reaching for the sun in an intangible vibe you can’t quite define. Mika was born and raised in an idyllic village of 200 souls somewhere near Hamburg, where he still lives on a farm that he made his home. It is here that he draws his peace after having lost himself in the craziness of urban cities - and it is here that his musical journey began, with his first drum set that he set up in his neighbour’s shack at 14, quickly discovering the wondrous possibilities of a tape recorder and some techno records shortly after. Listening to his mixtape reveals an ear for surprises and a creative style of mixing that is unique to Mika Dutsch. It’s easy for us to follow him on this voyage : never d