INSIDES: ANTONIA XM

DUE TO COVID-19 WE ARE IN LOCKDOWN WITH CLUBS BEING CLOSED. AS WE STILL WANT TO KEEP UP WITH MUSICIANS AND DJS AROUND, AND FEEL THAT DIGITAL STREAMS ARE IRRETRIEVABLY LACKING THE SOCIAL ENERGY OF LIVE MUSIC EVENTS AND ARE NOT ABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR IT, WE ARE LOOKING FOR CONSOLATION IN WORDS. IN THE END MUSIC IS A SOCIAL PRACTICE. INSIDES FEATURES VOICES FROM VIENNA’S ELECTRONIC MUSIC SCENE, LOOKING TO EXCHANGE IDEAS, FIND MUTUAL INSPIRATION AND EXIT STRATEGIES, ENTERING PERSONAL REALMS.
17.05.2020
SHILLA STRELKA

Hello, how are you?

Not sure – today’s a good day but I also had some really bad ones… getting better overall I think.

Where are you right now? Which sounds surround you?

In my flat, at a table in front of the window. It was raining before – now I hear the sound of cars driving through puddles, splashing water, people talking in distance – I’m really glad there’s human sounds coming from outside again, I don’t like the silence of the city at all

Have you been productive so far? What are you working on?

A bit. I made some music – mostly very “simple”, emotion-driven and non-clubby music. I also started to do sports (which I am super proud of because I never do sports). This week has been very unproductive so far tho…

What inspires you right now?

Talking and listening to people inspires me the most. I love long, philosophical but also senseless and drunk conversations. I felt a bit uninspired lately because I was lacking that…

To listen?

I found myself listening to a lot of dreamy pop music in isolation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdSLYNppSPw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3m4KV9RbDo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewZB-0oRIfc

To watch?

My friend Nahshi made a quarantine documentary about Lento Violento:

What’s your opinion on live-streams? You see any alternative ways to support the music community?

I think it’s a nice way to connect with friends and strangers in the chatroom and feel a tiny bit less lonely, but it can never replace the feeling and the energy of a physical venue, crowd and scene. I hope people don’t forget that feeling.

I wish I knew how to support any art community at that point. I think the problem goes so much deeper unfortunately… I guess people have to realize that music, arts and culture cannot simply be treated as a “product” but still have value… it’s probably a super obvious thing to say but I don’t think art can (or should) compete in a capitalist system anymore.

What are you missing most? What are you afraid of?

I miss clubs, raving and coming home in the morning sooo much.

I’m afraid of politics and humans… seeing how we deal with a crisis, leaving people behind, treating the planet,…

What will change you think?

I think a lot of people from my generation (including myself) never really understood that something can happen from one day to another that can completely change their world and lives. Probably that awareness will change the way we deal with our time and decisions… hopefully also in a positive direction.

What is the gig or occasion you were most looking for, that was cancelled in this period?

I was supposed to play in Lausanne at La Fête du Slip, a festival reflecting on gender and sexuality – I was really looking forward to that.

Are you still able to pay your rent?

I am, mostly because I’m still a student and my parents support me. I also saved some money before the lockdown but I’m running out of that now.

(c) Dominik Geiger

Antonia XM