Le Guess Who 2025 blokkenschema dag 3 - Saturday 8 November 2025

The music of Kathryn Mohr exists in a liminal space of auditory dissociation. Whether led by guitar or synth, her art chases the ephemeral nature of humanity through dark ruminative songs. Her latest album Waiting Room processes nearly untouchable emotions, shaped by warping memories and the echoes of trauma. At times whispered, at times sung in melodic lament, Mohr’s lyrics draw from dream-like surroundings - while recording the album in a remote Icelandic location - and non-linear memories. Mohr depicts the disturbing intricacies of her mind, transforming dull discomfort into a creative resource, a spring of creativity that pushes her world outside of herself.

A pure blast of explosive chaos, this wrecking one-man band detonates drums and vocals in a jungle of distortions and digital artifacts. Tonto came out of the most depraved fever dream of Zu, Deerhoof, Lightning Bolt and Death Grips: a manic collision of noise, groove and raw punk. As you might have witnessed during U? 2023 and 2024, his live performances are a hallucinatory wall of sound filled with filthy pounding beats, at times African polyrhythms, a lot of hip hop blasting bumbum-cha and occasional 4/4 ass-shaking. 

With the mission to use creativity as a tool of resistance against oppression, MAHA launched her discography with the slogan “people over profit”. Like her high-spirited live performances, her rage-fuelled debut track No Profit is a piercing-but-playful post-punk anthem co-produced by Loveth Besamoh. For the U? festival alum, all activities are about telling stories that are ignored or misunderstood, about people who don't always feel represented in society. The multi-disciplinary artist, musician, journalist and model, also founded Mahazine, a self-published DIY zine that carves out space for activism, stories from the diaspora and intersectionality. 

Musician, activist, podcaster and LGW 2025 co-curator Amirtha Kidambi invites us into her vision of ‘Outernationalism’, a concept introduced by the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto to describe his belief in a world without borders or national identities. At Le Guess Who?, Kidambi presents her own interpretation, Outernational, which focuses on how music can play a central role in building global cultural solidarity and community.In this dynamic 2 hours session, Amirtha will sit down with a number of surprise guests from her curation this year, picking their brains and facilitating a one-off jam session live at COSMOS Foyer.

Edgar Nevermoo is a (vinyl only) deejay spinning Cumbia, Exotica, and Tropical tracks, and a self-proclaimed idiot. He prides himself on playing records by “like minded drunk people” with false organs, annoying flutes and way too loud accordions. His motto: Hands in the air and go all out on the dancefloor.

When Saint Abdullah linked up with drummer and composer Jason Nazary, something electric sparked. Drawn to the Tehran-born brothers’ music, Nazary contacted them and not only did they discover the reciprocal appreciation, but also that they were neighbours in Brooklyn. The newborn but prolific trio started improvising together and in 2023 they released two out-of-control explosive albums: Evicted In the Morning and Looking Through Us. Both of them display two vast and different sound palettes, where thunderous drums meet Sufi chants and glitchy modular synths experimentation. While the first album was a tender, limpid free jazz sonic journey, the second collaboration is a total head-shredder from start to finish. The possibilities of where they could go during their live show are truly endless. 

Raw, industrial and unfiltered, The Mad Laboratory of Anti-Matter makes happy music for angry people. This Swiss-Lebanese duo of multi-instrumentalists Nadia Daou and Paed Conca combine intense beats, looped and chopped vocal samples, and unconventional sounds like high-pitched twitching reed melodies and bowed metallic percussions. The result is an abrasive and crafty experiment, in-between a groovy club set and a noisy avant-garde performance, with a compulsive addiction to danger. 

Producer 33EMYBW uses abstract dance music to explore the mysteries of humanity and its evolution. Her deconstructed club compositions draw inspiration from IDM, folk music and a wide range of visual materials. She manages to refine a variety of mixed conceptual elements into a form that combines very personal rhythm and stunning experimental sound designs. At Le Guess Who? 2025, 33EMYBW will present her music in a special setting together with the immersive, multimedia installations of Joey Holder. The audiovisual artist raises philosophical questions of our universe through a form of 'worlding' where she explores the limits of the human and how we experience non-human, natural and technological forms.

HULUBALANG is the latest project from inventive electronic producer, sound artist, label founder and DJ Kasimyn, known as one-half of Gabber Modus Operandi. Driven by the urge to experiment, the project draws from local sound traditions, often using archival samples, and a broad knowledge of global club music. It’s a personal and conceptual journey into Indonesia’s war archives, where ghostly samples, harsh noise, and morphing rhythms center the overlooked figures of colonial history. A cathartic act of remembrance and resistance, The Quietus lauded his album BUNYI BUNYI TUMBAL as “ambitious in every sense; technically masterful, conceptually complex, and emotionally potent”. HULUBALANG collaborates with Singapore-born, Shanghai-based artist Brandon Tay for a live A/V performance. 

Zigzagging across abstract electronica and noise, from dub and reggae to jungle, rave, grime and dubstep, GOTH-TRAD’s sound is in constant motion. Since the late 90s, his activity and influence in the Japanese electronic scene earned him the title “The Sound Originator”, even though he continues to evolve drawing inspiration from noise-core and industrial rock. Rooted in the underground, his sound reflects a broad spectrum of bass-driven experimentation, blending UK dubstep with uniquely Japanese sensibility, both in his recordings and eclectic live shows. 

With her fearless creativity, legendary artist, songwriter, filmmaker and feminist icon, Gina Birch has shaped the music landscape from the late 1970s to this day. Her pioneering band The Raincoats set the foundation of alternative music as we know it, blending experimental rock and punk and serving as an inspiration for artists like Nirvana, Sonic Youth and riot grrrl. With her latest album Trouble, Birch continues to push boundaries, offering a bold exploration of themes like aging and mortality. While her performance can be full of surprises - ranging from frenetic post-punk, introspective art-rock and playful electronic tunes - her wit and powerful presence is a certainty.

With their most recent album A Soft and Gatherable Star, Jabu channels insomnia and inebriation into hazy tracks brimming with longing, fragmented memories and psychotropic experiences. Evolving from a uniquely spectral take on hip-hop to proffer a singular vision between cloudy, downered dream-pop, off-kilter ambient, and the warm, low-end throb of dub. In their live shows, the trio crafts an ethereal, nocturnal atmosphere with shimmering guitars, cavernous bass and intimate vocals. 

Intersectional feminist firebrands M(h)aol are gaining a reputation for their electrifying live performances, fostering an environment of unity and strength. Vocalist and drummer Constance Keane fearlessly drives the trio as they tackle the systemic oppression faced by women and gender minorities. Delivered with innovation and imagination, their noisy post-punk, characterised by pounding drums and discordant guitars, is driven by a deep commitment to social justice and the reclamation of power. 

When Blueberry Boat (2004) was released, Pitchfork described it as “a record for the overgrown part of our brain that craves engrossing complexity”. At the time, The Fiery Furnaces, consisting of Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger, were better known for their garage-blues-rock and this sophomore album was revolutionary in the indie scene. The album is a massive indie pop adventure - somewhere between a rock opera by The Who and a series of Portlandia - which soundtracks many different scenarios, as the two alternate vocals and characters. Through many prog-style sudden changes, The Fiery Furnaces incorporate furious guitar solos, quirky detuned synths, piano ballad passages, blues riffs, industrial electronic arrangements… and so much more. Blueberry Boat is an explosion of ideas practically impossible to summarise, but at Le Guess Who? the siblings will guide us through the record’s many whimsical vignettes, as they will perform tracks from their iconic album. 

Moody, luminous and quietly feral, Snakeskin’s music floats voluptuous vocals over a bed of industrial beats, ambient drone and shapeshifting electronics. Dream pop in form but not in spirit, the Beirut-based duo transforms regional violence into visceral, poetic soundscapes, like distorted lullabies for an unsteady world. Their songs build electronic constructions of tenderness and tension, pairing poignant melodies with brutalist sonic architecture. Over a decade of collaboration, producer Fadi Tabbal and singer-songwriter Julia Sabra have sculpted a sound that is both melancholic and radiant: a haunting palette of reflection, collapse and resistance. 

With the composure of veteran musicians and the instrumental mastery of seasoned improvisers, The Dwarfs of East Agouza shred, spiral and groove through hypnotic realms of noise and psychedelia. Founded in Cairo by electronic musician Maurice Louca, experimental composer and guitarist Sam Shalabi and avant-punk saxophonist and vocalist Alan Bishop, the trio creates free-spirited music that touches upon jazz and krautrock, combined with influences of Arabic and Egyptian Shaabi music. Their live sets are ecstatic and unpredictable sonic rituals, where dynamic chaos is held together by electronic beats, freeform riffs and microtonal melodies.

Formed in Michigan (US), Prostitute is an experimental post-punk and Arab rock band known for their electrifying live performances. Their abrasive music is an unrelenting blend of warped guitars, primitive basslines, frenzied drumming and corrosive synthesizers, interwoven with samples from diverse cultures. Their punishing, high-energy performances find the vocalist delivering politically charged sermons atop a deafening bacchanal of sound. After their celebrated debut album Attempted Martyr, the band's sound continues to evolve, with new tracks incorporating dabke rhythms, Arabesque melodicism and industrial synth textures, all while retaining the same anarchic energy that defines them.

With their hi-voltage synth punk performances, Goblin Daycare prove that punk doesn't have to be stuck in the past or defined by worn-out clichés. As a matter of fact, the Turkish quartet’s egg punk reminds that the genre keeps evolving, incorporating fresh sounds - like synths and drum machines - while maintaining a raw, DIY attitude and sharp humour. As Mama Goblin triggers the tornado with his flamboyant vocals, the band takes it away with angular fast-paced riffs, psychedelic synths and razor-sharp beats. 

Without beating around the bush, Forbidden Wizards makes punk. Shouted vocals, scorching power chords and whiplash-fast drumming drive their snappy tracks. Loud, fast and straight to the point, while spiralling through the kaleidoscope of TV culture. The music of the Rotterdam punks is packed with references to the lovably chaotic characters who’ve tagged along through different chapters of their lives. If you grew up casting spells with Sabrina or battled vampires with Buffy, or binged Broad City and Modern Family, you’ll feel right at home in the mayhem. And if not, this reckless trio will drag you into the mosh pit anyway. Forget Netflix and chill…it's time for VHS and chaos!

Poet, musician, actor and director Saul Williams is the groundbreaking artist who introduced the world to the slam poetry movement–with the film Slam (1998)–and a vital voice in alternative hip-hop scenes (also counting collaborations with a.o. Janelle Monáe, The Roots, Gil Scott-Heron and Erykah Badu). Exposed to activism from a young age, Williams’ art is both a weapon against oppression and a vehicle for celebrating African-American culture. At Le Guess Who? 2025 he performs his poetry alongside prolific album producer, extensive percussionist and experimental composer Carlos Niño. Known for his main project Carlos Niño & Friends and for his extensive work on André 3000's New Blue Sun (among many other collaborations), he describes his sound as “spiritual, improvisational, space collage”. 

For over a decade, visionary multi-instrumentalist Adrian Younge has been redefining contemporary music through his work in the recording studio Linear Labs, the cultural imprint of multimedia platform Jazz is Dead (JID) and his multifaceted music scores. His craft as a composer and multiple collaborations solidified his role as a transformative voice in contemporary soul and cinematic jazz, and left an indelible mark on the hip-hop landscape. Throughout his seminal discography, Younge’s profound connection to analog sound led his journey of music exploration bridging past and present. In 2025, he is diving into Brazilian popular music with the album Something About April III. 

An authentic showman, Índio da Cuíca radiates vitality and reveals to the world his expressive performance, original music and the charisma of a genuine Rio de Janeiro malandro. With a career spanning over 50 years, the singer and multi-instrumentalist gives his all with exceptional dance moves while duetting with his cuíca - a Brazilian percussion known for its distinctive high-pitched cry. The grand samba celebration will be energized by the live ensemble led by Gabriel de Aquino - celebrated guitar player who also arranged Índio da Cuíca’s iconic album Malandro 5 Estrelas. 

With her new album, Dracones, Istanbul sound artist Hüma Utku ventures through chaos, transformation and the intimate unknown. As medieval explorers would mark uncharted, dangerous places on maps with “hic sunt dracones” (here be dragons), Utku’s creatures represent themes of familial demonology, metamorphosis and homecoming. She also explores the human relationship to the experience of love woven layers of euphoria, alienation and consumption. Industrial pulsations rise from dark sonic corners to bloom into bright layers of experimentation, displaying shimmering guitar tones and reimagined echoes of the ancient lyre. 

Through layers of percussion, voice and electronics, Roda de Santo expands the ancestral songs of Afro-Brazilian religions - cantigas de terreiro - weaving them with original compositions. Rooted in this diasporic flow, the group embodies a process of cultural continuity and transformation, honouring the spiritual and communal dimensions of Afro-Brazilian culture while resonating with new audiences across borders. In the syncretic tradition of Umbanda (where African, Indigenous and Catholic cosmologies intertwine), Roda de Santo finds its essence: music as invocation, as resistance, and as celebration of the many voices that inhabit the circle.

As part of her guest curation at Le Guess Who? 2025, trailblazing percussionist Valentina Magaletti takes the stage for a special improvised set. Her versatile technique, which can incorporate anything from vibes and marimba to contact microphones and found objects, results in a style that is forever evolving. As a drummer, she moves effortlessly between seemingly disparate genres and collaborations. This time, she’s making her own dream come true, as she’s joined by a legendary figure in Japanese underground music: PHEW. Starting out in 1978 fronting one of Osaka’s earliest punk groups (Aunt Sally), she later embarked on a solo career, while crossing paths with European experimental scenes during the 80s. . Over the years, she has pushed the boundaries of avant-garde art with her combination of vocal and electronic effects, layering both melody and abstraction through rigorous overdubbing.

Composer and musicologist Youmna Saba explores the intersection of electroacoustic music and the Arabic language in its sung form, as well as the resonances of instruments and spaces. Blending voice, electronics and her digitally-augmented oud, the Lebanese musician performs side by side with multi-faceted electronic producer Al Wootton. Key figure of the UK underground music scene since the late 00s, Wootton later moved towards more minimal, leftfield techno productions, influenced by dub and psychedelic percussion. This new trajectory also brought him to work with renowned percussionist Valentina Magaletti: together they formed the project Holy Tongue as an outlet for their mutual love of post-punk and experimental dub music.

Ever since being a young boy, Katokye dedicated his life to traditional songs from the Bahima (Western Uganda). He roamed his homeland to refine his art and now—in his mid-50s—he is one of the most talented traditional singers in the region. Specialising in ekyeshongoro (which literally means song) Katokye improvises disarticulated short poetic sentences conveying morsels of impressions, reflecting on family, the history of the region, or its landscapes where the iconic longhorn cows graze gracefully. Backed up by a second singer who improvises on his verses, Katokye overlaps his voice with theirs to provide a continuous vocal flow that could well stretch beyond 20 minutes, transforming the moment into a long meditative experience.

Welcome to the jungle of psychedelic free-jazz soaked in tribal-surrealist soundscapes, where we reconquest our wild side. With their multi-layered improvisation, the collective ZAÄAR has been turning the heads of psychedelic, experimental metal and space ambient music lovers. Get ready for an untamed range of percussions, thick synth odysseys, hypnotic bass grooves and kaleidoscopic saxophone eruptions: savage and frenzied, every performance is a feral ceremony.

Electronic music composer Heinali, whose work extends Western medieval music traditions through modular synthesis, and  singer Andriana-Yaroslava Saienko,  who practices authentic Ukrainian vocal tradition, reimagine the music of Hildegard von Bingen. Von Bingen was a nun in the 12th century who created her own language and was a prolific, innovative writer and composer. Their unique work  Гільдеґарда (‘Hildegard’ in Ukrainian) explores the embodied intensity of Hildegard’s music, its vocals demands and spiritual depth as a lens to process wartime trauma. Through traditional Ukrainian singing they highlight a paradoxical physicality that roots spirituality in both body and land, offering a way to endure and transcend collective pain.

One of the founding members of Lankum, Ian Lynch has found another captivating way to channel Irish history and musical traditions, merging them with the powerful aesthetics of black metal, noise and drone. The rich and deep tones of uilleann pipe, overlaid with effects and field recordings, create raw, atmospheric textures. The music of One Leg One Eye unfolds in slow burning suites, where dark, enigmatic drones take their time to unravel, creating a transcendental journey that transports the listener to a space both mythical and otherworldly.

Ensemble Nist-Nah brings together eight eclectic musicians, contributing deep experience and expertise to explore a fusion of gamelan and experimental percussion. Led by drummer and percussionist Will Guthrie, the group draws on a wide range of traditional Indonesian musics and gong-based sounds from Southeast Asia. Their work builds on Guthrie’s long-standing engagement with pitched percussion and resonant metals. Inspired by the suspended time of Javanese gamelan Sekaten, the intense repetition of the trance ritual Jathilan, and the shimmering acoustic textures of Balinese composer Dewa Alit and his gamelan Salukat.

Returning again this year is our ongoing collaboration with Utrecht Art Academy’s ‘Music & Technology’ department to produce an experimental showcase, which will be created and presented on Saturday the 8th at the city theatre. The Music & Tech students have been preparing, under guidance of Amitha Kidambi, a improv session based on Amirtha’s theory surrounding sonic liberation. A key question the students will explore are what are some of the ways that improvisation, collective creation and sonic experimentation can provide alternative models to social power structures such as colonialism, capitalism, imperialism, patriarchy (misogyny/queer+transphobia), ableism, nationality/immigration status etc? How can musical/sonic practice be liberatory?

Can samba carry a message of redemption? With his celebratory albums Curyman and Curyman II, Rogê seeks to spread joy, “so that we don’t give in to sadness, to laziness, to a lack of desire to move on with life.” It’s no coincidence that the Brazilian singer-songwriter is considered a key figure in the revival of MPB (Brazilian Popular Music), a genre rooted in resistance and the country’s rich cultural heritage. The artist honours bossa nova’s colourful rhythms and harmonic complexity; expanding its boundaries with cinematic string arrangements and electric textures, Rogê creates his soul-stirring world.

With his uniquely flamboyant performances, Devendra Banhart became one of the defining artists of the 2000s international indie music scene. Over the years, his already colourful songwriting expanded, drawing from a rich palette that includes cumbia, bossa nova, blues, folk and avant-garde, crafting a style as distinctive as ink. This unique blend has led him to collaborate with one-of-a-kind artists - Caetano Veloso, David Byrne, Cate Le Bon, Vashti Bunyan, just to name a few - while maintaining his career as “an adventure and an exploration”. After his guest-curation in 2018, Banhart returns to Le Guess Who? for a stripped-back, career-spanning solo show, performing songs from his extensive catalogue… and with some crowd participation. 

With a brush dipped in optimism, Tiago Caetano paints the melancholic Breton coast to turn it into the colourful palette of Brazil; luckily that warm wind will blow all the way to Utrecht for Le Guess Who? 2025. The bossa nova tints of his debut album Eco de Baía honour the singer-songwriter’s family heritage, conjuring the post-carnival evenings, when melodies linger through the cobbled streets of Salvador de Bahía. His peaceful tenderness leaves a mark among classical samba rhythms, 70s aesthetic, delightful string arrangements and melancholic melodies. Adding touches of indie pop, Caetano creates a richly layered canvas.

Guitarist and composer Caxtrinho reshapes samba into something urgent and unpredictable: a space where groove meets dissonance and memory meets resistance. As a Black and peripheral artist from the outskirts of Rio De Janeiro, he draws on Afro-Brazilian rhythms, psychedelic textures and a percussive guitar style that transforms samba into sonic protest. His music reflects life at the margins: noir-toned, emotionally charged and rich with social critique. Adding contemporary chaos to bossa nova nostalgia, Caxtrinho’s music recreates a turbulent chronicle of everyday struggle, told through intricate rhythms, distorted guitar licks and radical poetry.

The esoteric sound forged by Tristwch Y Fenywod is completely unheard, but instantly recognisable. Rooted in pagan mysticism and gothic rock, the trio (prolific members of the Leeds DIY underground music scene) borrows instruments and sound textures from both traditional folk and digital electronic music to create new psychedelic rituals. Their acclaimed debut album - sung entirely in the Welsh language (Cymraeg) - offers fables about sapphic love and desire, existential darkness, political and environmental anguish. 

Dancer and performer Kianí del Valle brings us the performance DE BRUJAS Y FANTASMAS, scored by experimental composer Ziúr. The captivating piece (whose title translates to Of Witches and Ghosts) delves into the rich and complex tapestry of the witch figure in Latin American culture, here explored as a transcendental entity. The work invokes the ghost of La Llorona—a spectral fictional character—as an echo of pain and healing, and it pays tribute to the iconic Mexican witch María Sabina, known for her wisdom with hallucinogenic mushrooms and her guidance in rituals of spirituality. The performance is an immersion in mysticism, where the witch is rediscovered as a guardian of ancient knowledge, as an invitation to contemplate the latent power in female figures marginalized by history.

The harmonies of singer-songwriter Luisa Almaguer flow with the warmth and vibrancy of a celebration shared with the chosen family. Drawing from Mexican musical traditions, her voice carries both strength and tenderness, expressing vulnerability in moments of intimacy, while affirming trans identity and resistance. The poetic storytelling transforms deeply personal experiences into universal tales of love, heartbreak and community. Making her European debut at Le Guess Who?, Almaguer’s mix of pop and cumbia opens up when her band displays its hazy side of psychedelic rock and shoegaze influences. 

Driven by an appetite for boundless experimentation, producer and composer Ziúr has always been subverting expectations, corkscrewing through hardcore, metal and punk before veering towards electronic music's turbulent fringes. For her show at Le Guess Who? 2025, she will perform with avantgarde visual artist - and long time collaborator - Sandi. They will unveil a new body of work created to accompany Ziúr’s new album Home, presented as an immersive audiovisual live show. A significant departure from her last run of releases, the project traces her oldest, dearest musical insights to present her origins. Naked and vulnerable, Ziúr presents her personal way of making pop music, inverted and reconstructed to fit snugly into her well-established sonic landscape. 

Le Guess Who? 2025 guest curator Ziúr brings together unique super-duo Attila Csihar & Iggor Cavalera. On drums is the co-founder of legendary Brazilian band Sepultura, whose groundbreaking work shaped thrash and death metal, while influencing the rise of alternative metal. Powerful and groovy, Cavalera’s drumming has always been informed by multiple genres - including hip-hop, electronic music, noise, punk - hence his multiple collaborations and the indelible legacy he left on generations of drummers. On vocal duty alongside him is “operatic” vocalist Attila Csihar, also known as Void ov Voices. Widely celebrated for his dark and theatrical performances, The Hungarian singer has contributed to influential recordings with black metal pioneers Mayhem, drone metal icons Sunn O))), death metal supergroup Sinsaenum, and others.

The phenomenal rapper Lady Lykez is a veteran MC hailing from North London. Her dynamic force and razor-sharp words showcase an innate ability to command the stage and capture the audience. Beginning her journey in rap at a very young age, she earned respect at local rap battles, standing out with her impressive flow and wordplay. Today her witty bars glide over a diverse range of electronic beats, mixing high-energy dancehall, UK gqom and grime.

You might have seen her walking around festival terrains around the globe, with a bag full of vinyls and a big smile on her face. Inventive collector and selector DJ Marcelle brings her iconic three-turntable setup back to Le Guess Who?. With a mischievous, rule-bending and almost ironic approach to her DJing and producing, she makes compositions out of songs and symphonies out of mixes – colliding disparate genres, appropriated vocal snippets and warped soundscapes into a giant Frankenstein-like melting pot. Expect a euphoric mix of left field techno, free jazz, weird hip-hop, cutting edge electronica, new African dance music, dubstep, dancehall and lots of less classifiable records.

Le Guess Who? 2025 guest curator Tianzhuo Chen invites two influential figures of the Chinese music scene to perform and improvise together on stage. Groundbreaking guitarist Li Jianhong is a pioneer and leading figure of the noise music scene of the country since the 90s, as well as a founding member of various experimental bands. Jianhong’s uncompromising approach to sound and texture will intertwine with the abstract dance music of producer 33EMYBW, whose career counts regular cross genre collaborations. She’s a core member of Shanghai’s experimental rock/electronic band ‘Duck Fight Goose(YADAE)’ and has worked with Marina Herlop, Forrest Gander and many more.

After her formative years in church choirs, Julianna Barwick drew on the most celestial qualities of the human voice and choral music to blend them through loops into the wild world of experimental music. The results are lush, ethereal songs, somewhere between ambient and dream pop, where she brings forth her vocal gifts, not only as a singer, but also as a composer and producer. Barwick layers her vocals and weaves them together harmoniously into reflective and cinematic soundscapes.

Black creative music often becomes a powerful act of resistance and activism, and that’s certainly true for Asher Gamedze’s music. Through rolling drums and poetic reflections, the virtuosic percussionist braids political thought into a dynamic flow that moves through South African mbaqanga, melancholic thematic jazz and unpredictable solos. Retracing multiple paths of Black music becomes part of an ongoing tradition of struggle; extending Black freedom movements and challenging colonial power. At Le Guess Who? 2025 he will perform with his new project A Semblance, a growing force in Cape Town’s music scene, which includes Nobuhle Ashanti on synths and keyboards, Keegan Steenkamp on trumpet and Ru Slayen on percussions.Photography by Nishal Robb

Get ready for a great reggae celebration with the exceptional vocal harmonies of The Congos. As one of the last iconic Jamaican bands to retain their original lineup since the 1970s, they embody unity and a powerful sense of cohesion during their concerts. True Rastafarian, they have remained true to their roots and principles, and to the roots reggae gems that made them legends. From their timeless album Heart of the Congos (1977) to today, their smooth rhythms, bold bass lines and crystalline harmonies continue to amaze the audience and evoke a profound spiritual presence.

It takes a few instants to pick up on the explosive and contagious rhythms of Ndagga Rhythm Force. Led by the stunning stage presence of veteran percussionist Bada Seck and singer Mbene Diatta Seck, the group - joined by more characters from the Dakar scene - is an exhilarating percussive powerhouse, laced with sharp electronics and dub bass. What started in 2011, when German DJ and producer Mark Ernestus traveled to Senegal in search of original Mbalax recordings, has since grown into a celebrated ensemble. After performing across Europe over the last years, Mark Ernestus' Ndagga Rhythm Force returns to Le Guess Who? 2025 with the exciting new album Khadim.

Started as a one-off performance in 2023, instrumental supergroup Motherfuckers JMB & Co. evolved with an improvisational approach, channeling ‘70s space rock while venturing into drone and collage. This year, the trio released their debut album Music Excitement Action Beauty, drawn from hours of recordings made in a single afternoon. Brian Weltz (Geologist of Animal Collective) plays the hurdy-gurdy, exploring sonic possibilities outside of his – already vast – usual realms, Drummer Jim Thompson (GWAR) brings his decades of experience with polyrhythmic dexterity, and Marc Minsker (Third Eye Lounge) rounds out the group on bass, guitar and harmonium.

Rooted in archival footage, soundscapes and poetry, Neither on the Ground nor in the Sky is a live audiovisual performance. It creates a dialogue between the geographical landscapes of Syria and Lebanon by blurring the concept of borders through a fisheye lens. Known for her bold, bass-heavy productions, producer and sound artist Noise Diva challenges genre boundaries with emotional depth. She joins forces with visual artist Sarah Saleh, whose visual language weaves ambient textures and personal histories of movement and identity. In this immersive A/V collaboration, the artists explore themes of memory, displacement and belonging through a dynamic interplay of sound and image.

Pianist, sound artist and multi-instrumentalist Dirar Kalash works across a wide range of musical and sonic practices, moving between composed and improvised forms of free jazz and avant-garde. His work expands into interdisciplinary theoretical research, sound installations and live audio-visual performances, often led by political urgency. The two compositions on his latest release, Malcom X In Gaza, refer to two revolutionary forces (Frantz Fanon and Malcom X) to assert the bonds between Pan Africanism, Black Liberation and Palestinian Liberation. With deeply textured instrumentals and a reflective - but un-metaphorical - approach, Kalash utilises free form experimentation as a form of resistance. At Le Guess Who? 2025 he presents the electro-acoustic soundscape The Sonic Front.

Layered vocals, electronic experimentation, field recordings and film intertwine for a special performance influenced by the present, to imagine a sonic future for Palestine. Experimental singer-songwriter Maya Al Khaldi explores the voice and music of Palestinian folklore, as a way to represent collective sorrow. All her songs include lyrics or recordings from the audio archive of the Popular Art Center in Ramallah. On her album Other World - عالم تاني, she reimagines that sonic world through the electronic production of qanun player, audio engineer and producer Sarouna. The duo’s powerful soundscape will echo on the stage of Le Guess Who? 2025 amplified by the visuals of filmmaker Dina Mimi.

PICÓ: Voices of a Sonic Culture

(Ar-nal-do) is a producer and DJ whose work emerges from the sonic traditions of the greater Caribbean and a profound practice of deep listening. Raised amidst records and picó sound system culture in his native Cartagena, he blends deep-rooted rhythms with forward-thinking production to create a unique sound that reveals a rare and intuitive ear. His impeccable DJ technique elevates the listening experience. He has collaborated with labels such as Moonshine Records, Palenque Records, Man Recordings, and Galletas Calientes, which released his 2024 vinyl EP Caribe. His recent remix of Cumbia del Café Martinez by El Búho highlights his current dialogue with the global music landscape.

Nayi Lokura, also known as La Crespa del Perreo, is a live performer who has carved out her space in the underground picó world of the Colombian Caribbean, traditionally dominated by men. Drawing influence from genres like champeta, soukous, benga and house, she channels the energy of the 2000s picoteros into her sets. By layering sound effects and fingerdrumming over her track selections, she creates a fun and interactive atmosphere, keeping the audience engaged. Her distinctive style positions her as a singular figure within the scene, continuously redefining the live performance experience with her bold and dynamic approach.

Wilfred Guerrero is the heart and soul of El Dragón Turbo Láser, one of Colombia’s most iconic picós. Inherited from his father, who founded the system in the 1960s, it serves as a vessel of stories and traditions, embodying how sound systems become family members. Wilfred, more than just a DJ and owner, is a living archive of African, Caribbean and tropical records, collecting everything from highlife and soukous to salsa dura and beyond. Over time, El Dragón Turbo Láser has become a legend, with a multigenerational following—a vast community that recognizes this picó as a beacon of identity and belonging.

Rooted in the Colombian Caribbean’s sound system culture, Edna Martinez crafts expansive, powerful sonic journeys where African, Caribbean and Arab rhythms converge. Based in Berlin, the DJ, producer and curator bridges global club sounds and diasporic beats with a fluid, polyrhythmic style shaped by memory and joy. Hosting radio shows on NTS, Radio Alhara and Worldwide FM, she delves into questions of restitution through sonic practices and storytelling. Her collaborations include labels like Other People, Gallo, and Sofrito Records. She also leads long-running projects such as LatinArab and El Volcán. Her debut compilation, Picó Sound System Culture from the Colombian Caribbean, is released via Strut Records in 2025.

BCLIP is a multidisciplinary artist, DJ, producer, curator and live performer. His journey began in his teenage years, influenced by the diverse sounds of Colombian sound systems and the underground scene. Raised in Soledad, a working-class municipality near Barranquilla with a rich tradition in Caribbean culture, his early productions blended reggaeton, rap and experimental genres, creating an edgy and unconventional sound. Despite struggles with visibility, his work as a ghost producer gained recognition, especially with the iconic “Chulo Sin H.” Moving to Bogotá, where he is currently based, his hybrid sound merged with the local queer scene, solidifying his role as an avant-garde artist and activist.

Sought after for her adventurous and protean DJing style, Ciel is an innovative producer and selector whose sets incorporate a diversity of genres she loves, from drum & bass and house to electro and breaks. Informed with tech house and Chinese traditional sounds, her productions are rich with curious textures, grounding, nature-inspired samples, and airy, whimsical elements. An outspoken advocate for equity and social justice in electronic music, her values are inextricable from her work as a producer, DJ, label boss and radio host.

As a meticulous producer of hyper-detailed IDM soundscapes and disassembled dubstep tracks, Objekt has an unpredictable and unique approach to DJing. Feeding off spontaneity and crowd energy, he could duck and dive through half a dozen genres in pursuit of an unhinged party atmosphere. At the same time, his style is equal parts wild and laser-focused, employing a precise and highly technical mixing style with a dynamic and expressive flair. Depending on the night, he might also pull you deeper into the experience, guiding you by the hand through a bewildering and captivating psychedelic wormhole. 

Belfast-born polymath, Calibre, has spent three decades immersed in a creative journey spanning various artistic realms as a painter, multi-instrumentalist, singer, writer, producer, and DJ. Across 23 albums, he navigates genres seamlessly—shifting from drum & bass to dubstep, techno, house, ambient, jazz, soul, blues, and folk. Award-winning for his DJ prowess, his performances, whether a six-hour immersive journey or a shorter high-impact showcase, are marked by him predominantly playing his own material. A soulfully honest transcendence approach that has solidified his position as a visionary force.

Hong Kong native gyrofield is becoming a distinctive force on the global club circuit, with widespread praise accelerating their growing influence within dance music. Since discovering electronic music via online communities as a teenager, gyrofield has followed curiosity and inspiration into disparate musical territory, exploring the realms of drum and bass, techno, ambient, pop and free jazz, bending recognised genres into bold new forms. Fuelled by an unrelenting drive to push boundaries, their digital productions become moody and introspective through IDM experimentation, jungle breakbeats, melodic synths and chopped vocal samples – as showcased on recent releases with XL and FABRICLIVE.

Directed by: Claudia Priscilla & Kiko GoifmanRunning time: 75 minutes

Each year, COSMOS partners up with a number of new Embassies to showcase their respective scenes. This time, we commissioned local filmmakers to portray the main music spaces, actors and activities in Panamá City (Panamá), Istanbul (Turkey), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), and Seyðisfjörður (Iceland). Plus: Rana Ghose from REProduce, our previous COSMOS Embassy from Goa, India, will join us to present his new film Bass Boss, a 30-minutes documentary about the sound system culture of West Bhengal, and its figurehead DJ Khobir. All screenings will be in attendance of each Embassy to provide context, insights into the making of the films, and answer questions from the audience.

Directed by: Saul Williams & Anisia UzeymanRunning time: 110 minutes