Keno Langbein
bangaloREsident@IME

Keno Langbein is a songwriter, rapper and artist from Berlin, Germany. Until 2021 his main project was a 10-piece brass band called “MOOP MAMA”. Apart from releasing critically- acclaimed albums and entering the German music charts, they always had a political message: winning back the public space.
 

Their so-called “guerilla performances” are unannounced performances in public spaces. Their involvement in topics like housing market, climate change or the refugee crisis has bridged the gap between pop music and artistic activism in the form of flash mobs and viral campaigns.

Kenos current solo record “Schall und Rausch” explores a more experimental solo-sound. At this time he is investigating a more multi-disciplinary approach, working with sculpture and collaborating in the fields of visual and sound art. He has worked as a voice actor, written columns for German newspapers, and directed many video projects and artistic interventions.

Project outline for the bangaloREsidency 2024:
I traveled to India for the first time in 2019 with the NGO Viva Con Agua, to visit water projects as part of an interdisciplinary group of artists and activists. This journey inspired the project "Rain is Coming" and the collective Faraway Friends, founded with Ditty (singer-songwriter, urban ecologist from Delhi) and David Raddish (drummer, producer from Vienna). "Rain is Coming" is a multifaceted audiovisual work inspired by the voices and experiences of this trip, aiming to connect activism, art, music, and cultures. Ever since I have visited India several times and I am interested in developing lasting connections and communication between the cultures.

I'm fascinated by how music communicates across linguistic and cultural boundaries. In India, my performances of German rap didn't elicit surprised looks but rather enthusiasm, dance, and exchange. Building on this, I want to dive deeper into themes we could only get an introduction to in this last project. I see the bangaloREsidency as a great opportunity to further develop my knowledge and learn from the vast Indian music culture. I expect the Indian Music Experience Museum (IME) to be a perfect environment for this. Some things I would like to explore: 

• The narrative styles in traditional Indian folk music resemble those I use as a rapper in freestyles and lyrics. We also explored this in “Rain is Coming”. I would like to delve deeper into these approaches at the IME. Collect field recordings that might inspire future productions.
• Organise listening sessions/performances for "Rain is Coming" and engage in conversations with local communities/artists. Themes such as the climate crisis are at the forefront and will be examined/discussed from various perspectives.
• Learn the art of Konnakol. Where are the similarities and differences? I could offer text or rap workshops in exchange.
• I will be travelling to India repeatedly in the future. Therefore, I would like to make lasting connections for future projects and investigate how I can add value to the scene.
• I will certainly draw inspiration for my own writing and practice. I recently released my first solo project “Schall und Rausch” and would like to use the time in Bangalore to work on a follow-up project