CORTIZONA LABEL NIGHT

Since its inception in 2016, Cortizona has grown into an essential label in the Belgian scene, celebrating local talent. In recent months, Philippe Cortens' eclectic record factory shifted up another gear, including new work by Ann Eysermans, Schntzl and The Germans.

In 2024, the label already seems to be continuing on that momentum - high time, we thought, for a showcase at Les Nuits Botanique. In collaboration with Cortizona, we devised a program from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. that reflects the label's catalog and their boundless love of music, and celebrates the arrival of new signing Nkisi!

Nkisi

Nkisi produces intense, powerful sonics influenced by ancient Kongo rhythms, rhythmic noise, our planetary electromagnetic grid, and experimental improvisation. The creative musician and visual artist is one of the co-founders of NON Worldwide. She recently launched her label INITIATION and research platform The Secret Institute, exploring the secrets and mysteries of vibrational rhythm, the ritual as a socio-political tool, invisible gestural sonics, noise tantra, and strategies of trance.

Céline Gillain

Céline Gillain is an artist based in Brussels working across thefields of experimental music, electronicmusic, and visual and performing arts.She has performed extensively in Europe during the last ten years. Her work explores the meeting pointsbetween dancefloor, politics, the industry, and storytelling, deconstructing the codes and hierarchiesthat govern them. Seeking escape routes and operating in the loopholes, Céline feels at home in the in-betweens.

In 2017, she released herfirst single together with Lexi Disques titled What Happens If I Open My Mouth?,soon followed by her debut LP Bad Woman with Drama (2018). Mind is Mud, Gillain’s second LP (12-inch),was released with Cortizona in June 2023

Walter Verdin

Walter Verdin (°1953, Belgium) studied art history and visual arts (painting, etching). As 'video composer', he worked all kinds of disciplines throughout the years, with music, theatre, dance, film, video art, musical theatre, documentaries, … He created his first video in 1978. Videorhythmics (1984) was his first video concert: live music on the beat of rhythmically edited single screen videos. It would become his 'trademark'.

He has a rich curriculum with numerous projects in collaboration with internationally renowned artists such as Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Steve Paxton, Wim Vandekeybus, Guy Cassiers,... Since his first trip to Africa in 1993, he created a great deal of projects with African artists, which will be released on Cortizona under the moniker XAfrika in 2024.

Walter Verdin was also the composer of the song ‘Rendez-Vous’ by Pas De Deux, the much controversial Belgian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1983. They were chosen by a professional media-jury during an hilarious final, live on national tv. All his work is multidisciplinary. The interaction between video, dance and music, moving image and sound, forms the constant topic in his work, that should be catalogued as 'visual music'.

Ann Eysermans

After her stunning and well acclaimed debut album ‘For Trainspotters Only’ Ann Eysermans now releases ‘Moonlight Shadoh’, a tribute to her dog Shadoh. A record on which she explores the bond between herself and her faithful canine friend, Shadoh, through an extraordinary musical odyssey.

Ann Eysermans masterfully weaves together a tapestry of field recordings, candy-like harmonies and Shadoh's distinctive houndly expressions. Creating otherworldly compositions that transcends genres which include recorded and integrated snarling feedback sounds. From the hauntingly beautiful melodies to the experimental sonic landscapes, every track tells a story that resonates deep within your soul. Feel the heartbeat of Shadoh as his barks, whimpers and playful antics merge seamlessly with Ann's soothing vocals, harp and viola da gamba. These evocative arrangements will transport you to a realm where the bond between human and dog is translated into an aural spectrum swaying between desolate harp sounds, recollecting the eerie Jandek spirit lacing with doomy new beat vibes.

Moonlight Shadoh is an exceptional journey blending acoustic instruments, phonic melancholy, analogue tape footage of Ann’s personal sound archive and audio poetry.