On the occasion of the release of the third issue of AMA journal, which features a conversation with Mikel Acosta, we have invited the founder and director of Hegoa Diskak to contribute to the “Harvesting Knowledge” section of this website and tell us about how he spends his time online when he is not managing the bandcamp page of the label, or writing emails to distributors, record shops, concert venues or future collaborators. We also offer to download the conversation with Acosta conducted by Thomas Boutoux and Oier Etxeberria taken from the issue of AMA#2 entitled Mechanical Bonds / Lazos mecánicos. Patiently constructed one record at a time since its inaugural release in 2021, Acosta’s project with Hegoa is to explore and reveal the width and depth of Basque experimental music with no limitations of eras and genres, from contemporary folk and oral traditions to free jazz, soundart, minimal and leftfield electronic music. Listening to the whole discography of the label takes us on an uncharted journey through the affective landscapes, the timbres and textures, the drones and tones, the hisses and whispers of the Basque country. Following Hegoa’s bandcamp page is an essential tip from the editors of AMAonline. And now are Mikel’s own recommendations from the corners of today’s Internet:
…in waves
During this past year, I’ve been developing an increasingly acute awareness about my psychological and physical cycles. The way the body functions, as well as the psychic, on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis, is showing me how much of my pragmatic skepticism may need to be put aside to learn new ways. Trust the curves, the highs and lows, and basically everything that lays in between the edges, that doesn’t “fit in the box”. It is in this quest, that I’ve set myself a path to look into new directions, pick up new habits, learn new skills and be more curious. As well as my body states fluctuate, so do my interests, together in waves.
These are some of the things I’ve been getting interested in, listening to or simply killing the time with, in no particular order.
(Dan Erickson, Sci-fi TV Show, 2022)
I can’t recommend this show enough. I fully indulged and completed it in three days.
Synopsis: “Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and personal lives”.
(Hirokazu Koreeda, 2023)
Japanese psychological dramatic mystery thriller with music by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Deeply moving and unsettling at times, I went to the cinema and loved it.
I picked up this book at the Sprint Milano Book & Record fair back in November. Published by SALON FÜR KUNSTBUCH in Wien, The Other Is Oneself collects texts and images exploring the themes of escape and exile and It offers a perspective on migration, revealing its impact on both individuals and society. Anyone living in exile will know.
NTS (Never To Small)
This youtube channel has been one of my latest guilty pleasures. Little designed apartments all around the world maximizing efficiency in spaces. Very satisfying if you are a minimalist or have any form of OCD, what’s not to like?!
NTS (Radio)
Since I started working at the station I’ve been producing live shows in the studio and these are some of my favorites. Again, no order.
–SULTAN LISTENING SESSON: SHABJDEED IN CONVERSATION W/ NIHAL (Palestinian Rap)
–IN FOCUS: GRUPO DE EXPERIMENTACIÓN SONORA DEL ICAIC (Cuban)
–Scary Things (UK Drill)
–Travs Presents (Grime)
–TIM REAPER B2B CHARLES GREEN (Jungle)
–5 Gate Temple (Experimental)
Mikel Acosta is a London-based musician, radio producer and the owner and director of the label Hegoa Diskak