Work in progress:

ABOUT:

As we have dived into 2022 and slowly wave goodbye to Covid-19 new projects are in progress.

January – December: Curating and managing music projects and releases for Global Oslo Music and Global Sonics. The works include commissioned pieces, recordings and releases and bookings with artists such as Becaye, Evelina Petrova/Oslo Art Duo, Javid Afsari Ras Ensemble and Zarbang/Aras,  Saleh Mahfoud, Ahmad Ibrahim Al-Khatib and Kaveh Mahmudiyan, Zayka, Fyrs among many others.

August – December: After a long break due to the pandemic, the offer from GoStudy to lecture in Philosophy in Barcelona was a great pleasure.

Due to the pandemic there are less activities and no traveling, still curating work for Global Oslo Music and Global Sonics takes place.

November: Delivered vignette music for Film fra Sør / Films from the South

April – December: Curating and managing music releases for Global Sonics – a record label publishing music by artists from around the world. New releases: Dounya by Gnawa Youmala, Advar by Kaveh Mahmudiyan and Pedram Khavarzamini, Yafa by Sidiki Camara – both albums with music commissioned by Global Oslo Music, Beyond the Valley by Oslo Art Duo, Whispers by Roksana Smirnova and Misha Kalinin and a digital version of Motherless Child by Ruth Reese.

March: Delivered music to Stop Tax Avoidance pilot – to become a documentary on the ongoing fight against tax avoidance, led by some of the world’s greatest corruption hunters. Directed by Hege Dehli.

March: Lecturing in Philosophy in Paris for GoStudy.

January – March: Lecturing in Philosophy in Barcelona for GoStudy.

January: As Spoon is making its way around the globe, Malika is currently working on new music projects: Films and new recordings. More news soon.

January – December: Curating art projects for GlobalOslo Music.

«Spoon» is making its way to film festivals around the globe:

Estonia: PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival / 15 November – 01 December, 2019
Lithuania: European Film Forum Scanorama / 8-18 November, 2019
Belarus: Minsk International Film Festival / 1-8 November, 2019
Latvia: Riga International Film Festival / 17-28 October, 2019
Mexico: Black Canvas Film Festival / 01-08 October, 2019
Czech Republic: Karlovy Vary International Film Festival / June 28 – July 6, 2019 (premiere)

June 29: Spoon to premiere at the 54th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. In Spoon, Latvia’s icon of world documentary
Laila Pakalnina creates a portrait of the paradoxical contradiction between the long production process and short lifespan of an ordinary
piece of plastic – entirely without words but with a subtle sense of humor.

Directed by Laila Pakalnina
Image by Gints Bērziņš
Edited by Vikaite
Music written by Malika
Produced by Hargla Company, Mechanix Films, Just a Moment

June 21: Global Oslo Music @ Fête de la Musique in Montmartre, Paris. Curated by Malika.

April 27: Lecturing at Global @ Deichman (N)

April: Spoon by Laila Pakalnina: A film about a plastic spoon and a society that has reached a high level of development – oil is being retrieved from subterranean depths, transported to processing plants, turned into plastic, transported to another plant, where it acquires the shape of a spoon, transported to convenience stores, where we buy it, and is then soon tossed into the trash. In other words, this is a film about the efforts put into making a spoon that can be thrown away so effortlessly.

Scriptwriter / Producer: Laila Pakalniņa
In Co-production with Just A Moment (Lithuania), Mechanix Film (Norway)
Music by Malika

 Spoon by Laila Pakalnina soon to be aired

January-May: Curating Global Nights festival May 30 – June 2, hosted by Global Oslo Music 

January-April: Lecturing in Philosophy at GoStudy, Paris

December: Finalizing music for Spoon by Laila Pakalnina, a close up on the horrific production of plastic and the use of it.
To be aired in 2019.

November: In «De sekundære» - an article in Hårsår magazine 3th edition, I’m raising the question why artists from the South
aren’t visible in Norwegian media.

August- December: Lecturing in Philosophy  and History of Art at Gateway, Paris

March-: Spoon by Laila Pakalnina – composing music for a new film about a plastic spoon and a society that has reached a high level of development. 

Spoon to be aired in 2019

February-May: Lecturing in Philosophy at Gateway, Paris

February 2: «Hva er status»; – Something is wrong in the Norwegian art world, do I claim, fighting structural racism in the art world.

January 25: Delivering a speech at Buskerud kulturkonferanse 2018 i Kongsberg:  On institutional racism in the art world.

November 22-24: Art fundings - Arts Council Norway: Counselor for the music section.

October-January: Managing the establishment of Global Sonics, label, podcasts and streaming platform for Global Oslo Music

October: Art fundings - Nordic Culture Fund: Counselor for the music section.

September-December: New semester at Gateway College: Teaching Philosophy and Art of History.

September 7-8: Art fundings - Arts Council Norway: Counselor for the music section.

September 28: Participating at Trondheim Chamber Music Festival’s debate on music and politics.
In cooperation with Ny Musikk Trondheim, Adresseavisen, Dokkhuset Scene and Luftforsvarets musikkorps.

August: On vacation!

July: Spoon: The making of music for a new documentary: work starts in 2018  

June 14-18: LIMBO to premiere at the Opera in Oslo, performed by Tabanka Dance Ensemble
Art direction & Coreography: Thomas Talawa Prestø
Music: Malika

May 26: Club Montmartre to perform at Global Nights, hosted by Global Oslo Music

May 12: How do IsraelI settlements in the occupIed Palestinian territory affect Palestinians? See the documentary The Other Jersualem - world premiere
at Nordic/Docs Festival in Fredrikstad, Norway. To air at ARTE, NRK, SVT among others.
By PeÅ Holmquist & Suzanne Khardalian (Sv/No) 58 min
Co-produced by Hege Dehli / Mechanix Film
Music by Malika

May 02-19: Art fundings - Nordic Culture Fund: Counselor for the music section.

March: Approaching release of the new project CLUB MONTMARTRE
To premiere at VOSSA JAZZ on April 7

Club Montmartre is Malika Makouf Rasmussen’s new club concept, that had its debut at Vossa Jazz in April! 
The project is inspired by and based on the striking area Montmartre in Paris, where Malika resides. As a mingling spot for people from all corners of the world, Montmartre has historically been a melting pot and canvas for a community with a great appetite for art. Incorporating a variety of African and Western instruments blended with electronic sounds forms the sole foundation for Malika’s music. In Club Montmartre, the cultural surrounding in Montmartre is the inspiration and has become the focus point for a dynamic stream of influences, through different instruments, electronics and vocals. 

Lineup:
Malika Makouf Rasmussen –  gimbe, bass and percussion
Wei Ting Zeng – cello, electronics
Dahir Eebo Doni – beats
Luis Landa-Schreitt – drums, percussion
Kristin Asbjørnsen – vocal
Busi Ncube – vocal, mbira

February 8-16: ZITA HOTELL World Premiere in Oslo, Norway - Curated by Malika
By Martin Jacque, translated by Hilde Ljøen
A Global Oslo Music and Nordic Black Theatre production
The furniture at the Zita Hotel is worn out, the varnish on the reception desk is coming off and the electrical system is about to break down. Silence prevails, until five people suddenly meet in this lonely hotel, far from everything. What is bothering Zita, the spontaneous and colorful cabaret singer? The grumpy writer Sisco writes his diary in deep concentration. What happened in his life since he refuses to show the diary to anybody? Why does the new, elegant but unpleasant guest Albin have all these thoughts of revenge on his mind – and a gun in his luggage? Romantic, naive Mercedes has no suitcase at all when she books a room for one or two nights. She easily starts to cry and doesn’t want to live anymore. Confrontations between the four are inevitable, and during a few intense hours, the truth about their lives comes out. 
Cast: Terese Mungai, Biniam Abbai Gezai, Sofia Knudsen Estifanos, Guillermo John Magno, composer & musician Bonfire Madigan Shive
Director: Cliff A. Moustache, Assistant director: Deise Faria Nunes

February
02-19: Art fundings – Nordic Culture Fund: Counselor for the music section.

January
CLUB MONTMARTRE set to premiere at Vossa Jazz on april 7!
Club Montmartre is a new club project, truly inspired by one of the most vibrant area of Paris – a legendary global epicenter of historic architecture and contemporary pulse, a central node in social, cultural and commercial exchanges. Club Montmartre evolves around, and actualize cross-cultural exchanges that are not only natural, but necessary in a globalized world: To Voss I have invited some top notch musician to explore that with me:

Wei Ting Zeng – cello, electronics
Dahir Eebo Doni – beats
Luis Landa-Schreitt – drums, percussion
Kristin Asbjørnsen – vocal
Busi Ncube – vocal, mbira

I’ll be playing gimbe, bass and percussion.

December
01-02: Arts Council Norway – member of Faglig utvalg for musikk : funding art/music projects. Meetings takes place in Oslo.

November
02-30: Art fundings – Nordic Culture Fund: Counselor for the music section.
29-30: The Nordic Culture Fund meeting in Paris : New fundings in progress – content to be launched soon!

October
Limbo - recordings. New piece by Tabanka Dance Ensemble, Art direction and coreography by Thomas Talawa Prestø. The piece raises questions around identity, integrity and belonging. What can your body tell us? To premiere 2017.

September
Recording music for The Other Jerusalem; A documentary on the The impact of Israeli settlement and settlers on Palestinian land and water – by PeÅ Holmquist and Suzanne Khardalian in co-production with Hege Dehli, Mechanix Film AS, music by Malika. 

August
29: New semester at Gateway College in Paris: Philosophy lecturer
Composing for Tabanka Dance Ensemble’s new piece Limbo to premiere June 2017

July
Curating Global Oslo Music‘s new concert series Global @ Deichmanske to premiere
on August 20

June
Composing for Tabanka Dance Ensemble’s new piece Limbo to premiere June 2017

Mai
01-29: Curator and producer for Global Oslo Music‘s annual festival Global Nights.
27-27: Studio recordings/sound design for Zita Hôtel, a musical theatre piece written by Martin Jacque. To premiere in February 2017.
02-29: Art fundings – Nordic Culture Fund: Counselor for the music section.

April
Preproduction: San Francisco Auditorium part II; visual arts and music. The piece embraces hybrid musical and visual identities. Its very essence is the incorporation of various cultural traits as a challenge to the myth of singular and absolute representation.

March
10-11: Arts Council Norway – member of Faglig utvalg for musikk : funding art/music projects.. Meetings takes place in Oslo.

February
08-: The making of a new documentary film The Other Jerusalem; On the The impact of Israeli settlement and settlers on Palestinian land and water – by PeÅ Holmquist and Suzanne Khardalian in co-production with Hege Dehli, Mechanix Film AS, music by Malika.
February-May: Lecturer in Philosophy at Gateway College in Paris.
04-08: Visiting Reykjavik, Iceland: Research for the part II of San Francisco Auditorium – please check back for updates!
02-28: Art fundings – Nordic Culture Fund: Counselor for the music section.

January
22-31: Tabanka Crew in Paris; the making of the new piece Limbo - preproduction. Performed by Tabanka Dance Ensemble, Art direction and coreography by Thomas Talawa Prestø, music by Malika. The piece raises questions around identity, integrity and belonging. What can your body tell us? To premiere 2017.

November
23: Kulturhuset, Radio 92; On artists reactions to the Paris terror attack on November 13.
20: «Paris je t’aime»; published article in A-magasinet/Aftenposten after the terror attack in Paris.

16-17: Arts Council Norway – leading the committee for music fundings. Meetings takes place in Oslo.
03-03: Art fundings – Nordic Culture Fund: Counselor for the music section.
02-04: Arts Council Norway – leading the committee for music fundings. Meetings takes place in Harstad.

October
01-: Preproduction; the making of  music to «On my home» – a new show by
Tabanka Dance Ensemble to premiere in 2016.

September
07-09: Arts Council Norway – leading the committee for music fundings. Meetings takes place in Oslo.
03-20: Art fundings – Nordic Culture Fund: Counselor for the music section.

August
August-December: Lecturer in Philosophy at Gateway College in Paris.
18: Arts Council Norway – leading the committee for music fundings. Meetings takes place in Oslo.

June
06-08: «On the arts in the Nordic Region – new strategies for collaborations and fundings»,
- The Nordic Culture Fund’s conference in Stockholm.

May
25-31: Arts Council Norway – leading the committee for music fundings. Meetings takes place in Paris.
20-22: Art director for Global Oslo Music’s annual festival Global Nights.

02-04: Producing the recording of the piece Off Road by Becaye Aw. The piece was commissioned by Global Oslo Music in 2013.
After establishing himself as a significant composer of original music during the making of his solo album Sibi, the piece Off Road marks Becaye Aw’s first foray into commissioned music for a large ensemble. In this, he is combining elements of music rooted in the traditional Fulani music from West Africa with Norwegian folk music, making his own new style.

Liv Ulvik – vocal
Anne Hytta – Hardanger fiddles
Sigrun Eng – cello
Diom de Kossa – percussion, drums
Torgeir Vassvik – vocal
Eivind Lønning – trumpet
Becaye Aw – guitars, vocal
Peter Christian Coucheron – sound engineer
Produced by Malika Makouf Rasmussen

April
09-29: Art fundings – Nordic Culture Fund: Counselor for the music section.

February
25-27: Arts Council Norway – leading the committee for art fundings in the music field. Meetings takes place in Oslo.
05-15: Art fundings – Nordic Culture Fund: Counselor for the music section.

February-May: Lecturer in Philosophy at Gateway College in Paris.

January – April: Currently / actuellement @ Île-de-France – check us out: ENTRE DEUX; a multi-disciplinary piece on «duality» – tying and binding the concrete and abstract parts of our thought processes and intuition – interpreted using circus arts, music, sound design, dance and video arts melting into experimental poetry around the theme. Written by Tarzana Foures, Maud Payen, Mathieu Antajan, Grégoire Puren, Emmanuel Oger, Mia Delmaë (music) and Malika Makouf Rasmussen (music).

Dans une mosaïque de duos, le cirque, l’acrobatie, les disciplines aériennes, la danse, la projection d’images et la musique fusionnent dans un spectacle de poésie visuelle. Les ingrédients de cette aventure artistique interrogent le duo mais également la dualité de l’être.

November-December: Rehearsals for the new piece Entre deux: a multi-disciplinary piece on duality containing circus arts, music, sound design, dance and video arts. Written by Tarzana Foures, Maud Payen, Mathieu Antajan, Grégoire Puren and Emmanuel Oger. Music by Malika and Mia Delmaë. Premiere set to January 2015. Produced  by Le jour se leve.

Entre deux @ work: Tarzana Foures, Maud Payen, Mathieu Antajan, Grégoire Puren

October 11: Global Oslo Music presents the premiere of San Francisco Auditorium by Malika; music and sound design, and Ken Furudate; video art and sound design.
In 2013 Malika met the international touring renowned artist, programmer and designer Ken Furudate (Kyoto) in Tunisia. « San Francisco Auditorium » is the result of a fruitful artistic encounter that took place between them. The piece embraces hybrid musical and visual identities. Its very essence is the incorporation of various cultural traits as a challenge to the myth of singular and absolute representation.
Line up:
Malika; strings, percussion, sound design
Ken Furudate; video art, sound design
Safaa Al-Saadi; nai and percussion
Ketil Kielland Lund; keys and flugelhorn
Luis Landa-Schreitt; drums and percussion
Place: Cafeteatret, Hollendergata 8 // 9pm // cc. 120

Samples from San Francisco Auditorium

September 27: Concert with Becaye Aw at St. Jean, 23 Rue des Abbesses, 75018 Paris / 9pm / cc. 10€
Becaye began his musical career in Senegal, playing with musicians such as Mansuur Seck and Baaba Maal. He has since collaborated with a large number of artists,
among those: Ablaye Cissoko, Women’s Voice, Kouame Sereba, Steinar Ofsdal, King Ibu, Ali Fraka Toure, Olav Torget, Unni Løvlid, Haddy N’jie and Rolf-Erik Nystrøm.
In Paris he will present music from his acclaimed album Sibi, featuring Malika strings, percussion) and Murielle Lantignac (vocal).
July: Work in progress in Nanterre, Île-de-France: Circus arts, music, sound design, dance and video arts in the new piece Entre deux by Tarzana Foures, Maud Payen, Mathieu Antajan, Grégoire Puren, Emmanuel Oger, Malika and Mia Delmaë (music). To premiere January 2015.

April-June: Preproduction and finalizing the San Francisco Auditorium project.
April 4-6: At The European Independent Film Festival as a member of the Women-In-Film-In-Music team: A network and blog for persons interested in film, music and the role of women in the business of entertainment. This includes producers, directors, technical specialists and performing artists in the film and music industries. The key objective of the blog is to be a source for networking, understanding and acting on issues and barriers for the success of women participating in film and music.

March 19-21: Arts Council Norway committee meeting in Oslo. I am humbled to have been re-elected head of the committee for two more years. Read more
March 10: The Nordic Culture Event of the Year committee meeting in Copenhagen; in support of its focus on digital art and culture, the Nordic Culture Fund has earmarked DKK 3 million for the Nordic Cultural Event of the Year, DIGITAL 2015–2016. I’m thrilled to chair the jury. Read more