Kiezsalon with Atsuko Hatano and Danae Palaka

This summer, the Kiezsalon takes its first trip to Potsdam, setting up at DAS MINSK every Thursday evening in June. This time featuring Japanese composer and performer Atsuko Hatano and Greek drummer Danae Palaka and DJ NikNak. Tickets available via DAS MINSK. Atsuko Hatano creates works that explore “Cells Music,” a concept in which diverse, vibrant soundscapes are formed through a combination of string instruments, electronic sounds, environmental sounds and voices. She has released two works in the Cells Music series, 'Cells#2' and 'Cells#5', and is currently working on the third installment. In live performances, she uses a five-string viola, pedals and Max/Msp to craft a layered sonic space in real-time, blending acoustic and electronic elements. Her work continuously pushes the boundaries of traditional music, exploring new possibilities for sound. Under the alias TRIOLA, she released 'Scapegoat' in 2023 on the Constructive label (UK) and has also released works on labels such as Important Records (US), Superpang (Italy), and Alien Transistor (Germany). Hatano was a member of Jim O’Rourke’s band, participating in live performances and albums. Born in Athens to a musical family partially hailing from Istanbul, she relocated there to explore the city’s heritage and her own roots. Danae Palaka’s energetic and dense drumming style, infuenced by Afrobeat and Anatolian rhythms, contemporary jazz and electronic music, blends grooves, polyrhythms and textural sounds. Her interest in researching alternative qualities of the drum-kit generate concepts that aspire to redefine the essence of time and existence. Danae’s frst solo album 'Velox' was released in October 2024 by A.F.O.M. INT. The album was developed by Palaka’s necessity to perform solo with a drum-kit and a sampler, therefore the open-ended limitation of drums and electronics became the creative force for the 8 tracks of the record. The compositions utilise Danae’s musical infuences with grooves inspired by contemporary jazz, rhythms of common heritage of Greeks and Turks and improvisation on the drum-kit mixed with melodies, arpeggios and electronic noises designed on analog and digital synths, in collaboration with producer Nikos Dervisis. Bask in the evening sunlight with us this June on Potsdam’s scenic rooftop terrace with international DJs and curated fine wines. DAS MINSK is easy to reach from Berlin’s city centre in under 30 minutes by public transport. _____ The Kiezsalon is a project by Digital in Berlin. Curated by Michael Rosen in collaboration with DAS MINSK. Presented by The Wire and taz, die tageszeitung.