Chapter introduction

Article “A Million Voices – Post-Soviet popular music, the Russian-Orthodox Church and the nation-state” published

Finally, after more than 4 years my article “A Million Voices – Post-Soviet popular music, the Russian-Orthodox Church and the nation-state” has been published!

Cover "Made in Germany"

Book “Made in Germany – Studies in Popular Music” published

This book’s roots goes back to when Oliver Seibt and I still were on the IASPM D-A-CH-board in 2014. Oli had been contacted by the series editors about a book project within the “Routledge Global Popular Music Series”. Two other edited books on German popular music had just been published and after we studied them…Continue reading Book “Made in Germany – Studies in Popular Music” published

Book cover "War of Songs"

Book “War of Songs – Popular Music and Recent Russia-Ukraine Relations” published

When we, Andrei Rogatchevski, Yngvar B. Steinholt, Arve Hansen and I, submitted our abstracts for a panel at the 2017 IASPM conference in Kassel we just wanted to present some uses of popular music during conflict. The response to our papers on the role that popular music played during the recent (and ongoing) Russian-Ukrainian conflict…Continue reading Book “War of Songs – Popular Music and Recent Russia-Ukraine Relations” published

Religion and Popular Music Artists, Fans, and Cultures

Article “My Pravoslavnye: Russkii rok, Orthodoxy and nationalism in post-Soviet Russia” published

An area I have been thinking about for a long time is the relationship between music and religion in Russia. I have touched on this in my research before, but not explicitly focused on it. When Andreas Häger contacted me about writing an article for a planned book on popular music and religion in 2015…Continue reading Article “My Pravoslavnye: Russkii rok, Orthodoxy and nationalism in post-Soviet Russia” published

My summer hit musings

A couple of weeks ago I was interview by Clemens Panagl from the Salzburger Nachrichten on why songs from the non Anglo-US-American musical world suddenly become summer hits. The resulting article titled “Dein Sommerhit, das unbekannte Wesen” was published on July 7th and included some of my musings on what makes a (summer)hit. I managed…Continue reading My summer hit musings

Article “Ukro-Ska-Punk” finally published

Finally my article “‘Ukro-Ska-Punk’ – Band Identity, Surzhik and Language in Post-Soviet Russia” on Svoboda’s use of surzhik and Ukrainian stereotypes in St. Petersburg has been published – my first foray into linguistics. 😉 After the editor of the first book project this article was supposed to appear in disappeared the article found a welcome new…Continue reading Article “Ukro-Ska-Punk” finally published

Warhol’s banana

During our visit to see the cherry blossoms in Schwetzingen we passed by Andy Warhol’s banana used on the Velvet Underground’s debut album “The Velvet Underground & Nico”. Taken with my Fuji x100t.

Pomidor/Off

During my visit to Minsk we visited a tribute concert to the Belorussian VIA Pesniary (I also visited the band leader Vladimir Muliavin’s grave) at the club Re:Public. One of the acts to perform was Pomidor/Off whose singer Aleksandr Pomidorov can be seen here above (and who recorded a clip for Нейро Дюбель / Neiro…Continue reading Pomidor/Off

Нейро Дюбель

During my recent Minsk visit I visited the recording studio “Osmos” and was promptly recruited to play on a clip for the band “Нейро Дюбель’s” upcoming gig this saturday at the club Re:Public. Sung by Aleksandr Pomidorov this video was recorded in one take: Studio fun! 😀

In pursuit of magic

One of the recurring graffitis during my recent visit to New York was “In pursuit of magic” – here quite fittingly at the entrance to where Tin Pan Alley was located. Taken with my D700 and Nikon 20-35 2.8.

Oakfield and Guru Guru @ Worms: Jazz and Joy

I heard Oakfield and Guru Guru play yesterday at the festival Worms: Jazz and Joy. Above Oakfield can be seen with the cathedral in the background. Taken with my D700 and Tamron 90mm 2.8. The complete gallery can be seen here:

Pussy Riot Concert

While in Berlin last month I passed by this poster for a concert in support of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot. Taken with my Canon S95. For more Berlin pictures check out