When Massimo Pupillo formed the band Zu, all he knew was that he needed to find a voice. So he picked up a bass and let the strings do the talking. About anger, dreams, beasts, reality, poetry, possibility. In Ostia, on the outskirts of Rome, Massimo and Zu developed a whole language of their own: genre-defying and boundary-breaking, part metal and noise, part electronic and contemporary music.
These elements also leave their mark on his solo work, in projects with theatre director Romeo Castellucci or for films by Kirill Serebrennikov, and in his collaborations with Mike Patton, Thighpaulsandra, FM Einheit, or soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan. At Kookoo, Massimo presents his latest project: Industrial Slave, an audiovisual work inspired by the poem of the same name by John Trudell. A poet, actor, and musician, Trudell was deeply involved in the American Indian Movement and operated at the intersection of art and activism.
Responding to Trudell’s poetry, its raw tone and strong anti-corporate stance, Massimo creates a bass-heavy soundscape and oscillating imagery that are inspired by political resistance and the industrial movement, but digested and projected into a post-everything dimension. Industrial Slave captures a world of digital cages, constant surveillance, and excessive control, but hints at a possible way of escape. Both cataclysm and catalyst, this is a musical outcry from a unique, distinctive voice.
Ingrid Müller-Farny lends her presence to this scenario. A clairvoyant and a medium, Ingrid believes nothing. She trusts in her ability to perceive. Her work in theatre, performance art, and music is based on the constant attempt to channel and amplify perception. She describes this approach as scientifically spiritual, as an art that requires care, humility, and dedication. The minds of visual artists Carly Fischer and Yukihiro Taguchi align with those of Kookoo hosts Mieko Suzuki and Ara to create a space where poetry, presence, and voices can unfold.
Kookoo w/ Massimo Pupillo
Friday, 1.3.2024 | Doors 22:00 | Starts 22:00 CET
Ohm | Köpenicker Straße 70 in 10179 Berlin
