Astral Underground series 1

Greetings all, We are astral underground, representing the un-aired underbelly, and future thought in the world of art.

Astral Underground is a showcase series by Mortalinputs which aims to explore standout creative minds who inhabit the underground art space. Each series we will be bringing a new line-up of various artists to venues and locations throughout Europe and beyond.

Michael Ekow & May 

Artist (interdisciplinary artist, vocalist and co-producer of his work)

Michael Ekow is an artist who’s sound varies within the soundscape of: indie, hip hop, rnb, house, etc. of Ghanaian descent Ekow has spent his life moving around England, Germany and now the Netherlands. a wordsmith zealous to capture feeling in records and poetic expressions that vividly paint moments as well as dissecting existential crisis’, Michael Ekow has been inspired by the likes of Rod Stewart, Florence and The Machine, Kendrick Lamar and Frank Ocean.

His new ambitions of cultivating an underground music scene have flourished into 45 shows (and counting) in 2023. through his monthly residency at Kanaal40 – every last thursday of the month – Michael Ekow invites artists to join his journey in emerging a live music scene in Amsterdam. numerous single releases and collaborations across genres with Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, and Hi-Lo & Oskar Billy and collaborations with producer and guitarist May with their forthcoming 2024 EP ‘talk to me nice!’.

LUI SURREAL

Artist (vocalist, performance and visual artist)
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Lui Surreal is an Alternative act and Visual Artist born in Glasgow, Scotland. Conceptually he focuses on the raw, uncensored nature of love and its parallels to addiction. Sonically departing from Punk, in many of its manifestations, Lui is finding a way to charge music with the undefinable characteristics of the world as he sees it. Alternative to the core Lui’s upbringing led him to adopt and adapt elements of left-field Rap, Electronic and Metal melting key elements into the soup of Surreality.

As a founding member of the UK Electronic Hardcore collective LUzA CULT, alongside SAVE_Az – Lui proceeds to release undefinable DIY projects that seamlessly veer between heavy-hitting post-genre Music, perform chaos-inducing live sets and avant-garde video making.

With a wild and captivating stage presence that is concerned with nothing but sheer energy in the NOW – Lui performs in venues, clubs, art spaces and raves. Currently based between the underground scenes of the UK and the NL he is finding a way to infuse his unique, genre-defiant energy with places and audiences where it makes sense.

JELEE

Artist (producer, musician and record label founder)
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The autodidact artist that goes by the name Jelee is hard to pin down when it comes to describing his style or genre. While the traces of jazz, electronic music, and beats are the most apparent influences, other genres like world music, IDM and soundtrack left a mark on Jelee’s sound too. His first release arrived on streaming services and vinyl in early 2019 and it was merely the beginning. Since then Jelee has released several projects including releases on Carista’s United Identities, Stamp The Wax and most recently his debut album Soil on Wicked Wax and Rucksack Records, and a follow up EP released on Wicked Wax.

Besides producing and releasing music, Jelee also founded his own record label called Heliopolis Recordings and has thus far released music by local artists. These releases are not bound by any genre, perfectly in line with Jelee and his own musical endeavour.

J.carmi (nomad)

Artist (producer, musician, vocalist and event organiser)
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Music producer and rapper from Bali, Indonesia. Blending hiphop, Non-traditional rhythms, experimental music and the sounds of australasias eclectic underground music scene. Having made his start playing in traditional Shona marimba ensembles his most recent project (Nomad) is an exploration of his history growing up as a second generation immigrant, the subliminal connections between cultures, and the greater process of self actualization in this Anthropocene.

J.carmi (Nomad) – 8:00 – 8:45

Jelle – 9:00 – 9:45

Lui Surreal – 10:00 – 10:45

Michael Ekow & May – 11:00 – 11:45