Going international as a Luxembourgish artist: (how) does it work?

Going international as a Luxembourgish artist: (how) does it work?

In this panel we will dive into the real-world challenges of taking your music beyond Luxembourg’s borders and gaining international recognition. From networking possibilities, seizing the right opportunities and avoiding potential pitfalls, we’ll unveil the secrets to growing your global acclaim and making waves internationally.

Speakers:
Zach Glavan (Your Army, Managing Partner & Head of Non-Comm/NPR Promotion)
Zach Glavan is a managing partner and head of NPR/non-commercial radio promotion at Your Army, where he works to craft promotional strategies for artists and labels looking to break into the USA and Canadian radio landscapes. Recent artists include the likes of Nia Archives, Milky Chance, James Blake, Disclosure, London Grammar, The Chemical Brothers, and The Hives. Zach also co-manages The NACC Chart (the primary chart-of-record for the College radio community) and has recently started his own Luxembourg-based management and artist development firm, Pressure Artist Talent.
A classically trained musician, Zach got his start in the industry playing french horn with ensembles around the world, from Spain to Hong Kong. You may know him through his former work as the Pop/Rock/Electro Project Manager for Kultur | lx, Arts Council Luxembourg, a position he held from 2019 to 2023.

C’est Karma (Artist)                                                                                                                                                                   For C’est Karma music is a tool for change. From causing trouble with her punk band in the age of 14 to her bold, hyperpop-infused 2022 EP „Amuse-Bouche“ – Karma Catena’s passionate activist heart always beats at the core.
The daughter of two first generation immigrants grew up in Luxembourg but relocated to Amsterdam to „study the internet“ as she calls it. Channeling her frustration into words and music has gained the 21 year-old critical acclaim from renowned publications such as Rolling Stone, GQ, ELLE or The Line Of Best Fit and collaborations with Canal+ or La Blogothèque, who also invited C’est Karma to their 2021 edition of arte concert Festival in Paris next to Damon Albarn and Joan As Police Woman.
Ploughing furrows covered with hyperpop, alt-pop and noise/industrial influences, Karmas songs range from attacking the inaction on the climate crists and the disparity between the filthy rich and the less fortunate to her love for women, the cinema and the closest thing to her heart: Pasta.
On the back of extensive praise for her riveting one-woman live show at her first ever North America concerts, C’est Karma has recently embarked on her biggest and most ambitious project to date.
„After spending the last 2 years figuring out who I am as an artist and developing my vision I feel hyped, beyond excited and meticulously prepared to embark on the journey of creating my first full-length album. Making a record is not only about writing banger songs, I want to create a universe of emotions, sounds and visual impressions that explain the different facets of who I am and become an immersive experience for my audience. Oh and also, I do want to change the world,“ Karma elaborates.
After all, being born just one day after Billie Eilish must mean something.

Sergio Manique Jr. (Music Director/Musician/Producer)
Sergio Manique Jr. is an artist who was born in Portugal. He grew up in Luxembourg, which created a unique influence noticeable in his creations. His environment was always rich in music. He began his journey by playing drums in church as a kid. From strumming a guitar with his father to watching MTV all day, he was persistent in developing his music skills in various different directions. Already at the age of 18 he became a prominent drummer in Luxembourg which later led Sergio to become a student of Berklee College of Music to further expand his skills and moved to the U.S.A. He then started his journey as a live arranger and music director. In 2017 at the age of 21 he played his first world tour with Portuguese artist Anselmo Ralph which enabled him to not only travel around the world doing what he loves but to also take his musical skills to another level. Through collaborating with other artists and putting their shows together he started to translate their visions into music productions. Sergio has then dived deep into music production and recording. His musical background allows him to have a unique take on artist vision without interrupting it. Sergio is an artist driven by passion to create good music of any genre and never stops learning. In the summer of 2021 he got the opportunity to perform at one of America’s biggest festivals, Lollapalooza, playing in front of thousands of people. Now, Sergio spends his days producing, live arranging and drumming for international artists like EDSUN, Soraia Ramos, Anselmo Ralph,Them Lights,CHAiLD, EXCESSO and many more.

Oliver Möller (Project Manager Pop/Rock/Electro/R&B/Hip-Hop at Kultur | lx)
Oliver Möller has been impressed by the diversity and quality of the Luxembourg music scene ever since he moved to Trier 28 years ago. That is why he joined Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg a year ago as Project Manager Pop/Rock/Electro/R&B/Hip-Hop with the desire to support local artists to take the next step towards more international recognition. Prior to this, he worked as project manager at the venues Arena Trier and Messepark Trier, went to sea as music event manager on board of AIDA cruise ships, launched several event formats such as the Sound & Vision Festival in Trier, was co-responsible for artist booking at several temporary music venues during these years (Kasino Trier, Alte Färberei). In addition to his professional activities, he is involved in several non-profit associations in the realisation of events with a social impact.

Panel Moderator:
Lisa Burke (RTL Today, The Lisa Burke Show)                                                                                                        Lisa Burke is an experienced broadcaster having spent the bulk of her career presenting live television with Sky News, plus BBC, Channel 4, Fox News, many other Sky channels, RTE (Ireland) and RTL (Luxembourg). Her reporting has covered national and international assignments, documentaries and radio.
In Luxembourg, Lisa co-created RTL Today which has now become the biggest English news platform in the country. Now, she hosts and produces a weekly radio show (also available with video) and podcast: ‘The Lisa Burke Show’.
Lisa is in high demand as a host and moderator, covering TED talks, all Luxembourg Space Agency work, finance, health, entrepreneurship, tech, science, European Institution events and many more. She is a public speaking coach, and launched the first Presenting & Debating Society at the University of Luxembourg. Additionally, Lisa is a sought-after voice-over artist.
Whilst living in Abu Dhabi for two years, Lisa wrote for The National newspaper.
 Other writing includes children’s science books. Lisa has been a science consultant and author with Dorling Kindersley since 2005. She studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, gaining a double first. Her specialism was chemistry.
Lisa is on the Cambridge University Communications Working Group. She is also a board member for Angel Aid Cares, a Californian-based foundation raising aid for the care-givers of children with rare disease.
Lisa is a trained classical singer and pianist. She has two daughters.

Event organised in association with l’alliance musicale.