✈ Based in Los Angeles (US)
kiefer is a central figure in the diverse independent music scene of los angeles. his sound fuses various modalities of black american music, from jazz and r&b to hip-hop and electronic music.
kiefer grew up in san diego, california, immersed in jazz by his father at a young age, and later experimented with hip-hop-inspired beats in high school. while studying jazz piano at ucla, kiefer got his education in beats from attending shows at low end theory and collaborating with other artists in the scene.
hard-hitting beats, complex jazz voicings and sentimental melodies all fed into kiefer’s debut, kickinit alone, released on leaving records in 2017. soon after, kiefer signed to stones throw and released two lps: ‚happysad‘ (2018), and ‚when there’s love around‘ (2021). his new full-length record, titled ‚it’s ok, b u‘, is available everywhere now.
outside of his solo work, kiefer has recorded with artists such as kaytranada, sir, and terrace martin, and produced for anderson .paak on his grammy award winning record, „ventura“.
kiefer at his core is both emotional and an optimist, which is why his songs resonate on a wide spectrum of emotion. his ethos is about feeling encouraged, empowered, and full of gratitude, reminding listeners through his music, „this is a beautiful life.“
✈ Based in Berlin (DE)
Rapper and Trumpeter JuJu Rogers was born to an American G.I. from New Orleans and a German mother with Austrian roots. More than 10,000 American soldiers were stationed in the working-class city he was born in.
Both JuJu and his hometown were influenced by the cultural identities of two very different countries. Inspired by his father’s collection of Jazz and Soul records, JuJu began playing the trumpet at an early age. Music helped him to navigate his sense of belonging to disparate worlds.
His quest to explore, define and report on these divergent realities can be heard in his top-notch lyricism and earnest vocal performances.
✈ Based in Berlin (DE)
Calcou is an electronic music duo. One was dancing wildly in front of the TV to Britney Spears, the other obsessively transcribed Keith Jarrett solos. Sounds weird for an electronic duo? Brace yourself – they made it their own.
Drawing on rich electronic production and a strong sense of atmosphere Calcou combines immersive storytelling with deep, danceable grooves. Dreamy, organic textures weave through grainy beats, warm synths, and confident, soulful vocals.
“Our music is about capturing moments that feel both vulnerable and strong — like a story unfolding in sound. We want to create a space where people can feel something honest and alive,” the duo says..
