Also this year we would like to send you the best wishes and seasons greetings by pointing out a contribution from the field of art and culture that is close to our hearts.

If you want to support artists in these difficult times, please have a look at the links below.

La Stampa is a band from Berlin, Geneva, Hamburg, Sarajevo. Günter Reznicek, Jan Verwoert, Jons Vukorep, Jörg Heiser, Angi Harrer-Vukorep and Thomas Hug met in Berlin in the early 2000s, at a point when the city‘s art scene was becoming more and more international. Yet, rather than defaulting to Conceptual Art, their medium of choice was Pop: in 2008 they formed La Stampa.

In celebrating their recent album Bonjour Trieste, LP, Vinyl Factory 2018, music critic Tobi Müller points out how La Stampa dare to oppose the bleakness of the present moment by drawing energy from the pop modernism of times when a future indeed seemed possible: “Dance punk basslines, classicist quotes and harmonic turns notwithstanding, the sound of avant-gardist entertainment from the time of the upheavals in the 1960s is very present on Bonjour Trieste. Analogue synths, squeaks, sinus waves, a happy mix of modular synthesis and over-the-top television shows.”

Citing characters, moods and motifs from the stories La Stampa tell in their songs, indie pop poet Kristof Schreuf reimagines the birth of the band: “He shows up on a beach in a soggy suit. The sea has set him adrift, so he travels the lands as a musician and meets people from many different countries. None of them speak the other’s language. But when they get together, incredible things happen. They gain access to means of transportation, archives and libraries, write songs about anonymous encounters during black-outs and sweat running into the eyes, overcome all resentment and chase away the demons of the heavy heart. They radiate the lightness of being international.”

Poster included

Artwork by artist Shirana Shahbazi (Zürich/Berlin)

together with art director Manuel Krebs (Norm Design, Zürich)

“I love the European-ness of it all, reminds me of driving through a rain soaked former GDR listening to Robert Miles… Total euro submerge! Synthy, uplifting melodic melancholia… aaaaah...”

Mark Brydon (Moloko)

„I LOVE THESE SONGS!

Fantastic really. Infectious, fun, with heart.“

Ian Svenonius (The Make-Up, Nation of Ulysses)

We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and successful New Year 2021! 2020 was probably there to push digitalization forward. We thank you for your trust and are looking forward to go further steps together in the new year.

Stay safe and healthy!

With best regards

The STREMLER team and La Stampa