PANDORA'S MUSIC BOXXXMAS ADVENT CALENDAR

In July 2023 I was invited to be a musical resident at Pandora’s Music BoxXx, the musical segment of Untergeschoss der Pandora art gallery in Kreuzberg Berlin.

During my residency, I came up with the idea of creating musical advent calendar, for music fans to digitally discover new music, but in a different and fun way, outside of our algorithmically- generated echo chambers. (''making the digital a bit analog again'')

The advent calendar was sold online or in person at the gallery for 15-20 euro. Everyone who bought the advent calendar received a new piece of unreleased music in their inbox from December 1st-24th.

The calendar was a promotion tool for underground music producers, and a way for their music to be heard outside of their regular circles. Every track that was sent out also included the artists bio and links to their other work. Through the calendar, producers found new fans, and fans found new artists.

The main theme of the calendar was to challenge the capitalist and consumerist habits of Christmas, but to still enjoy the magic of festive surprises and gift giving/receiving, and to use it to encourage and create community.

As a promotional tool, and a way to physically present the theme, a local brand was commissioned to create a one-of-a-kind real life advent calendar to house the music inside. Everyone that purchased the digital calendar was automatically entered into a prize draw to win the physical calendar. Sturmzx2, who was commissioned to make the physical calendar, are a brand working with up-cycled materials collected from the streets of Berlin, and so the calendar was made from 100% recycled fabrics and toys, to push our anti-consumer message.(Consuming music doesn’t cost the earth, and - music lasts forever ;-))

The winner was announced at the launch party, ‘Open the BoxXx’ at the gallery on the 1st December, which featured dj and live sets from producers taking part in the calendar. The event was a success as it saw producers and music fans meet and connect through music in a setting outside of the club.

(Oh, and we also set out an extra mystery 25th boxxx... an invitation to an illegal rave on NYE, organised by Fraction Nimmersatt.)

The calendar hopes to return next year, hopefully this time with some funding behind it and an expanded team.

The calendar is currently on show at the gallery for visitors to listen interactively.