Seated at the piano and with her hypnotic singing voice, Nguyễn Zen Mỹ explores the relationship between sound and poetry. Experience her project Radio Hito on the same evening as Danish drummer Anders Vestergaard, whose captivating solo project originates from the Chinese energy practice Qi Gong.

Radio Hito

In Radio Hito, the Italian-Vietnamese composer, writer, and artist Nguyễn Zen Mỹ explores what language is. In her minimalist compositions for piano and voice, language emerges not just as words with meaning, but concrete sound as well. Drawing from literary works, such as those of the French poet Claude Royet-Journoud, she translates and transforms texts into song. The result is a melodic soundscape that invites you to float away, yet demands your attention. Melancholic, experimental, and deeply poetic.

Nguyễn Zen Mỹ, who is based in Belgium, has been playing piano since early childhood. In fact, she could read sheet music before she could read and write, and as a child, she would record over audiobooks with her own improvisations. Music and language have therefore always been deeply intertwined for the musician, who also holds a professorship at the art academy in Strasbourg. “Radio Hito’s set in superb,” wrote The Wire about one of her performances. “Sitting on the altar steps with a synth, her fabulous expressive vocals colour sparse, pensive compositions.” We wholeheartedly agree! Though Radio Hito’s setup may be simple, relying only on piano and voice, her concerts are emotionally vast. We look forward to welcoming the artist and her hypnotic voice when she visits ALICE this October!

Anders Vestergaard

Anders Vestergaard is a jazz drummer, composer, and improviser, affiliated with a wide range of projects, including the free jazz group Yes Deer, the noise duo Laser Nun, and Girls in Airports, who play melodic fusion jazz. He has toured worldwide and released more than 40 albums as part of various constellations. At ALICE, he will performen with his solo project. The project grows out of the Chinese energy practice Qi Gong, which Anders Vestergaard himself practices. Around ten years ago, he began integrating the drum kit into his practice as a way of moving the body through specific patterns of motion. Over time, he became fascinated by the sounds it produced. And thus, a musical project was born.

Since then, Anders Vestergaard has released three solo albums: ‘Eel’ (2016), ‘Prime Float/Unitary Perfect’ (2019), and ‘Propeller’ (2024), and has performed at festivals such as Sound of Stockholm, Roskilde Festival, and the Norwegian festival All Ears. Experiencing Anders Vestergaard live is something truly special. When he sits down at the drum kit, it is to feel the rhythms together with the audience. His performances are therefore rather physical, marked by an intense presence and a movement toward a shared third space.