Athens-based musician and vocalist Evita Manji is connecting the dots between the human experience, climate change, quantum physics and death, in an attempt to dig deeper into the primordial truth of existence. Through their carefully constructed practice of synthesis and sound design led by choir-inspired vocals, they fabricate musical worlds consisting of ever-expanding sonic organisms and shapeless solid non-materials. In 2021 Evita launched their platform myxoxym, releasing the singles “OIL/TOO MUCH” and “EYES/NOT ENOUGH”, as well as curating the first edition of the fundraising compilation series “PLASMODIUM I”, aiming to raise environmental awareness and provide support to relief efforts for wildlife affected by forest fires in Greece. Since their debut performance at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) alongside Eartheater and Soho Rezanejad (Athens, September 2021), Evita has performed in cities across Europe including London, Prague, Krakow and Zurich, and at festivals such as Unsound, Borderline, Rhizom and Lunchmeat — where they shared the stage with Amnesia Scanner at the Convent of St. Agnes. They have collaborated with numerous artists across various media and exhibited sound pieces at galleries like Kunsthalle Basel (in collaboration with Young Boy Dancing Group) and Saigon Athens.
Evita Manji will perform on October 8, the final day of the festival, – it is a free-entry concert, organized in collaboration with LYRA, a project for kids and teens that is supported by the EEA Grants and Norway Grants funded by Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway.
LYRA receives grants in the amount of EUR 206,256.00 within the framework of the EEA Grants and Norway Grants funded by Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway. The project aims to introduce kids and teenagers to experimental music and to get them involved in its creation. As it is democratic and non-hierarchical in essence, experimental music gives trained and untrained kids the chance to take part in making music. Since the project crosses social and ethnic divides, it is also socially inclusive.
Total LYRA eligible costs: EUR 202,510.00, European Economic Area financial instrument programme Local Development, Poverty Reduction and Culture Cooperation support sum: 85% or EUR 85,000.00, of which:
- European Economic Area financial instrument co-financing: 85% or EUR 175,317.60;
- State Budget co-financing: 15% or EUR 30,938.40.