Two German journalists and two Finnish representatives share their impressions of SPOT.

Journalist Klaus Fiehe from the German 1Live Radio calls himself a SPOT veteran. He is here for the third time in a row.

- After the first year, I came back because I had both heard a lot of interesting bands and made some nice contacts. I also like checking out the different styles here. Last year I was surprised to discover that grime could exist in Denmark, because we don’t have it in Germany. We have bullshit rap with fucked-up, sexist lyrics, but no grime. Acts like Lucy Love and Fagget Fairys were absolute highlights for me last year. I bought a CD with Fagget Fairys and played it a lot. Months later their single “Feed the Horse” became a small club hit in Berlin.

And how is this year’s festival so far?

- My favourite so far is Matt Riviere. He’s a nerd, but he’s a brilliant nerd. I also liked Matt the Electrician – I bought his record. Tonight I want to see The Deportees and perhaps end the night with Kellermensch. I generally like it here. People are very kind, the town is nice, and the distances are cool for a 53-year-old man!

Freelance journalist and promoter Tobi Kirsch specialises in electronic music and writes for the German music magazine De:Bug and the culture site satt.org. He is here for the first time.

- When you work with independent music, you’re inevitably working with the same people all the time. Festivals like this are a chance to meet new people, maybe the kind you don’t usually work with. It’s also a nice little holiday.

Kirsch will also be an open-minded listener during the two days of SPOT. While his professional area of expertise is electronic jazz/funk/fusion, deep house etc., his festival program is varied:

- I am going to see Maribel, because I love shoegaze. I’ve already seen Efterklang two times in Berlin, but I’d like to see them play their new album. I also went to see The Bear That Wasn’t, because I liked the story of how he came all the way here on his bike. Lars and the Hands of Light clearly had some potential. They are a bit too poppy for me, but their songwriting and performance was quite good.

What’s the most negative thing you can say about SPOT?

- I like the festival’s idea about treating everyone equally. There are no VIP privileges. The idea is nice, but it can be a bit confusing for foreign journalists. As an international guest you’re used to a little bit of special treatment. On your first visit to SPOT, you really have to adapt to that. I’m specifically thinking about the admission politics. I met an English journalist who really wanted to see the Danish band Murder, but couldn’t get in. When the room is full, the door is closed -
for everyone, no matter how far you travelled to get here. So you have to be on time and keep an organized schedule. And I believe that working in the music industry makes it hard to be in time, because most people's schedules are tight.

In the bustling lobby of Musikhuset, SPOT Live met Päivi Hietalahti of the Finnish Embassy and Esa Alanne of the Finland-Institute in Copenhagen.

- There are five Finnish bands playing here tomorrow, so we’re here to support and promote them. But tonight we want to see some good music. We are going to see Efterklang, Jonathan Johansson and perhaps Vinnie Who.


How does SPOT Festival compare to similar industry initiatives in Finland?

- Just like the organization Music Export Denmark, we have a Music Export Finland. We also have a festival in Tampere, Music & Media, which is somewhat similar, but it is for Finnish bands only. SPOT is bigger and more established, more like POPKOMM in Berlin. We are here for the seventh time, and it’s great for us to visit here. But I really hope SPOT will keep its Nordic profile, even as it grows. It’s a great festival – you’re very lucky to have it.