Weather-wise, spring sprang, recoiled, and bounced back again with shy ambiguity. Luckily, however, that’s not the case for Austrian music: where the trajectory has been fast, furious and decidedly moving in an upward trend. Last weekend, Austria was awarded the highly-coveted Eurosonic Song Contest through the stellar performance by JJ. But the beat goes on through May and into June with a bounty of releases, tours and other highlights ready for audio, visual and dance-able consumption. Scroll away to find out more…
I Shall Be Released
BUENOVENTURA (a.k.a.) Bernhard Hammer, the guitarist of the well-known techno trio, ELEKTRO GUZZI, has put out a solo-album: “Gelb” (“Yellow”), to be released on May 23, 2025 on Palazzo Recordings.
“‘Gelb’ came about because Vincent Pongracz asked me if I would like to perform with him in the Radiokulturhaus series SoloTogether. This became a deadline for me to produce an album. The good thing is that I can do whatever I want under the name Buenoventura. I started with techno and house. Now it’s become a guitar record.” Read our full interview here (in German).
With the band E C H O BOOMER, Beate Wiesinger seems to have found the project with which she can do what is close to her musical heart. The jazz world thanked her by naming “Timless Warrior” the best album of 2024. The new Echoboomer album entitled “The Shape of Things That Never Came” offers the usual quality, though it also diverges greatly from its predecessor – like a surprise party goodie-bag; you don’t know exactly what awaits you, but you can guess what’s inside will be delicious.
“WHAT MAKES WORKING WITH E C H O BOOMER SO INTERESTING IS THE SMALL BODY OF SOUND THAT CAN BE EMPHASIZED WITHIN THE LARGE BODY OF SOUND.” – Beate Wiesinger
From our recent interview with Beate Wiesinger (E C H O BOOMER). (German)
In “tönendes licht”, KLAUS LANG re-imagines the Gothic cathedral as a resonant space shaped by hierarchy and proportion. Performed by Wolfgang Kogert and the Wiener Symphoniker under Peter Rundel, the work explores the interplay between architecture and sound, drawing on medieval ideas of light and music as paths to the divine. Inspired by Gothic ideals, Lang contrasts warm orchestral tones with cold, metallic organ sounds to evoke unity and diversity. The composition invites deep listening, where repetition and proportion reveal new perceptual dimensions.
“INTELLECTUAL PERVASION AND SENSUAL EXPERIENCES ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER TO FORM A UNITY.” – Klaus Lang
Check out our recent interview with Klaus Lang here. (German)
VERENA ZEINER is releasing her latest album “Radical Care” (May 22, 2025) on the Swiss label Unit Records – actually a jazz label, even if her album is perhaps not jazz at all, according to the pianist. What it certainly is, however, is an organic collaboration between several people, first and foremost Ziv Ravitz (drums), who was behind the drums and controls on its predecessor “The Sweetness of Finitude”. Now the sequel has been released with as much connection and expansion as ever.
“I’M NOT DOING THIS TO CHANGE THE WORLD” – Verena Zeiner
Because “Radical Care” really is something like care, caring, showing concern for something and, at best, oneself. Even if it soon becomes difficult, as ZEINER explains in our interview with the artist (in German).
SAVE THE DATE: Album Release Show June 11 at Porgy & Bess Vienna
Verena Zeiner | piano, compositions
Ziv Ravitz | drums
With:
Kenji Herbert | guitar
Andreas Waelti | bass
Emily Stewart | violin
Simon Schellnegger | viola
Asja Valcic | cello
Austrian producer Cid Rim has released a new single titled “Yes” on May 13, 2025. This track is part of his upcoming album “SPRINT,” scheduled for release on June 27, 2025, via the LuckyMe label. “Yes” showcases Cid Rim’s signature blend of jazz-infused electronic production and dynamic pop songwriting. The forthcoming album “SPRINT” is described as a “technicolour ode to joy and a study in leaving your comfort zone,” reflecting Cid Rim’s evolution as an artist. (Lucky Me)
The artist PALFFI has set himself an ambitious goal, as he has planned a trilogy of albums. The album “Goodbye Strawberry Lane” (BABYBOY // release date: May 9, 2025) marks the start. It tells the story of the protagonist Mr. Miracle, who wants to start an expedition into space. Read our full review here (in German).
SUNDROPS! the new studio album by PRESSYES, out on May 30 on Morinoko, offers a warm blend of laid-back psych-pop and catchy, melodic grooves. With its mix of dreamy synths, smooth rhythms, and thoughtful production, the record invites listeners into a mellow yet colorful sound world. PRESSYES continues to refine his style, delivering a set of songs that feel both nostalgic and fresh—perfect for easy listening as the summer begins to unfold.
“I JUST HAVE MORE OF A SUN THERAPY APPROACH” – Renee M. (PRESSYES)
From our full interview with René Mühlberger. Read it here (in German).
GARDENS’ lead singer Luca Celina Müller drew from personal experience to write their new single “GOOD THIS WAY.” The song reflects on a heartbreak she caused and the realization that love isn’t always forever. Still, it highlights the beauty in letting go—sometimes love returns, just in a different form. The title captures that acceptance: in the end, it’s good the way it happened.
Musically, the dream-pop band blends dense, distorted textures with bright keys and wide guitar riffs. Driving drums and shifting vocals create an energetic, catchy track that lingers long after it ends. Read this and our other RELEASE RADAR reviews here (German).
Der Nino aus Wien tells a musical short story with his new EP “Wilde Zeit” (Medienmanufaktur Wien // Release: May 16, 2025). The singer and musician is not reinventing himself, but he still manages to bring a breath of fresh air to his music. The EP is both a reflection and a departure and invites you on a dynamic musical journey. Read our full album review here (German).
To everything, TOUR, TOUR, TOUR
Austrian grunge-punk band LEFTOVERS is hitting the road this summer with a European tour “Alles Endet 2025” (“Everything Ends 2025”) kicking off May 30 at Zürich’s Helsinki Club. The tour includes high-profile festival slots at Rock im Park and Rock am Ring in Germany, before wrapping up a run of autumn club dates across Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, and more. Known for their raw energy and gritty, emotionally charged sound, Leftovers are set to bring their signature live intensity to stages across the continent—don’t miss the chance to catch them live!
Austrian indie-pop trio SHARKTANK are bringing their genre-blending sound—pairing hip-hop, pop, and indie rock—to the stage with a run of European dates this May. They’ll perform at SUPERSONIC in Paris on May 29 and 30, before heading to Germany for a show at Zeche Carl in Essen on May 31. With razor-sharp hooks and a live show that hits like a jolt of adrenaline, Sharktank’s upcoming gigs are set to leave crowds danced-out and sweat-drenched across Europe.
SPECIAL SPECIALS
The “International Rostrum of Composers” is an annual meeting of this year’s 22 broadcasters, the aim of which is the international exchange of contemporary music and also the annual choice of a “Selected Work” and several “Recommended Works”. The jury announced its decision on May 16. One artist nominated by Ö1 and his work made it into the top ten, the “Recommended Works”: Composer Alessandro Baticci with “Luminal Mirage”, a joint composition commissioned by the performing Ensemble Phace and Ö1 for ORF musikprotokoll. Find out more here (German).
An Austrian embassy was opened in Ghana in September 2024. Ghana is one of the most exciting and diverse countries in Africa when it comes to music. In January 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BMEIA), in cooperation with mica – music austria, announced a dialog residency in Accra, Ghana, for the first time. The aim is to expand and strengthen musical exchange and networking with musicians in Ghana. The applications were numerous and of very high quality. We are delighted to announce the musician and producer Andi Stecher as “Artist in Residence”. Find out more here (German).
Arianna Alfreds