C’est Karma, Pascal Schumacher Awarded Culture Grant

Kultur | lx  Arts Council Luxembourg has announced that C’est Karma (pop/rock/electro/hip-hop) and Pascal Schumacher (classical/contemporary) were awarded this year’s Global Project Grant.

Awarded annually to up to three musicians from different aesthetics (pop/rock/ electro/hip-hop, jazz/world, classical/contemporary) since 2020, the Global Project Grant supports artists in the development of an ambitious medium- or long-term project aimed at boosting their career through promotion, marketing and dissemination, as well as the acquisition of know-how in the music industry. Kultur | lx accompanies the artists and their teams in each step of the project.

After Josh Island (pop/rock) and Greg Lamy (jazz), and following a call for applications, the selection committee, composed of Stephanie Baustert (manager), Marc Hauser (Rotondes) Florence Martin (United Instruments of Lucilin), Marc Nickts (SACEM Luxembourg) and John Rech (opderschmelz), unanimously decided to award the Global Project Grant to C’est Karma (pop/rock/electro/hip-hop) and Pascal Schumacher (classical/contemporary).

C’est Karma sees music as a tool for change. From causing trouble with her punk band in the age of fourteen to her bold, hyperpop-infused 2022 EP „Amuse-Bouche“, Karma Catena’s passionate activist heart always beats at the core. C’est Karma has recently embarked on her biggest and most ambitious project to date. After having experimented with different musical genres over the past years, C’est Karma  announced that has found her artistic vision. Following significant live experiences, critical acclaim from renowned international media and together with a team of highly experienced industry professionals, Karma noted she is ready to release her debut album. Being aimed for release in the second half of 2024, the album draws back to her musical inspirations throughout the years. It refers to musical icons like Björk, Kate Bush or Imogen Heap and draws inspiration from contemporary avant-garde idols like Arca, SOPHIE or Caroline Polachek. Being her most personal and introspective work to date, the album explores the space between comfort and discomfort. It confesses her love to her younger brother, to her partner, to her family’s country of origin, Portugal and to the loss of control in the nightlife scene. It also opens up about abuse and fear.

With this album Karma and her team aim to build a sustainable foundation for a long-lasting career. She and her live team are currently creating a memorable live performance that she will present on stages around the world, starting with the renowned ESNS Festival in The Netherlands in January 2024.

C’est Karma said: “I am filled to the brim with joy to have been awarded next year’s Global Project Grant. I’ve spent the last few years working hard on my identity as an artist and musician and on putting together my dream team. With a lot of exciting projects coming up next year, the financial support granted through the Global Project Grant will help me put those plans into action. Aside from the financial aspect it also means a lot to me to be given the trust and faith in my vision.”

Pascal Schumacher, a versatile artist from Luxembourg, seamlessly blends classical training with contemporary innovation. He pursued studies in classical percussion and jazz vibraphone at prestigious European conservatories, earning Master’s Degrees in musicology from Marc Bloch University in Strasbourg and music focused on jazz vibraphone from the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague. Collaborating with a diverse array of talents such as Jef Neve, Francesco Tristano, Sylvain Rifflet, Kenny Barron and Magic Malik, Schumacher has honed a unique musical identity. Today, his music defies traditional categorisation, fusing emotional classical melodies with minimal electronic elements, liberating his compositions from genre constraints to explore a boundless musical landscape.

GLASS TWO is a collaborative project featuring Luxembourg’s vibraphonist and composer Pascal Schumacher and the talented German-Greek pianist Danae Dörken, as they delve into the works of the iconic American minimalist composer Philip Glass. The album is set for release in the third quarter of 2024 under the German label NEUE MEISTER (edel/ KULTUR). This project represents a significant step forward in Schumacher’s artistic journey, extending well beyond its initial inspiration.

Pascal Schumacher said:  “I’m absolutely enchanted to receive the 2024 Global Grant, a crucial boost for my upcoming project, GLASS TWO. Teaming up with the accomplished German-Greek pianist Danae Dörken, we are shaping a deeply personal rendition of Philip Glass’s oeuvre, interwoven with original compositions infused by his unique style and aesthetics. This funding is crucial for both the tour and the promotional campaign of the upcoming album.”