Atelier for Music, Visual Arts & Creative Exchange
UPCOMING EVENTS
RECORD LAUNCH
FRI 2. May 2025
Analog Africa Presents: Roots Rocking Zimbabwe - The Modern Sound of Harare' Townships 1975-1980
Introduction
Dj Set
Kids Friendly
Homemade Food
Program
17:00 Welcome Set by DJ Afreekaya
19:00 Volkan Kaya from Analog Africa presents the project & shares insights & play the tracks
20:00 Family Picture
20:00 - 22:00 Another Set by DJ Afreekaya & Friends
ANALOG AFRICA Record Launch: Roots Rocking Zimbabwe – Listening Lecture & Music Session
Analog Africa proudly presents Roots Rocking Zimbabwe – The Modern Sound of Harare’s Townships 1975–1980, a vibrant compilation celebrating the golden age of Zimbabwean music. Featuring 25 tracks, this release traces the birth of Zimbabwe’s modern music industry and captures the explosion of creativity that defined the 1970s and early 1980s—a time when rock, rumba, soul, and traditional rhythms merged into something entirely new.
Included are rare and previously unreleased recordings by legendary artists like Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mtukudzi, and many more.
Volkan Kaya aka Afreekaya, member of Analog Africa and tireless music researcher, will take us behind the scenes of this remarkable collection—his personal journey through Zimbabwe in search of sound and story.
Join us for an evening of deep listening, storytelling, and township grooves—raw, radiant, and unforgettable.
Take home a piece of Harare’s musical history—copies available on site!
CONCERT - ONLY SHOW IN SWITZERLAND!
SUN 1. June 2025
Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble - Celebrating a Half Century of Great Black Music!
DJ Support announced soon
Concert
DJ Set
Kids Friendly
Homemade Food
Program
17:00 Welcome Set by DJ
19:00 Concert
20:30 Family Picture
20:30 - 22:00 Another Set by DJ
50th Anniversary Celebration Tour: “Open Me: A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit”
Kahil El’Zabar has been one of the deepest and most forward-thinking artists from Chicago’s renowned improvised music scene for many years. As a long-time member of the groundbreaking Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) – an influential collective founded in 1965 to support avant-garde African-American musicians – El’Zabar created the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble in 1974. His vision was to explore the connections between African-American music, like jazz, and traditional African rhythms and instrumentation. Touring frequently throughout Europe and the United States, the group quickly earned a global reputation for its powerful and transformative performances.
Today, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble features trumpeter Corey Wilkes, tenor saxophonist Kevin Nabors, cellist Ishmael Ali, and the charismatic Kahil El’Zabar himself on drum set, hand percussion, kalimba, and soulful vocalizations.
The Ensemble is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with the acclaimed album “Open Me: A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit” (Spiritmuse Records, released March 8, 2024) and an extensive world tour. The album features a combination of El’Zabar’s original compositions and new interpretations of classics by Miles Davis and McCoy Tyner, enriched by the ensemble’s expanded instrumentation.
Their only concert in Switzerland will take place on June 1, 2025 at EMOH LEEF – a truly rare opportunity to experience this star, this icon, this phenomenon up close and personal. Meet and connect with Kahil El’Zabar in an intimate and unforgettable setting!
An event not to be missed!
Masterclass on Monday, 2nd June - check it out!
Buy Tickets
MASTERCLASS
MON 2. June 2025
Kahil El’Zabar
Masterclass
Program
17:00
New Series: Women in HiFi
SAT 7. June 2025
A first glimpse of the upcoming Women in HiFi series: A Conversation between Prof. Joseph Tarradellas (EPFL Lausanne) & Marguerite Kudelski (Nagra)
Live Electronic Set with Analog Synths by
DJ
Talks
Performance
Kids Friendly
Homemade Food
With Women in HiFi, EMOH LEEF launches a new event series dedicated to making women visible in the technical fields of music production, audio engineering, and sound sciences — where women remain underrepresented.
The Opening Conversation brings together two unique voices:
Prof. Joseph Tarradellas, Professor Emeritus at EPFL Lausanne, offers insights into the history of women in sound industries — from early pioneers to contemporary innovators. He recently published a comprehensive study on the role of women in the evolution of sound technologies, bringing to light many forgotten contributions. In dialogue with Marguerite Kudelski, member of the founding family behind Nagra, they reflect on achievements, barriers, and future perspectives for women in the audio world.
Nagra, founded in Switzerland in 1951, is a world-renowned company specializing in high-precision portable audio recorders and advanced audio technology. Nagra’s iconic devices have shaped the history of sound recording in film, music, and broadcasting. Marguerite Kudelski will bring selected devices to the event, offering a tangible glimpse into the company’s technical legacy.
Following the conversation, a live performance by a female artist on analog synthesizers will offer an immersive sonic experience, celebrating the creative and technical artistry that Women in HiFi stands for.
The event will preview the Women in HiFi series, officially launching in autumn 2025. The program will include talks, masterclasses, workshops, showcases, and excursions. Guests will include leading mastering engineers, producers, sound artists, and innovators from Switzerland and beyond.
Hands-on sessions — from live beatmaking to sound design workshops — and visits to key audio venues such as the Swiss Museum and Centre for Electronic Music Instruments (SMEM) and PSI Audio will explore the intersection of technology, craftsmanship, and creativity.
Stay tuned for the next events!
Program
17:00 Welcome Set by DJ
18:00 Talk
19:00 Performance
20:00 Family Picture
20:00 - 22:00 Another Set by DJ
CONCERT
SAT 5. July 2025
Ana Malta & Oscar Aldama Duo
DJ
Talks
DJ Set
Kids Friendly
Homemade Food
Program
10:00 tbd
Description
Website
PAST EVENTS
ARCHIVE
Grand Opening Celebration!
SAT 23. November 2024 Welcome to EMOH LEEF!
Art Performance
Beat Maker
Vernissage
Concerts
Kids friendly
EMOH LEEF is excited to invite you to celebrate the opening of its Atelier with a program full of diverse events and activities. Looking forward to welcome you!
Program
14:00 Doors Open! DJs Jaziel / Bilbao
14:45 Welcome & Presentation
15:00 Vernissage “La Source de Prébarreau”
16:00 Live Set of Ruby Francis / London
17:15 Concert & Live Taping Performance with Niklaus Troxler & Béatrice Graf / Willisau & Geneva
18:15 Family Picture
18:45 Beats Session with SEBB BASH / Lausanne
19:30 Dinner
20:00 Danceful DJs Jaziel / Bilbao
21:30 Wrap
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DJ Sets Jaziel / Bilbao
This dynamic duo with not only an incredible collection of soulful records but also some of the sweetest vibes around, will be spinning throughout the event. Bringing the sun of the south and plenty of vinyls, they’ll keep the energy flowing from start to finish.
Ruby Francis / London
For the first time in Switzerland, EMOH LEEF proudly welcomes Ruby for an exclusive solo set! The dynamic London-based singer, songwriter, and producer blends neo-soul, R&B, and electronic sounds. With her soulful vocals and experimental beats inspired by 90s R&B, jazz, and funk, Ruby creates smooth grooves and modern production with a nostalgic edge. Don’t miss this captivating performance!
Niklaus Troxler & Beatrice Graf / Willisau & Geneva
EMOH LEEF is honored to receive support from one of the most renowned figures in both Swiss graphic design and jazz, Niklaus Troxler. Internationally known for his work and for founding the Willisau Jazz Festival, Troxler will perform a Live Taping Session, creating a collaborative art piece with Beatrice Graf, a versatile drummer and composer who has collaborated with top jazz, rock, and world music artists.
Sebb Bash / Lausanne
Renowned Swiss DJ and producer Sebb Bash has collaborated with international artists such as The Alchemist and Children of Zeus from Manchester. He gained prominence in the 1990s with his show “Métissages” and won the Swiss Music Prize in 2019. At EMOH LEEF, he will perform a beatmaking session, demonstrating his ability to blend diverse sounds and create live beats, highlighting his expertise in music production.
Vernissage “La source de Prébarreau”
The Inside Out Project, created by French street artist JR, is the largest global participatory art project.
Join EMOH LEEF as we are bringing this global movement to Neuchâtel with a striking temporary installation of over 50 large-scale black-and-white portraits, showcasing the faces of people living, working, and passing through the Prébarreau district. Displayed on a prominent wall directly across from the Atelier, this project will create a powerful cultural moment, connecting our local community to a worldwide artistic expression.
Our Formats
Rido: Concerts
Experience intimate acoustic performances featuring a diverse range of styles, from jazz and new soul to world music. These concerts spotlight legendary musicians, emerging talent, sound artists, and DJs who specialize in niche genres. By connecting renowned national and international artists with local talent, each performance offers a unique, close-up experience, fostering a deep connection between the audience and the performers.
“Just Us” Listening Sessions
Artists from various disciplines share personal insights and production frameworks, illustrating how music influences their work. Held every second Friday, these sessions delve into the powerful role music plays in inspiring and shaping artistic expression.
Tête-à-tête: Dialogues
Tête-à-tête Dialogues bring together professionals from art, music, architecture, science, and technology for dynamic, intimate discussions. These conversations will spark innovation, inspiring attendees to explore new possibilities and think beyond traditional boundaries.
On Show: Exhibitions
Exhibitions in and around the Atelier will feature a diverse range of visual art forms, from street art and painting to photography and graphics, often ilinked to music to reflect the multidimensional talents of the artists. The space will encourage community participation and will provide an inclusive platform for emerging, established, and senior creators, fostering a vibrant environment for artistic expression and connection.
Membership Artwork
Membership Artwork: Every year, members of the association will receive an artwork in a limited edition, sized 7inch square, specifically designed for EMOH LEEF. The 2024 artwork is designed by Niklaus Troxler.
The Atelier
EMOH LEEF’s Atelier is a former glassblowing and painting workshop at the ground floor of an apartment building. The Prébarreau district of Neuchâtel is a vibrant, mixed-use area that brings together manufacturers, coffee roasters, workshops, public offices, and creative spaces such as artists’ and dance studios. While traces of its industrial past, like the old mill building, remain, the district has evolved into a hub of creative energy driven by its people. Today, it serves also as a pedestrian shortcut, where the community shapes the area’s artistic and cultural landscape. The area offers unexpected views of the collegial and other landmarks, and is just minutes away from the city center, lake, and main train station.
