CTM 2018 – Turmoil

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CTM Festival's 19th edition took place from 26 January – 4 February 2018 in Berlin venues HAU – Hebbel am Ufer, Berghain, YAAM, Festsaal Kreuzberg, SchwuZ, Club OST, and Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien. Under the title Turmoil CTM 2018 examined the state of music and sound practice in the face of a confusing and critical present. What is the sound of turmoil?

Over 300 artists and participants from 30 countries contributed to some190 performances and projects that made up the CTM 2018 programme, which also included the premiere of numerous commissioned works. A focus on the intersection of sound and movement included a retrospective on Ernest Berk by Company Christoph Winkler, and works by Lotic & Roderick George, Rashaad Newsome, and Hitmakerchinx & DJ Aaron. An A.I. in music was explored via the MusicMakers Hacklab and various performances and talks. A special 5-day programme in 4DSOUND was also conceived for the festival together with the MONOM Centre for Spatial Sound, and the spectacular SKALAR light and sound installation was hosted at Kraftwerk Berlin in collaboration with WHITEVoid.

The 8-day Transfer programme encompassed the Discourse series of artist talks and film screenings, the 6th edition of the collaborative MusicMaker’s Hacklab for music technology, the Research Networking Day hosted by Humboldt University's Department of Musicology, a Network Speed Dating session, and the CTM exhibition.

As always, the CTM festival was held in parallel to and in collaboration with transmediale – festival for art and digital culture which took place at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. CTM and transmediale also hosted the citywide Vorspiel initiative together with over 40 local venues and organisations.

»A celebration of the human spirit«
→ Crack Magazine, Anna Tehabsim + Graeme Bateman

»Explorant en profondeur la sphère musicale actuelle«
→ Les Inrocks, Jérôme Provençal

»CTM Festival remains consciously uncomfortable«
→ Beyond the drop

»CTM remains a miniaturised crash course in modern underground culture and experimental art, compressing months or even years of experiences into a hyper-intense week. When it comes to the breadth, scope, and consistency of such a festival, CTM is tough to match. It poses questions and answers them all at once, and leaves you with bottomless food for thought. And, yeah, you’ll also have a fantastic few nights out clubbing.«
→ The Quietus, Tristan Bath

»In a time where festival line-ups look increasingly homogenous, and ticket sales are valued above compelling creative choices, CTM paves the way in presenting something thrillingly unfamiliar.«
→ Mixmag, Patrick Huton

»Es geht der CTM um das Abenteuer, mit Musik mehr zu meinen als bloß Musik. Mehr als ein Stimmungsregler im Auto, beim Joggen, Kuscheln, Kochen oder Tanzen. Bei der CTM will Musik das Leben nicht nur schmücken, sondern dem Leben ähneln. Schroff und schön, widerspenstig und geschmeidig, laut und leise, jung und alt.«
→ Der Spiegel, Tobi Müller

»A festival like CTM is not only a space for debate, enlightening and sharing art and knowledge but also a platform for the marginalized voices to break through and present another perspective on present social and political twist and turns. We might ask ourselves why homophobia, misogyny, and structural racism still are thing we have to fight against. And it is not something a music festival can change alone but it is encouraging to see organisers taking some responsibility and a desire for a positive change in a world in turmoil.«
→ passiveaggressive.dk

»Identitäten werden geformt und verflüssigt, Orientierungen gesucht und verloren, Hierarchien über den Haufen geworfen und neu verfugt: Ein feines Wasch- und Schleuderprogramm für die Sinne, das uns ein bisschen alltagsfitter zurück in die Welt schickt.«
→ Berliner Zeitung, Marcus Schneider