04. – 05. July ZK/U
10. – 12. July Radialsystem
Berlin 2025

Concerts / Performances / Sound Art / Discussion Panels / Workshops and Films

Feminist, diverse and genre-defying: since 2014, Heroines of Sound has been celebrating early trailblazers and contemporary heroines of electronic sound. Uncompromising sounds echo the urgent crises of our time. In response to historically, geographically, and politically imposed dogmas the twelfth edition of the festival – through its concerts and performances – advocates for crossing boundaries that reach beyond the artistic realm.  

A prime example of this is the program by the Israeli Meitar Ensemble, featuring works by Iranian, Israeli, and German composers. With outstanding electronic artists such as Nour Sokhon, Rojin Sharafi, and Yara Mekawei – who combine advanced aesthetics with spiritual techniques and characteristic sounds and narratives from their homelands – the program turns its focus to the music scene of the SWANA region.

Heroines of Sound opens at ZK/U, where the boundaries of conventional performance practice – as well as those between music, nature, and the natural sciences – are transcended. Audiences are invited to immerse themselves in the nocturnal soundscapes of the Lullabyte sleep concert. The multi-year Lullabyte Project brings together researchers from musicology, sleep science, neuroscience, and computer science to investigate the effects of music on sleep. With Ensemble LUX:NM and the SCHRUMPF! program, audiences will be able to explore immersive sonic and natural environments.

The German premiere of the Finnish performance group OBLIVIA at Radialsystem also addresses themes of nature and climate. Known for their distinctive blend of grotesque humor and minimalist aesthetics, they shed light on the impact of the looming climate crisis. In 2025, Berlin’s international composer-performer scene will be represented by performances created specially for the festival, featuring artists including Viola Yip, Camilla Fehér, Chikiss – who will present her new album in May – and Augustė Vickunaitė.

Heroines of Sound Festival: Diverse and genre-defying in approach, Heroines of Sound has, since its inaugural edition in 2014, enhanced the visibility of women and gender-diverse artists within the arts and music scenes, while uncovering connections across genres and generations. Founded in 2014 by Bettina Wackernagel and a group of Berlin-based artists with a feminist agenda, the Heroines of Sound Festival highlights the pioneers of electronic sound and sparks important conversations with current perspectives, from contemporary art music to performance, sound art, and experimental pop. 

Artistic Director: Bettina Wackernagel
Co-curators: Helen Heß, Sabine Sanio

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