FRAMED 2022: THE ARTS AND MUSIC COLLECTIVE

Yael Nachson Levin is a Berlin based singer-songwriter, author and innovator. Her non-profit is a cultural salon called FRAMED and today we talk about the second volume of this music & art compilation series born out of a wish to capture and share some of the magic that happens at their events.

Since 2017, we have been making a name for ourselves in Berlin's nightlife and cultural scene. We curate evenings where the primary focus is on making new connections with music, art, and food acting as the enablers. Our events feature a coupling of live concerts and solo art exhibitions and therefore so does this album: presenting 10 couplings of music tracks and art prints. Every track on this vinyl was performed live at FRAMED and recorded directly to a 1/4" master tape, no mixing or editing.

All art prints in this compilation were exhibited at Framed during the past year. This allows us and our audience the possibility to appreciate how image and sound come together to create new sceneries, new mental zones and landscapes.

What was important for you while curating the tracks for "FRAMED 2022”?

Well, most of the curatorial work happens during the year (before choosing the tracks and prints for the album) when we curate the event themselves. We have Haggai Cohen Milo, our musical curator, who brings ideas for musicians to invite and we have Ofir Dor, our art curator, who brings ideas for visual artists. Then we sit together, the three of us, and start a creative process of mix and match. Slowly and carefully, we book couples of 1 concert + 1 solo exhibition for each event. Our decisions sometimes come from common motives or interests between the artist and musician, or it could just be an intuition we have that they would complement each other's work in their vibes/colors/sound. Then, around June we sit down together and try picking the "best of" performances / works of the past 12 months. It is very difficult since we love all of our past events very much! The end result is 10 Music tracks + 10 prints we believe work well together in one frame.

You're known not only for the music and releases, but also for your beautiful FRAMED events in Berlin. What can a visitor of a FRAMED night expect?

Framed events are very unique and specific. Here it is in a nutshell: We offer our audience the highest quality music and art presentation, homemade complimentary food, drinks and super nice people at the events.

All of this happens in a super intimate setting that allows new connections to occur and inspiration to bloom.

Every event hosts one music concert (every event is in a different style - Jazz/Indie/electro/classical/world-music/you name it - but you can trust that it is always 'world class' quality and one solo art exhibition (here as well, every exhibition is of different style/medium - and always superb).

The complimentary food is made with love as part of our overall effort to make our guests feel welcomed and free to be themselves. So, a visitor can expect to feel really great at ours!! join us...

How was FRAMED team created and who is part of your team?

Framed started as a one woman band, only me (:

It slowly and organically grew. I've met most of the crew working with me today at Framed events along the years. Most of us are active artists/musicians which makes our organization very special in the sense of fundamental decisions we make from the artist's point of view. Haggai Cohen Milo is our music curator. Haggai is a bass player, performing and recording all around the world.

Ofir Dor is our art curator. Ofir is a painter, active in Berlin and exhibiting around the world as well.

Kira Cohen Milo is our project manager, Essy Evian is our graphic designer, Aharon Levin and Felipe Morales are in charge of all our video's, Heiko Ritt is our editor, Katha Mau is our photographer, Vedran is our accounting guy, Guy Sternberg is our partner on the vinyls, We have the best interns working with us on events (changing every few months) and me - Yael Nachshon Levin - founder, artistic director and manager.

How has this year changed your creativity and how do you see the world changing moving forward?

2022 was marked by the return to a live audience in the room, to what FRAMED was always meant for, the human connection. We had the pleasure of hosting musicians and artists from around the world (who could finally travel again), and to create the intimate connection between audience, artists and performers in our salon in Berlin, Friedrichshain. 2022 was also our last season at this location, as we are preparing our move towards better and brighter future adventures. It was definitely a year of changes. I must say that I feel after the Covid isolating time, people need connection more than ever. And we'll keep doing our best to offer that.

Do you think the art world needs to change, and if so how can it be improved?

All things need change. Change is part of life. But 'how can the art world be improved' feels like too big of a question for me. I usually tend to work on smaller scales. I try to improve the cycles around me on a daily basis, by listening, being generous and doing good deeds. I believe that good deeds and intentions can then lead to more good things to happen in further circles.