Zurich based brothers and production duo Okvsho are rightfully nestling themselves within the burgeoning and youthful Swiss jazz scene and can announce their expansive and forward-looking album A Place Between Us. To be released via their newly founded label Current Moves it features Argentinian-Swiss rapper AKIRA who draws on his Latin roots, Haiti-born and Berlin based vocalist TRVΛNIΛ as well as rising artists from South Africa’s booming jazz scene. The live band will tour as Okvsho +experience in Europe through April including dates in Berlin (5), Paris (25), and London (26).

A Place Between Us is the brothers’ second album release following on from 2021’s well-received EP Orange Wine. Both multi-instrumentalists, Christoph and Georg Kiss play keys and percussion on the album, creating in a particular way that was driven by a series of jam sessions; “The two of us collected ideas, would jam, record stuff and went to the studio to try things out…then we did all the production and arrangement”, explains Georg.

“When we started out doing music together, we made beats in a L.A Beats or instrumental hip hop kinda style”, says Christoph, explaining that today, they’re “coming [at jazz] from a producer’s perspective”.

Okvsho believes in the power of community; a space where artists converge, exchange ideas and spark collaborations. And to that end, as well as touring internationally, they are aiming to uplift the live jazz scene in Zurich. “There’s not really a ‘modern jazz’ scene in Zurich; not so far. But it’s something that we’re trying to establish” says Georg. The brothers hope that the seeds they’re planting can bloom in a way that’s inspired by the rapid growth of the UK jazz scene. After all, their sound has been influenced by UK jazz since the release of Yussef Kamaal’s Black Focus in 2016.

“Nubya Garcia, Ezra Collective and Yussef Kamaal have all inspired the record” says Christoph, motivating Okvsho to introduce live instruments to their previously beat-oriented music. “And we’re inspired by musicians like Tenderlonious and Alfa Mist; we really identify with them as we’ve had a similar journey”, says Christoph. “Much like Tenderlonious, our initial focus was on producing beats and electronic music, including some club-oriented tracks—all heavily infused with jazz influences. We’ve shifted from electronic live sets to performing with our live band of jazz musicians from around Zurich”. Now with three International tours under their belts and another forthcoming, Okvsho’s live band (many of whom feature on the record) feature Sara El Hachimi (Sax, Flute), Elias Kirchgraber (Bass) and Bérénice Keller (Perc) with Georg (Drums) and Christoph (Keys) at the forefront.

Okvsho encourage a certain philosophy with their bandmates; having never really adhered to conventional music teachings, the duo refuse to perceive music in terms of right or wrong. They developed their craft in “relative isolation”, aiming to steer clear of direct comparisons within their local sphere. “Our aim has been to instil this sense of ease and freedom into our musicians, prioritising the expression of individual musical personalities in a collective effort to create something distinct”.

Bonding their penchant for Stones Throw-esque beats with jazz influences from the UK and South Africa, A Place Between Us travels through a myriad of moods, from dreamscape ambience and dance-inducing baile to reggaeton-tinged rhythms.

Soulé is a sensual and mellow jazz offering. It came together after the brothers visited and performed in South Africa in spring 2023. Georg explains: “We couldn’t bring our band so it was just the two of us. The last gig was in Cape Town where we played with these young jazz musicians like Dylan Fine, Zwide Ndwandwe, and trumpeter Bonga Mosola. We wanted the guys on the album and so started the sending of recordings back and forth”.

Between Us follows suit stylistically, a candle-lit soulful instrumental piece to soundtrack quiet midnight reflections. Another instrumental is the head-bopping Con Mis Perros En La Niebla which translates to “With Our Dogs In The Fog” has an air of mysticism, the sax interweaving playfully with the busy rhythm of the drums.

Pasitos Jaguari is the record’s first vocal number and features AKIRA, a rapper and spoken word artist from Zurich with Argentinian roots and heritage. Sung, spoken and whispered in Spanish, there’s a familiarity here, drawing from Latin inspired trap and hip hop yet with a tenderness and delicacy both in AKIRA’s vocal delivery, the Brazilian cuicas and the musical melange of minimalist jazz and stuttering electronic synths. The second guest on the record is Haiti-born and Berlin-based poet TRVΛNIΛ who delivers an electrifying spoken word on Where I’m Made Of. She is also a co-founder of Poet & Prophetess, a collective based in Berlin and London that works to promote and create a platform for writers/artists of colour.

On the dawn of the release of their most ambitious work to date, Okvsho have their sights set on making lasting change in their home city. In 2024, Georg and Christoph will be orchestrating immersive concerts and further establishing strong ties under the Current Moves umbrella with iconic Zurich venues like Kasheme, Zentralwäscherei, and Club Zukunft.

That goal continues to be realised with the release of A Place Between Us.

APRIL 2024 TOUR DATES

04.04: Yuca, Köln
05.04: Gretchen, Berlin
06.04: Jazzclub Tonne, Dresden
07.04: Manyi, Budapest
08.04: Chelsea, Wien
25.04: Le Mazette, Paris
26.04: Brick Lane Jazz Festival, London
27.04: Brick Lane Jazz Festival, London (Dj-Set)
28.04: Band on the Wall, Manchester
30.04: Zentralwäscherei, Zürich