In July 2025, KOOKOO looks back on 16 years of history. 16 years of audacious and incredible performances, 16 years of audiences celebrating drones and dance, sound and art, happy accidents and surprises. At the height of its teenage angst and dysphoria, KOOKOO is honouring this anniversary by welcoming even more of the unexpected and the unexcelled.
Composer and sound artist HÜMA UTKU has just released Dracones, a work that deals with unexplored territories and with the fears that may arise in the face of chaos or the unknown. This is HÜMA UTKU’s second full-length album for the Editions Mego label, and a powerful artistic statement from an artist who is equally bold and inventive when it comes to selecting and combining records. For KOOKOO, she presents a DJ set conceived as a journey into the unexpected and the invisible. It is as much about bringing to light the process of imagination itself and illuminating its beauty as it is about unearthing treasures that might otherwise be forever hidden in the sands.
“if noise had a feeling” is the title of a work published by TUCE ALBA in 2024. Synesthetic and speculative at the same time, this formula is paradigmatic of her artistic approach. With the 2025 album a slow death, TUCE ALBA explored layers of imperfection by way of recording a single improvised session on modular synthesizers: no rehearsals, no edits, just raw, abrasive sound—a testament to her unwavering belief in surrendering to the moment and the unpredictable flow of creativity. In a similar vein, she performs live at KOOKOO. By incorporating synthesizer modules into her costume, TUCE ALBA shortcuts physical appearance and visceral impact, uniting body and sound to create an impressive, ever-morphing, ever-surprising presence.
The artwork that CARLY FISCHER created for this special evening reflects twisted realities, mirages, and mirroring. KOOKOO’s resident visual artist, YUKIHIRO TAGUCHI, contributes one of his site-specific interventions that engage with both physical space and social relations. And MIEKO SUZUKI & ARA are happy and humbled to host yet another KOOKOO night of unpredictable beauty.