Renowned American poet and performing artist Mykki Blanco has joined forces with the Kosovo-born, Amsterdam-based multifaceted artist Astrit Ismaili for the release of Ismaili’s debut album on February 23. Titled “The First Flower,” the album features contributions from notable artists such as Lotic, Colin Self, and others, marking a groundbreaking effort that brings together queer, trans, and women artists. This collaboration follows Astrit’s captivating performances at various prestigious venues including Manifesta 14, Athens Biennale, KW Institute for Contemporary Art in Berlin, ImPulsTanz Vienna, NEU NOW Amsterdam, and many more.
“MISS KOSOVO” empowers the oppressed, anticipates Ismaili’s debut album in February 2024
Drawing inspiration from Ismaili’s 2019 performance “MISS,” the single “MISS KOSOVO ft. Mykki Blanco” holds a deep significance in Astrit’s narrative, symbolizing a shared sense of recognition among individuals confronting various challenges in gaining acknowledgement. This sentiment resonates with individuals identifying as queer, Palestinian, Kosovar, people of colour, or existing outside conventional norms, shedding light on the common struggles faced by the oppressed that extend beyond wartime. As expressed by Astrit, challenging environments possess the transformative power to foster growth, much like plants blossoming into flowers, enabling the world to hear their voices and witness their vibrant colours.
Astrit Ismaili’s “The First Flower” album serves as the culmination of Ismaili’s successful eponymous performance work, delving into the themes of survival and blossoming through transformation. This artistic endeavour has now evolved into a remarkable album, challenging and surpassing prevailing narratives in pop culture, and marking the inauguration of The Performance Agency’s music editions. “If you want to do something here, you have to invent your path,” remarked Ismaili to The New York Times in Pristina in 2012, during “PRISTINË—mon amour,” a collective outdoor performance aimed at resisting the lingering ethnic tension in Kosovar society and challenging conservative attitudes towards women and sexual minorities.
Emerging from Ismaili’s initial encounter with The Performance Agency in 2019, “The First Flower” narrates the tale of the first flower on Earth, embodying fluid sexuality—a model that parallels the history of pop culture. The album probes into beauty standards, gender dysphoria, the commodification of nature, and queer realities through a fusion of hyper-pop, gabber, glam, and sound design. Ultimately, it emphasizes how creativity aids in transcending intrinsic limits to existence.
Operating between Berlin and Paris since 2017, The Performance Agency serves as a nexus that connects artists with international institutions, curating and producing performances and collective experiences that transcend conventional boundaries, extending to musical albums and video art.
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Astrit Ismaili – “MISS KOSOVO ft. Mykki Blanco” cover by Ville Vidoe |
