Cultural exchange gave many concerts
- When you offer something, it is easier to get something in return. This is one of the experiences Kristian Blak and the Faroese music publisher Tutl have from their efforts to build musical networks.
Tutl is an association, a cooperative, founded in 1977 and for many years a core player in the Faroe Islands’ music life. Tutl has through the years published and distributed 350 records with many sorts of music: Pop, rock, jazz, folk music, contemporary and classic music.
Few people, a large repertoire
- We are so few here in the Faroe Islands that we cannot stick a label for each music form, says Blak. He is a composer and plays jazz music on piano, but in Tutls record shop in Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands, the speakers thunder out music of the rock band Orka (the word means “energy”). This band uses somewhat special instruments: milk machines, barrels – and compressors!
Openness for what is different is not new for Tutl. Ever since the beginning in 1977, they have had foreign musicians to contribute in their releases. Since the early 1990s, the company has worked with Estonian musicians. The cooperation has resulted in six records with Estonian bands and in addition several joint albums.
- Estonians are geographically far away from us, but we have a lot in common, says Blak. This was one of the reasons for Tutl’s decision to try to build a larger musical network. Tutl and Blak started their network building by turning to their already existing contacts, both in and outside the Nordic countries.
Efficient to “make a deal”
The network construction gave results, including some 50 concerts in several countries. Tutl experienced that “making a deal” is the most efficient way to getting results.
- We invite your band for our festival, and would like to send our band to your festival. Such agreements commit and often work well, says Blak.
The network building has also contributed to the release of more than 20 CDs, with participating musicians from a dozen of countries. The work also resulted in a joint CD titled "Nordic countries in the world". It features music by and with 19 of the network participants. The network also resulted in a distribution agreement and all Tutl’s releases now are for sale in Canada.
- But building a network is not easy, concludes Kristian Blak, who himself accounted for most of the practical work.
- As the initiator, we were the hub in the wheel. It proved easier to have things running through us than directly between the other participants, he says.
He also realised that a network requires management in order to work properly.
Hyperactive
- Many of the network participants are very active, almost hyperactive. It is not just a question of will, but also about time.
Tutl summarizes in their report:
“Certain tasks are solved over all expectations, while others require further efforts to achieve similar good results".
Tutl now considers how the experiences from the network can be continued in the future work.
- I am not a missionary, and I don’t want to be a missionary. But it is exciting to be part of the development, says Kristian Blak.
Tutl has received short-term network funding from The Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme.