We did it. We played our first concert. My band, mockART, finally took the stage.

Our performance, traffic || jammed, was part of the Rush Hour Kulturfestival, organised by the Heussenstamm Stiftung. The theme was traffic, so we crafted an exclusive set around the sounds of urban life. We composed pieces that captured the essence of cars, bicycles, pedestrians, trains, and even the underground – giving each a musical identity within the chaos of rush hour.

The Sounds of the Rush Hour

We wanted to push the concept further, so we incorporated real-world sounds from traffic, sampling noises and even building instruments from car parts. A bicycle became an instrument in its own right. Alongside these unconventional sounds, Christoph played the flute, while I handled guitar and electronics. We were also joined by a special guest: Ümit Kaya, who played the saz and added his evocative vocals. You might know Ümit from our track Kör Adamın Gazeli on the album Men Who Lost Their Heads. From the outset, we hoped he’d join us for the live version, and when he came to our rehearsals, he began to play along with the new material we’d composed specifically for this performance. Before long, he was fully integrated into the show.

Our rehearsals went smoothly – until the final one, which was a complete disaster. My effects pedals started malfunctioning, and Christoph faced issues with his equipment too. Frustrated, we decided to call it a day, only to be trapped by a sudden thunderstorm with torrential rain. With no food or drink, we waited it out in the rehearsal space until we could finally ride our bikes home, drenched but determined. I was worried that something might go wrong during the actual performance. Thankfully, my fears were unfounded – everything went off without a hitch.

The Day of the Performance

The team at the factory hall where we performed had set up the space beautifully, even placing a car on stage as we’d envisioned. The audio and lighting crew were fantastic, helping to create the perfect atmosphere for each piece, with carefully crafted lighting and stage fog to match the mood of each track.

The new songs we wrote specifically for the show were the heart of the set. They came alive in a way I hadn’t anticipated, flowing effortlessly as we responded intuitively to each other’s cues. The chemistry between us felt just right.

For the encore, we revisited La Bête Noire from Reflux Ux Bisou – which, I suppose, has become something of a mockART classic. Our final track was Kör Adamın Gazeli, and some in the audience told me afterwards that the live version gave them goosebumps – a high compliment indeed.

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you may have already seen a few snapshots from the show. I’ve put together a selection of the best photos taken by Christian Rocas for you to enjoy:

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