Lucia Cadotsch

Lucia Cadotsch, born in Zürich, Switzerland is a vocalist, lyricist and songwriter based in Berlin. She is best known for long-standing collaborative bands that currently include LIUN + the Science Fiction Band, an ensemble co-led with the saxophonist Wanja Slavin, AKI, a new quartet with the pianist Kit Downes, bassist Phil Donkin and drummer James Maddren and her acclaimed chamber trio Speak Low, with Petter Eldh on upright bass and Otis Sandsjö on tenor saxophone, which has performed at festivals in Berlin, New York and London. Lucia’s diverse output as a musician can be heard on a total of ten albums she has released since 2009. Her awards as a singer include the Swiss Music Price (2023), the German Jazz Award (2021), the ECHO Jazz Award (2017) and the New German Jazz Price (2012).

Speak Low, her chamber trio with Petter Eldh (upright bass) and Otis Sandsjö (tenor saxophone), debuted in 2017. The project set things off by deep diving into the world of jazz standards and folk songs; updating and reframing them with the freedom and audacity of modern remix culture. The Guardian and DownBeat gave the record their maximum ratings; while the latter included it in its Best Albums of the Year list. As a consequence, the trio was invited to play at the NYC Winter Jazzfest. To date, the group played a total of over 150 shows! Their debut was followed up by a collection of remixes, covers, and reworks called Speak Low Renditions. If features some of the most unique “voices” on the scene: Dan Nicholls, Joy Frempong, Evelinn Trouble, Julian Sartorius, Marc Lohr, Colin Vallon, Trummerschlunk, Marc Neyen, and Don Philippe. In 2020, Kit Downes (hammond organ) and Lucy Railton (cello) joined the outfit (as featured guests), and the group released Speak Low II.

LIUN  + The Science Fiction Band is Lucia’s band with saxophonist / producer Wanja Slavin. Although they started writing songs together back in 2013, their first record (Time Rewind) only dropped in 2019. Kurt Rosenwinkel called it “an instant classic.” Francesco Wilking described it as “synth pop for the people of the day after-tomorrow.” Multilayered, orchestral, and self-reflexive – their music is a universe. In a live setting, they can be spotted in different iterations. As a quintet and as a large ensemble, they are supplemented by a six piece reed and horn section as well as a piano trio. In 2020, the band collaborated with the EOS Chamber Orchestra, who played scaled up arrangements of the LIUN material and in October 2023 they’ll premier new songs arranged for the HR Big Band. Their sophomore record, titled Lily of the Nile has been released in November 2022 on Heartcore records.

AKI is a quartet consisting of Lucia (vocals), Kit Downes (organ and piano), Phil Donkin (bass), and James Maddren (drums). The origins of the group can be traced back to a longstanding collaboration between Cadotsch and Downes that punctuated in writing a plethora of material. The songs blend Cadotsch’s idiosyncratic wordplay and imagery and Downes‘ rich, layered soundscapes. The idea to add a rhythm section – with James Maddren on drums and Phil Donkin on bass – was born out of the desire to expand the sonic possibilities of the group and to inject the music with new perspectives. Their debut album AKI feat. Kurt Rosenwinkel on guitar on two songs has been released in May 2023 on Heartcore Records.

Awards

2017 ECHO Jazz (Category: Best national singer of the year) (D) 2012 New German Jazz Award: with Schneeweiss & Rosenrot (D)
 2009 1. Price at the German Voice award: NEW VOICES (D) 2004 Solistenpreis "Young Energy" (D)