Kathmandu, September 25

Surya Nepal Jazzmandu, Nepal's annual international jazz festival, returns this October with musicians from around the world performing across venues in Kathmandu Valley. Among the highlights is German singer Leona Berlin, known for blending R&B, jazz, and hip-hop into a distinctive contemporary sound.

According to the festival's website, Berlin will perform with her quartet on Friday, October 10, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Jazz Upstairs, Lazimpat. Gates open at 6:30 pm, and tickets are Rs 800. She will also appear on Monday, October 13, at Eden, Jhamsikhel, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm for Sounds of Acid Jazz, with tickets priced at Rs 1,500.

Berlin's music focuses on emotional storytelling and bold production. She made her self-titled debut under Warner Music in 2018 and has since collaborated with artists such as Snoop Dogg, Ray Angry of The Roots, and Casey Benjamin of the Robert Glasper Experiment. Her second album, Change (2021), featured NYC rapper Stimulus and keyboardist Rob Araujo and was listed among the German Record Critics' Award's best albums in 2022. In 2023, she featured on drummer Gregory Hutchinson's jazz-fusion album DA BANG.

Now preparing for her third studio album Elevate, Berlin continues to release new singles while touring internationally. At Jazzmandu, she will be joined by Martin Lüdicke on keys, Francesco Beccaro on bass, and Magro on drums, offering audiences a mix of R&B grooves, soulful vocals, and improvisational jazz.