As streaming platforms increasingly push music discovery into platform-dependent, algorithmic systems, how do we find new music beyond the paywall? In this conversation, MOMO Young Talent programmer Eli Hooper reflects on demo, a sub-program of MOMO Festival, and how we might reclaim our sonic fingerprints through a homegrown, community-oriented framework.

Hosted in Roodkapje’s former space at the Schieblok, demo brings together six Dutch and Belgian labels and initiatives for two evenings of live performances, installations, and cross-disciplinary work that blur the line between stage and shared environment. Alongside artist Laura Kampman, we explore how stepping outside algorithmic discovery and reclaiming our own agency can open up new ways of listening, connecting, and unearthing music.

This talk is moderated by Indigo Envie.