An interview with Itamar Shlomo Cohen about Prague Music Week and cross-border collaboration

Itamar, how was your trip to Prague?

My trip to Prague was wonderful. Although it was short, it was truly a special experience. It happened to coincide with Halloween, so few places were beautifully decorated with skeletons, pumpkins, and spiderwebs, which really added to its charm.

Was it your first time in Prague? What were your first impressions?

Yes, it was my first time there. Prague is such a lovely city with a great atmosphere. The people were incredibly warm, and I was lucky to have two sunny days, though there was one cloudy day as well.

Let’s talk about your participation in Prague Music Week. How did you find the event overall? Was there anything that surprised you?

I wouldn’t say I was surprised, but I was very impressed by the professionalism. Everything was incredibly well-organized, with excellent communication from the team, who were friendly and supportive throughout. I was part of an international delegation, and it was a fantastic opportunity to meet some very interesting people from the global music industry. The delegation took the event seriously, which made me feel like I was in good hands. It was fascinating to see new products related to stage setups, shows, and performance techniques, and we had the chance to explore DJ controls and try out innovative technologies. I also visited four or five different venues in Prague, which was a great experience from a performance perspective.

Was there a specific performance that stood out to you?

I really enjoyed seeing both local and international talents perform. One artist, HRTL, really stood out to me. He was warming up for the American artist John Maus with a unique live electronic set that I thoroughly enjoyed. He performed at MeetFactory, one of the venues I visited.

Did you enjoy MeetFactory?

I absolutely loved it! It reminded me a lot of a venue in Tel Aviv called Hameretz 2. The vibe was very similar, and even the design of the space had a familiar feel. The local artist who performed there was from Prague, and I was really impressed by his performance.

Do you think he could perform in Tel Aviv someday?

I really hope so! I think people in Tel Aviv would love his style. It fits perfectly with our independent music scene, and I believe the local audience would really appreciate his talent.

You also participated in an international panel discussion during Prague Music Week. How was that experience?

I participated in a panel discussion on Saturday morning about how Czech artists can succeed abroad. It was very insightful, with some great speakers. One was the head of artist management for a major company in New York, and we had three successful Czech artists on the panel: Lenny, who’s doing well internationally; a Czech rapper making waves in Memphis' hip-hop scene; and Rido, a producer and composer based in Germany. It was a fascinating conversation, and I had the opportunity to share how we work to bring international talent to Tel Aviv. We discussed the process of discovering and promoting talent outside Europe, which was eye-opening for everyone.

Did anything from the conference resonate with you personally? Did it spark any new ideas for your own work?

Yes, I found the Spotify for Artists workshop particularly interesting. It was fascinating to hear from Spotify representatives about how they approach artist marketing, and the workshop was very informative on the marketing side of things.

I'm glad to hear it was a fruitful experience for you!

Absolutely! It was great to connect with real industry professionals, get to know them, and exchange ideas. It really showed me that what we’re doing in Tel Aviv is aligned with the international music scene. Of course, the scale here is smaller, but when I think about the upcoming Jazz Festival, it’s clear that our efforts are just as relevant and exciting globally. I even saw a local band from Tel Aviv, Ice Hokku, perform in Prague, and it was amazing to see how the audience connected with their music.

It’s funny that you went all the way to Prague and ended up seeing an Israeli band!

I know, it was crazy! It was such a pleasant surprise, and we had a great chat. Seeing the audience’s engagement really showed that the gap between local and international scenes isn’t as big as it seems. It was inspiring to think about future collaborations.

Did you make any connections with other participants?

Yes, definitely. I made some valuable connections with international delegates, and I hope it leads to future projects. There was a speed-dating session during the conference where I met local artists from Prague. We talked about what would appeal to a Tel Aviv audience and what kind of music could work well there. One local artist even gave me a CD, and I met a jazz-hip-hop artist whose work could resonate in Israel. I’d love to see their music reach a wider audience.

So, the next step is to build on those connections?

Exactly. This was just the beginning; there’s still so much to explore and learn from each other.

I suppose that means you’ll have to come back to Prague!

I really hope so!

Since you’re also a musician, would you be interested in performing in Prague?

Absolutely! I’d love to perform there with my band. I even saw a performance that really matched our genre.

Any final remarks?

Prague Music Week is a fantastic event, and I’d highly recommend it. It’s a great opportunity to learn about the music industry, connect with people from around the world, and see what’s happening on the global stage. Events like this are invaluable for the international music community.

Thank you, Itamar!