The definition of artistry is something humanity has struggled with for millennia. How can one be identified as an “artist”?

One way to look at it is by considering an artist a person who chooses to create, forever and every day, something that helps them express themselves creatively; a person who feels the need for expression and acquires the skills necessary to produce the works they envision.

The online music community and record label Naviar Records offers a platform for musicians to find inspiration every day, connect with like-minded artists, and hone their craft. By providing regular music challenges and releasing music created by its community members, Naviar has become home to hundreds of music-makers worldwide, both professional and amateurs and across all music genres.

For the last eight years, Naviar has encouraged people to make new music in response to a weekly assigned haiku poem. The beauty of this traditional Japanese form of poetry lies in its simplicity and endless possible interpretations, giving readers the active role of interpreting the short poem in their own way.

Similarly, through the Naviar Haiku Challenge, artists can translate those words into sounds, reinterpreting the mood and atmosphere of the poem using the evocative power of music.

In this video, the founder of Naviar Records, Marco Sebastiano Alessi, describes the labels’ journey from a Soundcloud group to a global music community about to host its first physical event since the pandemic at Café Oto in London.

Discover the origins of the community-led record label, all the way from Bassano del Grappa, a small city in Northern Italy where Naviar Records was conceived.

Writer | Marco Sebastiano Alessi

Marco is an Italian music producer, composer and writer. He’s the founder of Naviar Records, a music community and record label exploring the connection between experimental electronic music and traditional Japanese poetry.

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