“Rebel International: how Trost changed the landscape of the avant-garde” – discussion and meeting with the label

About

Every year, an important place in the Different Sounds programme is dedicated to a distinctive music label, which serves as a starting point for telling stories about music publishing in different parts of the world. It allows for comparisons between diverse business models and approaches to sound, while also showing how cultural contexts shape publishing processes. Independent labels that, in our view, are the most interesting, are usually characterised by a focus on specific musical genres or a territorial emphasis that makes it possible to capture the specificity of time and place.

Trost Records is a renowned Austrian label founded in Vienna in 1991 by Konstantin Drobil. This year marks the 35th anniversary of this respected imprint, which today specialises primarily in alternative, exploratory jazz, improvised music, and avant-garde. Its beginnings, however, lay in releasing young underground bands from the Austrian scene, such as Valina (a post-hardcore outfit from Linz, which recorded most of its albums with Steve Albini at his legendary studio in Chicago). Over time, the label grew in strength, consistently building its brand through carefully curated artistic choices, and later establishing, among others, the Cien Fuegos sublabel. The face of the catalogue became such outstanding artists as Peter Brötzmann, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Mats Gustafsson, as well as groups including Sun Ra Arkestra, Zu, The Thing, and DKV Trio (featuring, among others, Hamid Drake and Ken Vandermark). The presentation of Trost Records’ output and philosophy fits perfectly into the upcoming edition of the East of Culture – Different Sounds festival, especially as the label continues to move forward, presenting ambitious, progressive projects that break musical stereotypes.

More about Trost Records for the East of Culture – Different Sounds festival was written by journalist Rafał Księżyk.

Participants in the discussion: Konstantin Drobil (owner and founder of Trost Records), Ingrid Schmoliner (pianist of the Drank duo), and Mats Gustafsson (free jazz saxophonist). The conversation will be moderated by Łukasz Kamiński (music journalist).

Łukasz Kamiński – a Varsovian by birth and by choice. He has been connected with music for 25 years as a journalist, panel host, and commentator. Before fully dedicating himself to writing about music, he worked as a film translator and in the promotion department of the Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw. For 23 years, he was a journalist at Gazeta Wyborcza. He has also contributed to Gazeta Magnetofonowa, Jazz Forum, Onet, ZAiKS Wiadomości, and the website Lubimyczytać.pl. He has collaborated with numerous festivals, including Malta Festival, Millennium Docs Against Gravity (formerly Planete+ Doc Film Festival), NEXT Fest, and Great September. He is the co-author of the acclaimed alternative guidebook Do It in Warsaw. He was also affiliated with Music Week Poland and Culture Hub Poland.

Details

When: July 4, 2026, 14:30-15:45
Where: Workshops of Culture in Lublin, Grodzka 5a – auditorium 2nd floor
Admission free

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