Bosnian-born Swiss accordion player Mario Batkovic spent his teenage years experimenting with his instrument of choice. Following these early trials, he went on to study at the celebrated HochschulefürMusik and Theatre in Hannover, Germany under Professor Elspeth Moser. Batkovic later graduated from the MusikAkademie of Basel, Switzerland with a Master of Arts in Chamber Music Improvisation. Despite all his classical training, he found he missed the more chaotic feel of playing in a bands. He became an established artist in Switzerland by working as a producer, playing in various bands, and scoring films. He also runs his own studio and record label. His efforts were rewarded when he was honored with the Artist Recognition Award from the Capital in Canton Bern. In 2015, Portishead's Geoff Barrow invited Batkovic to support his band Beak after being introduced to the accordionist's music. Barrow was so taken with his experimental, unconventional, and mesmerizing performances that he signed the musician to his own Invada label. In 2017, Batkovic released his self-titled solo accordion record on that very label. ~ Bekki Bemrose