Trouble in Paradise is the experimental radio project of Matilda Jones (Teplice) and Finn Teesdale (Floral Notes). A playful nod to their nuptial status, the title connotes the elusive nature of domestic fulfilment alongside a bracing existential critique of the polycrises of late-capitalism. Proposing that we are all occupants of a ~Troubled Paradise~, the show focuses on the ever-changing nature of the urban experience, using music to explore the radical achievements of the past and offer a utopian glimpse into the possibilities of a brighter future.
Musically, each episode guides listeners on an aural quest: from the spiritual sounds of Alice Coltrane to the arch pop of Pet Shop Boys, expect a luscious mix of soothing ambient, dreamy trip-hop and experimental pop. In addition to the music, a pivotal segment of the show features the voices of various artists, musicians, writers, promoters, activists and residents of the city we call home – Berlin. Whether dispersed throughout fragments of audio-collage, or in traditional interview format, these conversations explore the pleasures, pains and politics of city life. How does a native-Kreuzberger remember a 90s childhood of reunification? Can Berlin’s international art scene elevate the culture and history of electronic dance music? What role do locally-run mutual aid groups play amidst the epidemic of homelessness? In asking these questions and more, we illuminate the socio-political landscape of Berlin’s past, present, and future.