Shoving the J into journalism, Hack covers current affairs, music, politics and culture with youth in mind. 

Weekly roundtable in which our guests try to answer some of the challeging and controversial questions in modern society.

The Fighter & The Kid is a weekly podcast featuring UFC heavyweight, Brendan Schaub and actor/comedian, Bryan Callen. It’s uncut and unedited and sometimes it’s just ridiculous.

The Fighter and The Kid 3D: https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/the-fighter-and-the-kid-3d/id1109087775

Bookings/enquiries: info.mantrahiphop@gmail.com

Schon als Teenager machte er sich auf, um die einzigartigen Vibes der Karibikinsel Jamaika aufzusaugen.
Er hat Jamaika und die Kultur mit großem Respekt aufgenommen und den direkten Draht zu den Menschen dort gesucht – genau das macht diesen Künstler aus. Nach über 1000 Konzerten rund um den Globus ist es immer diese verbindende Energie, die ihn als Künstler ausmacht – der direkte Draht zu den Menschen. Spätestens seit seiner Hitsingle „Intoxication“, die in der Karibik den Sommer 2004 musikalisch geprägt hatte, gehört er zur absoluten Top Riege der internationalen Reggae Gemeinschaft und Festivallandschaft.
In über 25 Jahren entstanden dabei über 100 Kollaborationen mit Top Stars wie: Shaggy, Sean Paul, Marcia Griffiths, Tanya Stephens, Ky-Mani Marley, Christopher Martin, um nur einige Jamaikaner aufzuzählen. Auch in den USA hat Gentleman mit einigen Stars zusammengearbeitet: Aloe Blacc, Pink, Destiny´s Child, SOJA, Michael Franti uvam.
Selbst in unseren Breitengraden ist die Liste lang und bekannt: Freundeskreis, Udo Lindenberg, Die Toten Hosen, Michael Patrick Kelly, Beginner uvam.
Gentleman veröffentlichte über 12 Alben mit 4 Gold- und einer Platinauszeichnung. Darunter mittlerweile Genre-Klassiker wie „Journey to Jah“, „Confidence“ oder das großartige „MTV Unplugged“. 
Zusammenfassend kann man dem Reggae Connaisseur und Autor Ulli Güldner nur zustimmen, in dem er Gentleman als „bis heute ersten & einzigen Reggae-A-List-Ambassador dieses Landes“ tituliert.

No one could have imagined at that time what to expect - like Xavier de Maistre himself, when he decided to change the face of the harp 16 years ago. Today he plays pieces like "Moldau" by Smetana in breathtaking precision and presents masterful pieces of music that are usually played by an entire orchestra.

Meanwhile, a worldwide audience listens to his virtuosity and enjoys the unprecedented sounds. Pieces, that no harpist played before, or even thought about - like the Haydn piano concertos. Not only that makes him one of the most extraordinary musicians, even masters of this time.

Xavier de Maistre began to study harp with 9 years. Like many other famous musicians, all started with love - but in this case not as expected the love to his harp. It was rather the love for his former teacher, who offered extra harp lessons. Early, it turned out that Xavier has a great talent and no wonder he started with 25 years to play for the Vienna Philharmonic. Before that he played 3 years for the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and in 1998 Xavier won the first prize of the "USA International Harp Competition“, the major harp competitions in the world. But since Xavier´s family is not from a traditional harp-playing dynasty they put great importance to a solid education. So Xavier started his study of politics at the „Institut des Sciences Politiques“ in Paris and spent 1 year in London at the „London School of Economics ", when he finally decided to prefer music to the political studies. For a musician, he achieved very early what all harpists dream of – a position in one of the best orchestras in the world, the Vienna Philharmonic.

However Xavier de Maistre was about to go on. To see this point as the highlight of the career, which would definitely be a great honor for most of the harpists, and aslo for Xavier, but it was also a kind of sad moment. He achieved the ultimate goal of a harpist at age 25. Through his countless appearances and his keen ambition he has always wants to refute the long-existing bias of the harp - played in the background by angel-like women. Thanks to his his quick anticipation, intelligence and tremendous skill, he has played many pieces as a soloist with the harp and delighted thousands of listeners. Finally, he succeeds to establish the harp as an independent instrument. During his career, many great conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Andre Previn, and Daniele Gatti became curious on him and his passion and asked him to play with them. A long series of concerts follows, convincing the audience that Xavier de Maistre is undoubtedly the master of his instrument. Not for nothing, beside famous conductors, also the most successful singers like Barbara Bonney, Kathleen Battle and Diana Damrau played with him. Likewise, of course, the long list of world-renowned opera houses which he had already visited: Theatre des Champs Elysees Paris, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Musikverein Vienna, Tokyo Opera City, Lincoln Center New York, Salzburg Festival, La Scala Milan and many others.

No wonder, Xavier´s enthusiasm and his gift to play will not put an end to this success story. Awarded with the Echo Klassik Award 2009 for his album "Nuit d'Etoiles" as "Instrumentalist of the Year" (Sony Music) he reaps the fruits of his labor.

For more than 9 years Xavier de Maistre is working as a professor at the Musikhochschule Hamburg and now also teaches at the Julliard School in New York, at the Toho University in Tokyo and in London at Trinity College. After 11 years with the Vienna Philharmonic Xavier leaves his position in order to devote himself to his international solo career - a step that no harpist has done before.

Andy Hunt is following