Mario Batkovic

Bosnian-born Swiss accordionist Mario Batkovic devoted his teenage years to probing the possibilities of his instrument. He later trained at the celebrated HochschulefürMusik and Theatre in Hannover, Germany, under Professor Elspeth Moser before earning a Master of Arts in Chamber Music Improvisation from the MusikAkademie of Basel, Switzerland. Classical studies notwithstanding, he yearned for the unruly dynamics of band performance. Within Switzerland he established himself as a producer, a member of several groups, and a film composer while operating his own studio and record label, accomplishments acknowledged by the Artist Recognition Award from the Capital in Canton Bern. In 2015, after an introduction to the musician’s work, Portishead’s Geoff Barrow enlisted him to support Beak; struck by the experimental, unconventional, and mesmerizing performances, Barrow placed Batkovic on his Invada label. Two years later the accordionist issued his self-titled solo record on that imprint.