Ħoss Project launches crowdfunding campaign for debut album and documentary
- Noel Mifsud
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Fresh from a series of performances in Malta, Rotterdam-based jazz fusion quartet Ħoss Project is inviting listeners to become part of its next chapter through a crowdfunding campaign that will help finance the release of its debut album and an accompanying documentary.
Led by Maltese drummer and composer Pete Galea, the ensemble has steadily built a reputation for its adventurous approach to contemporary music. Bringing together musicians from different cultural and musical backgrounds, Ħoss Project blurs the boundaries between jazz, progressive music, electronic textures and improvised performance, creating a sound that is both deeply personal and strikingly original. The project is also supported by Arts Council Malta through the Arts Support Scheme, recognising its contribution to the development of contemporary Maltese music.
The crowdfunding campaign aims to bridge the remaining financial gap needed to complete the ambitious project. Contributions will support the final stages of recording, mixing, mastering, vinyl production, visual artwork and the creation of a documentary that captures the band's artistic journey and collaborative process. Supporters can choose from a variety of rewards, including advance copies of the album, exclusive merchandise and behind-the-scenes experiences, allowing them to become directly involved in the project's creation.
Rather than simply recording a collection of compositions, the band is documenting a creative process shaped by collaboration, experimentation and cultural exchange. The forthcoming documentary promises to offer audiences an intimate glimpse into the making of the album and the musical conversations that define Ħoss Project's identity.
The crowdfunding campaign follows an encouraging run of performances in Malta, where the quartet introduced audiences to much of the material that will feature on the album. Their first local appearance came during the Malta Jazz Festival on Friday, 10 July, before travelling to Gozo for another performance. They concluded their Maltese visit with a more intimate concert at Offbeat in Valletta on Tuesday, 14 July, presenting audiences with an extended and more exploratory set that showcased the band's willingness to push beyond conventional musical boundaries.
For listeners with an appetite for adventurous contemporary music, Ħoss Project represents an exciting new voice emerging from Malta while drawing inspiration from an international creative landscape. The crowdfunding campaign offers music lovers the opportunity not only to support the release of a promising debut album but also to help preserve the story behind its creation through film.
With the album expected to be released early next year, supporters are investing not only in a recording but in a project that celebrates collaboration, experimentation and the continued evolution of Maltese contemporary music on the international stage.
Those who would like to contribute to Ħoss Project's debut album and documentary, or learn more about the crowdfunding campaign and the rewards available, can visit: https://www.voordekunst.nl/projecten/20694-hoss-project-debut-album-documentary.
Author's note: I attended Ħoss Project's performance at Offbeat in Valletta on Tuesday, 14 July. During the concert, the band performed many of the compositions that will make up their forthcoming debut album. The relatively small audience made the evening even more enjoyable, creating an intimate atmosphere that suited the band's exploratory approach. Unlike their forty-minute set at the Malta Jazz Festival a few days earlier, the Offbeat performance was longer, freer and considerably more experimental—precisely the qualities that immediately drew me to their music. With musicians who have studied and performed across different musical traditions, the result is a compelling blend of jazz, progressive music and classical influences, complemented by subtle elements reminiscent of Krautrock, a genre which, interestingly, I later discovered was unfamiliar to the band members themselves. It was an evening exceptionally well spent, filled with engaging and thought-provoking music. If the live performances are any indication, the debut album arriving early next year is certainly something worth looking forward to.