The Heya Sessions, or the art of connecting differently
On 21 September, I was a guest on the Boucan show on BX1, hosted by Aline Walsdorff, to talk about the Heya Sessions. Alongside me were two artists who perfectly embody what this project is all about: Nel and Asma Soulista. A great opportunity to look back at why I launched this format, and what it's really about.
An open mic with a twist
The Heya Sessions are an open mic format built on two pillars: multidisciplinarity (music, poetry, theatre, stand-up, dance and slam all share the same stage) and professional connections between artists and industry professionals. One stage, one audience, creating the chance to meet the right person at the right time.
Expanding networks: a necessity, not an option
That's the thread running through everything I do with Here You Art, the platform behind the Heya Sessions: making connections easier and opportunities more accessible. Too many talented artists remain invisible simply because they never had access to the right circles. The Heya Sessions are a concrete answer to that: a place to come and perform, but just as much to build lasting professional relationships, in an ecosystem that blends digital and live rather than pitting them against each other.
Nel, the rising voice of introspective pop
Originally from Arlon, Nel started out on saxophone at the age of seven before turning to singing. After studying communication in Brussels and a break from music, she made the difficult choice to commit to it fully. Her EP Barbelés, released in 2025, captures with real honesty the early steps into adult life, between self-discovery and learning. A joyful mess that, in the end, gives rise to beautiful stories.
Nel will perform at the next Heya Session on 25 September at La Scène, in Schaerbeek, and then at the Botanique on 19 October. Two dates not to miss, to see live a rising artist we'll be hearing a lot more from.
Asma Soulista, the pen that hits home
Singer, slam poet, writer, composer and musician, Asma Soulista embodies on her own the multidisciplinary spirit of the Heya Sessions. Her writing, committed and feminist, moves across several languages and forms, from pure acoustic to more unusual instruments. She published Bris de vers with maelstrÖm reEvolution almost a year ago, a collection that carries onto the page what she brings to the stage: a determination to give voice to those too often reduced to silence.
Having her on our stages is exactly the spirit of the Heya Sessions: offering a space where slam, song and rap can meet without hierarchy, and where every form of expression finds its place. Catch her live on 11 October at Toots, with the Soirées Chantal collective.
We'll be waiting for you
If this conversation has made you want to see the Heya Sessions for yourself, join us on 25 September at La Scène (Schaerbeek). And for those who'd rather follow along from a distance, it's all happening on the website and the Hey App too, which keeps growing.
Watch the replay of the show here: https://bx1.be/radio-chronique/boucan-linterview-heya-sessions-21-09-2026/