Khemeia

On November 13, two musical sensibilities, two distinct characters, and two stories that become one will meet at the DownTown Piano Lab space. On stage are Italian vocalist Aurora Marchese and Icelandic guitarist Mikael Máni Ásmundsson, who together create the project KHEMEIA.

Their musical acquaintance began in January 2023 in Amsterdam. Aurora and Mikael were brought together by a love for meaningful lyrics, jazz ballads, and stories where music becomes more than just a sequence of beautiful sounds. They nurtured their creative partnership in the multicultural environment of the Amsterdam Conservatory, where their different experiences naturally found a common language.

Aurora's Italian emotionality, sensitive voice, and ability to turn every song into a living story blend here with the musical imagination and poetic guitar sound that Mikael brought from Iceland. In their work, the vocals and guitar do not just accompany each other – they converse, react, merge, and together create an intimate musical world that unfolds differently each time.

This idea is also reflected in the duo's name itself. KHEMEIA is associated with the Greek word χημεία, meaning joining and merging. It is the musical chemistry of two unique creators, where Nordic subtlety meets Southern warmth, and sound is inseparable from storytelling.

KHEMEIA's music has already resonated on various European stages. The duo has performed at Amsterdam's Roode Bioscoop and collaborated with Amarte Fonds and Italy's Fondazione Estro Musicale. The latter also contributed to the creation of the artists' first album.

In 2025, the first singles "Little Bird" and "The Lake" reached listeners, followed shortly by the debut album "KHEMEIA," released by the label RNC Music. In 2026, it was nominated for the Icelandic Music Awards in the Best Album category. The duo's work has also been featured on shows and radio stations such as DC Notte, Radio Splash, and Como Radio International. Another significant step was reaching the finals of the Grachtenfestival Jazz Competition.

On the evening of November 13, DownTown Piano Lab invites you to hear KHEMEIA up close – a subtle, live, and open dialogue between two performers, where voice and guitar merge.

Aurora Marchese (Italy) – vocals Mikael Máni Ásmundsson (Iceland) – guitar

The concert project is partially funded by the Vilnius City Municipality.