Swiss pianist and sound artist Jul Dillier—whose real name is Julian—dedicates his new project AANÄ to the poems of his uncle Julian Dillier (1922–2001), with whom he had a close relationship during his childhood.

The word “Aanä” has three meanings in the Obwalden dialect, the spoken dialect of Dillier's homeland: ‘Aanä’ stands for ancestors, forebears. As a verb, it means, as in standard German, to sense, to feel. In addition, “aanä” also means to accept, to take to heart, to affirm.

Following in the artistic footsteps of his ancestor, Jul Dillier composed quiet, intimate, and very personal songs based on his ancestor's delicate and profound poems. He interprets these songs with piano, hammered dulcimer, harmonium, and vocals, repeatedly contrasting them with songs with his own lyrics and individual folk songs – all in Swiss German. A special kind of reunion between two old friends and kindred spirits.

Jul Dillier is accompanied in this reunion by Austrian double bassist Judith Ferstl and Hungarian percussionist András Dés. Together, the three of them create an acoustic cosmos of words and sounds with plenty of room for improvisation, characterized by their own unique rhythms and the soft, tart sound of the Obwalden dialect.