The Slovak artist Martina Slovaková, a student at the Bratislava-based Academy of Fine Arts and Design, has dealt with the national conscioussness and identity in her work for some time (and not only because of her surname - Slovak:) Her latest project, her BA graduation work, entitled Slovak National Remix touches upon the controversial patriotism bill courtesy of the Slovak National Party, which required all schools to play the national athem. Slováková´s project creates an alternative sound bank with various versions of the Slovak anthem, which were created by several Slovak producers (Teapot, Foolk, The Uniques, Isobutane, stroon, Kasioboy). The remixes were played at midnight during a week on Radio FM, a Slovak public radio (public radio and TV in Slovakia have the duty to play the anthem at midnight each day).
The Prague-based artist Ondřej Holý, working under his nom de plume dné, features on our sampler. He also has an EP Talking With Crayons and a casette out on AM Discs Eating a Wrapper Instead of a Candy.His new offering Reading Lyrics Aloud Means Singing has just been released by the American label Mine All Mine Records. The EP comes with a twist. Aside from dné’s original track, the EP also features three “remixes” by artists such as Former Ghosts. The condition for the reworking of the track was following: refashion the track according to your will but you must provide your own lyrics. Clever, no?
Track List: 01. dné – Reading, Then Eye Contact 02. Slowmotiondancer – First Reading, Then The Dancefloor 03. I DO NOT LOVE. – Reading 04. Former Ghosts – Please, Please Wait For Me
Some time ago, we have written about a documentary about Belgrade’s creative scene (check the article here). There is another movie about similar subject out there. This time its creators are the Spanish director Luciano Muriel and a local insider Nataša Šarkič who also answered our questions. Its exciting to see two movies with the same subject, but taking entirely different routes (aesthetically as well as socially) towards their goal.
Why did you decide to make a documentary on the Belgrade underground ?
I met Luciano. We were hanging around and I was taking him out to concerts, exhibitions. Always with a camera on hand, shooting all the time. The idea was to make some kind of a video-guide to Belgrade, but it never came to life. Few months later Luciano told me that he checked all the material, and that some of it is really great, so how about doing something more serious with it? He came with another friend, Carlos (2nd camera) and we continued shooting. So the whole thing started in a very unpretentious, or even frivolous way, but during the last two years we were digging deeper and deeper… into the underground :)
What does the word underground mean to you ?
There was a lot of talking in the interviews about the term “underground”. Nobody finds it really adequate, because people feel limited if you name him or her an “underground artist”. It’s the same with any other expressions like subcultural, independent, alternative..
I would say that it is art that is independent of the mainstream, of any kind of fashion or trend, which is made without expectation of any material compensation. It is an art that is created just because of the one’s need to create, to express him or herself.
Is there something specific about the Belgrade scene for you ?
What I find most interesting about Serbia’ scene, and what I think is different from the scene in other countries, is the period of the 90’s. People were creating in totally unimaginable circumstances, and still there were much more things going on. Everybody was creating more at that time than now. I think that the years of isolation have made the Serbian subculture very authentic.
In what state is your documentary ?
Right now we are in last phase of editing and translating (it’s going to be in Serbian, English and Spanish) and we are hoping to finish it in one or two months.
Our Sperm Festival showcase is over and what a blast it was. We spent two nice days with our Romanian, Polish and Slovak guests finishing the party at dawn at a Prague house/boat (literally). If you missed Monty’s set, listen to it right now:)
Aside from his main musical guise, Silviu also has other more experimental projects - Contorsionist and Fjord. Beats are replaced by weird sonic explorations and muffled voice distortions. The Contorsionist project can be downloaded for free from the Asiluum website.
The busy duo from the Slovak sonic marshes has a new self-titled release out, both digital and vinyl out on Slovak label Exitab. And what to expect? Electronics, piano, cello and voice. Pjoni is also planning a solo release, a beatless, more introspective offering. He’s also got some other news up his sleeve - a mutual tour with our friends from Poznan Napszyklat and a new multimedia project Lowii - painting sound - with Slovak artist Katarína Sido.
