France's new streaming tax has successfully funded music productions and tours, boosting underrepresented genres like jazz and chanson, despite some price hikes on platforms like Spotify.
Smetnaki (Balkan Express 174)
Nominally, Smetnaki straddle the cross-section between ska, punk and funk. The band themselves insist that they are not bound to any specific genre. But listen closely and you'll hear jazz in all its forms. Check them out on this week’s Balkan Express
Kanda, Kodža i Nebojša (Balkan Express 171)
This week, Balkan Express makes a stop in Serbia to take a look at band named Kanda, Kodža i Nebojša. While they are usually billed as an alt-rock band, their music encompasses everything from funk, soul, reggae, jazz and, yes, alt-rock
Chui (Balkan Express 165)
Boldly going where no band has gone before, Chui are an amazing mix of jazz, electro, hip hop, rock and science fiction. As well as science fact. A musical gem if there ever was one, this Croatian band more than deserved its place in the Balkan Express orbit.
freekind. (Balkan Express 148)
Freekind are Croatian pianist and vocalist Sara Ester Gredelj and Slovenian drummer Nina Korošak Serčič. The two met in Austria (which, some Germans would argue, is a Balkan country, too), and kicked off a collaboration in 2019 which seems to be destined for greatness.