The music of Radio Luksemburg sounds as if it was born old. Fully formed, without any infantile rage or teenage self-importance. The band came to this world for tell us their story and then blend into the background until it was needed again. In this, they are a rarity among contemporary Balkan bands who rarely know when to ease off.
Eurosong, Balkansong (Balkan Express 156)
The 2024 Eurosong competition in Sweden features a number of Balkan countries. Which means this episode of Balkan Express was a bit special. In a good way. Raiven, Baby Lasagna and Teya Dora were namecheked and their Eurosong presented. Among others. Check it out!
Fed Horses (Balkan Express 155)
Fed Horses are, primarily, Urša and Jure Mihevc, whose on- and off-stage partnership is the driving force of the whole thing. Over the years, the band’s additional lineup stabilized around guitarist Andraž Mazi, bass player Matej Tekavčič and drummer Enos Kugler. Check them out on Balkan Express on Ara City Radio.
Štrajk mozga (Balkan Express 154)
Štrajk Mozga are frontman Aleksandar Nikčević, bass guitarist Dušan Mijušković, guitarist Dušan Dobrilović and drummer Novica Stanišić. And if media reports are to be believed, this Montenegrin band is already hard at work on their second album. Check them out in this week’s Balkan Express.
Deca Loših Muzičara (Balkan Express 153)
If you thought nepo-babies are a recent invention then you haven’t heard about Deca Loših Muzičara, a tongue-in-cheek Serbian funk-rock band. They’ve been around since late ‘80s (more or less) and their tunes are still fun.
Bad Daughter (Balkan Express 152)
Bad Daughter is a Croatian indie-pop artist who entered the scene about three years ago and immediately changed the landscape of urban music in the country. For the better, obviously. Her debutante album pocketed a porin, the Croatian music industry award and won praise by fans and critics alike.
Bajaga (Balkan Express 151)
Bajaga i Instruktori came about just as the Yugoslav rock scene was peaking. Quickly, they established themselves as cornerstones of Serbian rock music and became popular in the rest of the country, and internationally as well. Check them out in this week’s Balkan Express on Ara City Radio.
Tetkine Radosti (Balkan Express 150)
The wonderfully weird thing about Tetkine Radosti, a Slovenian DJ collective, is that they actually raid long-forgotten stashes of vinyl, singles, LPs and EPs, usually laying in some dusty corner of a non-descript antiques shop. In there, they will find musical rarities from former Yugoslavia and mix them all together into their signature sound.
Psihomodo Pop (Balkan Express 149)
Croatian pop punk band Psihomodo Pop are an institution unto themselves and as such deserve a place in the pantheon of Balkan rock and roll.
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.
Lufthansa (Balkan Express 147)
Unlike the airline everyone loves to hate, the North Macedonioan Lufthansa are a six-member crew of post-punk progressive psychedelic rock. They are also well worth your time.
Laka (Balkan Express 146)
Laka was a latecomer to the Bosnian musical scene. At least in terms of recording his first track which he did in only in 1998, almost at the age of 30. But by then he had already acquired a bit of a rebelious streak.
Šumski (Balkan Express 145)
Šumski are a slightly psychedelic Croatian rock band, with a penchant for ethno motives, Dadaistic sounds and added noise, pretending to be pop-rock pieces. Think of them as the Croatian version of the Dutch band Focus, but sans the flute.
Irena Žilić (Balkan Express 144)
As a singer-songwriter, Irena Žilić is a late bloomer by any definition. But even though she discovered her passion for music fairly late, she grew by leaps and bounds, even touring with Morcheeba.
Astrid- (Balkan Express 143)
Astrid’s lyrics are a mix of Slovenian, Croatian and English. She is her own songwriter, video director and conceptual designer, but also a classically educated harpist and opera singer in the electro-pop genre.
Zona Isključenja / Exclusion Zone (Balkan Express 139)
Zona Isključenja are a Bosnian rock band from the town of Goradže. They’ve been around since 1995, released three albums, recorded one more and seem to have another one in the works.
Silente (Balkan Express 138)
Silente are an unusual band that manages to stand out in the crowded Croatian pop-rock field. Leaning into their string section, they produce a unique sound that immediately drew the attention of fans and critics alike. It also earned them a spot on Balkan Express on Ara City Radio.
Foltin (Balkan Express 136)
Foltin are not so much a band only, but rather an art collective with an emphasis on music. The six-member act blends indie, world and electronic music, funk, jazz and other genres. Balkan Express on Ara City Radio takes a closer look.
Roma Child (Balkan Express 135)
Roma Child’s EP Matador is a mixture of surf- and punk-rock, and a rock and roll tour the force which would not be out of place on a surf beach. Or on a road trip gone wrong. This week on Balkan Express on Ara City Radio.