Visit Sea Star Festival in Umag, Croatia, for an evening of club music and dance! It features numerous musical genres like hip-hop, trap, reggae and rock!
Ekstrakt is a four-person DJ collective known for hosting incredible parties and festivals since 2009. Their events are typically techno-based but often feature other genres like house and disco music as well.
Burek Records
Although most Britons associate Croatia with idyllic beaches and summer festivals, its electronic music scene has its own vibrant identity. One key player has been Burek Records which has showcased exquisite house and techno from both international and local artists alike. Furthermore, Burek founders Mislav and Pyzek run Barba Records as a sublabel that specialises more heavily in techno sounds while their main Burek line-up offers quality house, soul, and disco tunes.
Zagreb’s official venues have mostly been converted to commercial uses, yet the underground scene continues to thrive through small promoter groups and independent record labels. One such promoter group is known as CFSN; this collective has been throwing events for 15 years without slowing down. Aligning themselves thematically with juke, footwork, grime and IDM it has hosted various major DJs like Kode9 and Autechre as guests DJs.
Ziva Muzika is an avant-garde group that brings experimental queer artists to intimate shows at bars, performance art theaters, and modest club spaces. Elysia Crampton, Cakes Da Killa and James Ferraro have been booked – pushing the boundaries of deconstructed club soundscapes in their shows.
Petar Dundov has made his mark through creating an eclectic catalog of deep industrial techno and haunting vocal lines. His raw minimalism has won him an avid following both domestically and abroad; his album Sculptures 1-3 was released on Jeff Mills’ imprint Tomorrow, helping revitalize postwar club culture in his homeland and transform crumbled buildings into venues for new, unheard music.
Ekstrakt
Croatia’s capital city, Zagreb, has long been known for its lively electronic music scene since the early ’90s. Following independence, an explosion of party culture swept through clandestine venues across the city; these clubs still thrive today with support from small promoter groups, DIY labels and passionate local producers.
CFSN has been active in the scene for more than 15 years, hosting parties that encapsulate juke, footwork, grime and techno, featuring artists like Kode9, Machinedrum and Pearson Sound. Furthermore, they organize annual festivals called Illectricity; its collective of DJs, producers and club promoters who specialize in techno events are known for throwing parties often in abandoned houses on the outskirts of town; however they’ve also hosted shows at an old gym at their center of town location.
Popsimonova stands out among Zagreb’s underground artists with her distinctive catalogue that has attracted international recognition. She explores the dark edges of techno, employing drones and repetition for an unnerving atmosphere; live performances only exaggerate this particular aesthetic style further.
Ziva Muzika is an influential participant in New York City’s queer-friendly electronic scene. Their collective books acts like Elysia Crampton, Cakes Da Killa, James Ferraro and Mykki Blanco that push the limits of club sounds. Operating on a tight budget, Ziva Muzika hosts shows in bars, performance art theaters and modest club spaces – such as Sonus Dimensions Garden festivals which allow local DJs and bands to showcase their talents to a larger international audience.
Confusion
Confusion music collective was one of the driving forces in Zagreb’s alternative electronic scene during the early 2000s, featuring DJs and producers playing everything from juke to footwork, techno, IDM, rave and rave music genres; throwing parties and festivals featuring artists like Kode9, Autechre Machinedrum Pearson Sound over 15 years before disbanding in 2013.
Yugoslavia disintegrated into several distinct nations in 1991, leaving its music scene vibrant despite economic and ethnic divisions. Disco, post-punk, experimental electronic, and even disco were popular genres; until hobby archivists and specialist labels discovered this music again through hobby archivers’ collections and specialist labels’ releases – Kendrick Lamar even sampled a track by Yugoslav group September on his track Duckworth to demonstrate this revival!
The 11th Music Biennale (Festival of Contemporary Music) took place from May 9-16, 2013. This event broadened Yugoslav composers’ musical horizons. Works were performed by almost all major contemporary composers from Yugoslavia. Additionally, one of Europe’s only new-music festivals hosted commissioning and performance of younger composers’ work.
Attendees at Electronic Beats Festival (EB) can expect an array of cultural events throughout Zagreb city center. Some events require tickets; others are free. There will also be lectures and workshops held throughout this festival, including on Friday Booksa will host Alex Samuelson (Electronic Beats Magazine) giving a lecture on writing music journalism for journalists and students; on Saturday Mocvara Record and Comic Fair will convene Croatian second hand shops selling records and comics while offering special sections for secondhand DJ equipment.
low income $quad
Low Income $quad is a popular name among fans of quirky electronic music from Croatia. They specialize in compilations featuring local and international artists alike; with Igor Cvitkovic (known by his pseudonym Igen) curating its latest installment (LI$013) of experimental ambient and noise roots in innovation – from Serbian producers Subsided and Jan Nemecek’s dark tribal atmosphere track opening the record up the whole record features loudness/quiet contrast.
Christian Kroupa of Slovenia creates an eerie ambient piece with slow melody progression. Steely side effects seem to infiltrate nature subtly through technology. Gasper Torkar’s track sounds like the soundtrack for primordial paranoia with ambient and sound art elements merging with ritualistic ambience for an intense experience.
Zarkoff
Zarkoff is a dark synth producer from Sisak, southeast of Zagreb. His music ranges from club-oriented electro techno to IDM and darkwave with vocal elements often included. His releases can be found on Home Made Electronica, Adriatiko Recordings and Black Leather Records as well as Florence Foster Fan Club and Sumerian Fleet bands in addition to collaboration with Popsimonova; live shows can include various set ups with an emphasis on improvisation creating unique performances every time!
At that time, Croatia was still one of the six republics within Yugoslavia and experiencing economic and political hardship. A response to these conditions was the rise of rap music bands like Bolesna Braca and Tram 11, inspired by American gangsta rap but using language specific to young people’s sense of urgency and anger to communicate rap music’s messages.
Zagreb is home to an active alternative and experimental music scene. With a vibrant underground culture featuring bands and DJs embracing new technology and pushing the limits of their sound. Although much of Croatian music relies on traditional instruments, electronic genres also remain an influential presence.
While still relatively young, local DJs have already established a stellar reputation within electronic music. Many musicians from this city draw inspiration from international acts, particularly UK acts such as Cabaret Voltaire and Human League.
Croatia is known for its diverse music scene with a rich history of experimentation. One notable event has been the rise of Croatian rap, which often incorporates harsh urban landscapes and urgency. Some important Croatian rappers include Ugly Leaders, Sick Rhyme Sayazz and Nered & Stoka; Croatian folk music is also prominent here with orchestras playing violins, cimbule and tamburice instruments.