„Music is just background noise for many. We wanted to change this” | BuSH 2017

What’s the situation inside the Hungarian underground music scene? How can you shake the audience up? Interview with the organizers of Budapest Showcase Hub.

 

Dani Somló and Renátó Horváth /// Photo by Gábor Sióréti / Magyar@Narancs

 

What’s the use of international showcase festivals? How do Hungarian or other Eastern European bands benefit? Or the local music industry? These were the main questions in the past few years since the Hungarian music industry tries to go viral in the international space. We had and have a presence in European showcase fests like Tallinn Music Week (EE), MENT (SI), Eurosonic (NL), Reeperbahn (D), etc.

 

Now we have Budapest Showcase Hub (BuSH), a festival focusing especially on the Eastern European music industry from the Baltic to the Balkans. BuSH’s second season starts on 15th of November – not only for professionals, it’s open for everyone, so it’s high time to examine the importance of showcase fests.

 

We’ve seen many developments, changes in and around regional co-operations and BuSH is luckily one of them. But we can also notice that very few people come to gigs,  especially for underground music events. Not the worst right now, it’s better than 10 years ago, music festivals in summertime are full, never better before but the underground clubbing scene still has some illnesses. This is especially the case if we compare the situation to the late ’90s when you could have high school concerts and gigs with an audience of about 150-400 people. If you can bring these numbers today, as a band, you are a cool mid-level performer.

 

So that was the background of our conversation with organizers of BuSH Festival, Renátó Horváth and Dániel Somló.

 

Basic illness

 

‘Honestly, few people are interested in going to gigs or clubbing to discover new bands, new formations, new voices. Not only in Budapest but all around the country. You can demark those people who has any intention going out and BuSH’s success depends on how many people we can address from this group.’

– Renátó points out the ambience of the scene.

 

So we are in the middle of the problem. Even if we lock out any kind of politics, we’ve seen that middle- or small size clubs are shot down or closed and hits newcomers the hardest. They’re losing possibilities to introduce themselves. And there’s no way to gain any chance in successful, huge clubs in the city or in the countryside. I’m wondering opening new small- or middle size clubs can help the scene?

 

‘The size of the audience doesn’t depend on the number of these kinda clubs. Even if you do open new clubs, no more people will come. I think that’s what we have. Just take a look at how only a few Hungarian performers, like Wellhello, Hallott Pénz or Punnany Massif can make a sold out gig happen in one of the biggest outdoor venues, Budapest Park. We have to admit that consumer habits are massively changed. We are living in a life inside our smartphones. Dating, listening to music, watching movies, TV, keeping connections – everything is going on via phone. It’s not the same – gigs or any other common experiences – like even 20 years ago. We have to accept this. Mimicking this and making silly, meaningless jokes are all around, no one has intention about any serious experiences. You know, music is just background noise for many.’

 

#newkidsfromthebloc

That’s why they started BuSH, because they think we should take action. They wanna keep things up so they also created a Youtube channel, called #newkidsfromthebloc.

 

‘We would like to collect everything that we are doing, working on. We guess creating a Youtube channel is the best way presenting bands, events, casual heroes, promoting any issues related to the Eastern European underground music scene. There are so many things happening here which would otherwise disappear. We don’t let’em fade away.’

 

 

They would like to make videos for everyone, and only 10-15% of their contents are about the industry (but not only for professionals). The main goal is to create a clear communication channel to those who wanna see what’s going on in our region.

 

What’s the potential?

I’m interested in their experiences in terms of Hungarian and regional export possibilities. Is there any band which is ready for any kinda success or trend-making? What are the key points for a ‘boom’ outside the region?

 

‘If we are looking around at home, I can reckon one example, Bohemian Betyars, their music is fit for everywhere. But we don’t have to think about trends. If we are talking about success, doing cool music is not enough, you have to be unique as hell. If you have competitors in a country you wanna enter, be better than them. That’s the key. But I saw lack of creativity, basically only parodies. They only try to reflect othors, not trying to create something new. Only moustache, trunks & socks from the ’70s, but nothing more. It’s just crappy, and it won’t make you unique.’

 

Dani mentions Apey & the Pea. ‘I guess they are cool, not only at home but also abroad, even if their music works in a precise subculture.’

 

Media is also a key factor.

 

‘It’s hard to gain any success if there’s no thematic printed press covering the local, underground music scene, and only a few online outlets to do so. It’s almost the same amongst radio channels, no experimental willingness presenting, promoting newcomers. It’s sad.’

 

And I have to say gaining success without any kinda English content is impossible. But we try 😉

 

Soooooooo: If you wanna come, you can check BuSH’s participants, schedule & tickets HERE. Plus Grand Opening Show at Akvarium Klub on 15th of November with Ivan & The ParazolKamp! (PL) and Noëp (EE) finds HERE.

 

EDITED by Károly Gergely

 

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Balogh Roland