23 DECEMBER, MELKWEG
SPECIAL EDITION
PARTY
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L.A.N. PARTY, 23 DECEMBER, MELKWEG
We’ve done it before, and boy, will we do it again. L.A.N. Party celebrates the outstanding talent stemming from our Local Area Network – right next door, so to speak. This year, we’ve teamed up with Melkweg to fill every inch of the historic venue with the sounds of emerging local talent. The following pages will guide you to all the sweet spots. Catch up with GRGY from Amsterdam collective SMIB, embark on a tropical voyage with The Mauskovic Dance Band and find direction using the quintessential timetable. As always, free for members. 3
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L.A.N. PARTY SPECIAL
L.A.N Party line up For L.A.N. Party, we put together a line up of hands down exceptional local acts. We took a minute to spell out what to expect – everything from sultry R&B to psych-pop, from rowdy hip hop to adrenaline-fueled garage rock. Follow us, we’ll show you the way.
BEA1991 21:15-21:45 // Melkweg Oude Zaal There’s a soothing sheen to BEA1991’s neo soul, but it’s not all glistening vocals and icy beats; when they venture off the straight and narrow, as on ‘Below’, it’s a dark and oddly compelling detour that gives a glimpse as to what’s bubbling under their musical serenity.
IDIOTT SMITH 21:15-21:45 // Melkweg Cinema Stupid is as stupid does, but there’s nothing idiotic about Smith’s hazy, euphoric soundscapes. Part Balearic zen, part widescreen slow-jam, Groningen-based Roy Veenstra’s tracks scan like a retro soundtrack for some long lost documentary on Free Love and the power of getting high. ‘Lovemetal’ he calls it – bliss, says everyone else. See interview on page 8. IGUANA DEATH CULT 22:45-23:30 // Melkweg Upstairs The Rotterdam four-piece are one of those bands who sound exactly like their name suggests they would – which is raw, swirling psyche-
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L.A.N. PARTY LINE UP delia mixed with scuzzy, seedy garage rock. If ever Tarantino needs a zombie rock band to play in a deserted, deadwood diner in a horror film, these guys should be top of the list.
the early ‘80s as their main source of inspiration. Think early Cure, and obviously Joy Division – but there are just enough cracks around the edges to let in a little light.
JAMESZOO (DJ SET) 23:45-01:00 // Melkweg Upstairs Aside from doing remixes for the likes of Red Bull Academy and LA based magazine XLR8R, the ‘s-Hertogenbosch native has made a name for himself spinning modern jazz, nu-soul, and quirky electronica into a warm, comforting wash like an easy listening J Dilla. Sure to be a hit, whatever he plays.
MOONFLOWER WARRIOR 20:15-20:45 // Melkweg Cinema Fierce independence and an utter refusal to compromise characterize the work of this new duo, which harks back to Royal Trux’s shabby chaos. But given Xenia Gott and Jacco Weener’s extensive (Rotterdam-based) underground connections, it’s hardly surprising; this is music completely unfettered by rules and free to follow its own, madcap path. OHSLO 23:15-23:45 // Melkweg Cinema Dreamy, glacially slow trap-jams are the name of the game for this Dutch ‘bedroom R&B’ duo who, according to their Bandcamp page, are now based in Hawaii. Alluring and relaxing in equal measure, their sultry music gently wraps around your brain like a soft blanket, just what’s required for long winter nights.
LONGSY 00:15-00:45 // Melkweg Cinema Come for the volatile post-punk, stay for the outlandish dance moves. Longsy front man Gover Meit channels his theatrical know-how into a disruptive and mesmerizing stage presence. Sporting a black two-piece leotard, Meit jolts, jerk and sways as he physically expresses Longsy’s rhythmic and gyrate-worthy racket. MICH 21:45-22:15 // Melkweg Upstairs The melancholic swagger and dark edge to this Amsterdam-based all star band - one part Aux Raus, two parts Le Le - point to post-punk and
PARALYMPICS 19:45-20:15 // Melkweg Upstairs Oh what a joyous racket this Amsterdam trio make! ‘The tracks must be played at maximum
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L.A.N. PARTY LINE UP volume’ instructs their Bandcamp page solemnly, and who are we to argue? Loud and proud, their blitzkrieg bob is loaded with fuzz and energy, and is sure to get the masses moshing.
world? Featuring Nic Niggebrugge, from Jacco Gardner + Eerie Wanda, on drums, there’s not much more to say really, other than suggest you track them down, press play, and let your ears – and dancing feet – thank us later. See interview on page 12.
SMIB (FEAT. GRGY, KC AND TADS THOTS) 22:15-22:45 // Melkweg Oude Zaal More a lifestyle collective than anything else, SMIB have big plans – not for nothing have they suffixed their name with ‘Worldwide’. Their music is an eclectic mix of youth and street styles, borrowing from grime, trap, hip hop, and horrorcore, and performed with plenty of confidence and swagger. See interview on page 24.
VENUS TROPICAUX 20:45-21:15 // Melkweg Upstairs Get in, get it done, get out – that seems to be the ethos governing these Rotterdam postpunks, who have become notorious for their 15-minute sets. Playing with an intensity that’s more firecracker than smouldering bonfire, they always teeter on the edge of reckless abandon – one day, they might fall right in. YUKO YUKO 20:15-20:45 // Melkweg Oude Zaal Pure, unadulterated ‘80s pop is where Elias Elgersma, signed to Purple Noise Record Club, is at, and his command over the music and retro stylings are all the more remarkable given he’s just 19 years of age. But this is no tacky throwback; it’s a gorgeously blended mix of psych-pop and new wave that’s as nourishing as it is sweet.
SEVDALIZA (DJ SET) 01:15-02:45 // Melkweg Upstairs Innovation is an all-too-rare thing in music, but not something Iranian-Dutch multi-medium artist Sevdaliza is lacking. Pushing boundaries is just what she does, and her intoxicating music is a testament to her refusal to compromise. This may be just a DJ set, but it’ll be unmissable all the same. See interview on page 19. THE MAUSKOVIC DANCE BAND 22:15-22:45 // Melkweg Cinema Sometimes, you gotta have a USP. So why not be the only ‘hypnotic analog dance music’ band pedalling ‘Afro-Colombian space sounds’ in the
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INTERVIEW
‘I like a lot of stuff to do with puberty and teenagers’
IDIOTT SMITH Interview by Laura Bonne Photos shot by Isolde Woudstra in Groningen
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L.A.N. PARTY SPECIAL
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IDIOTT SMITH the time? For one part, I like a lot of stuff to do with puberty and teenagers. And the other is just to dare to be open about things, maybe hit something.
Groningen’s sweetheart aka the mastermind behind Idiott Smith was once again willing to have a chat with us. We met Roy Veenstra in our previous magazine issue, where he introduced us to his teenage world full of D’Angelo, Mary J. Blige and professional hair care products. Today, he carries on this love for the smooth sensations of R&B in his current workplace and creative hub De Gym. You can hear that in what comes out of Roy’s creative mind: perfect lo-fi, synth-pop tunes, combined with a deep voice and an overflow of personality.
What would you be if not a musician? I really don’t know, a cook maybe?
‘I decided to stop worrying’
We like your earrings very much. What’s the story there? I got my first one when I was around 22 and left for Germany. I was thinking about things very much at that time, but I decided to stop worrying. I took an earring as a symbol – just to do something stupid, so I just popped one in.
No. 1 hairstyle icon: River Phoenix. When I go to the hairdresser, I always take a picture of him and show it when they ask what haircut I want. Which L.A.N. artists are you looking out for? Ohslo, Yuko Yuko, Bea1991, SMIB.
You spend more time at a place called De Gym than at home. What makes De Gym your inspirational place to be? The people I work with. They’re fun, make great stuff, and share a lot of the same perspectives. If R. Kelly or D’Angelo would pass by and ask you to make some music together, what would you do? I would definitely do it! You told us you’re not afraid of smooth, romantic sounds full of cheesiness. What’s your motivation for not being artistically correct all
Idiott Smith plays Melkweg Cinema at 21:15
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L.A.N. PARTY SPECIAL
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INTERVIEW
‘I really like the vibes of the ’70s’
THE MAUSKOVIC DANCE BAND Interview by Maija Jussila Photos shot by Verena Blok in Haarlem
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THE MAUSKOVIC DANCE BAND
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INTERVIEW Following a couple of years of unwavering devotion to both Jacco Gardner and Eerie Wanda, Nicola Niggebrugge stepped out from behind the drum-kit, swaying along to a different beat. The skies clear out, Afro-Colombian cumbia breezes in – The Mauskovic Dance Band has one goal, and that is to make people dance.
The first sip of something refreshing will be a? Super Bock Portuguese beer. Not really nice beer but pretty cheap.
The days are getting shorter, rainier and colder over here. You can fly to anywhere in the world - what’s your destination? Lisbon for sure! There’s such a cool blend of cultures and I love the music that comes from their former colonies (Cape Verde, Brazil, Angola). There are a lot of dance nights with music from those former colonies. In some ways it’s pretty sketchy and unorganized, which makes it kind of the opposite of Amsterdam. Also, a good friend of mine lives there.
‘I like to travel alone, I guess’
To the beat of? Some Angolan rhumba record, bought at the market near my friends house.
Describe your immediate surroundings? Broken streets and houses, which some of them look like they are gonna fall apart at any moment. Some cars parked in the tiny street in front of my friend’s house; you can barely open the door. The chaotic studio/room of my friend where we spend time fooling around with the half broken equipment we have and make tunes.
Who’s going with? I like to travel alone, I guess. No attachments and I don’t have to worry what the other person wants. That, or I will take my mother because it’s been awhile since she went on a holiday and she would like Lisbon for sure.
By chance, your favorite local act are playing tonight at your local venue. They are: La Banda Fantastica at Maloe Melo!
Turns out you can choose whichever era, too. What’s the year you find yourself in? The ’70s. I really like the vibes of that time, the way the music sounds and the way people dress and disco of course. On the other hand, I think Lisbon wasn’t a good place to be in the ’70s, politically.
The Mauskovic Dance Band play Melkweg Cinema at 22:15
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THE MAUSKOVIC DANCE BAND
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SEVDALIZA
PHOTO - ES S AY
SEVDALIZA
PHOTOGRAPHED BY Z A H R A RE I J S I N RO T T E RD A M 19
PHOTO-ESSAY It’s easy to only perceive the surface of Sevdaliza; her striking features, sultry vocals, confident aura and disciplined figure. But these are only the beginning. Her work delves, layer by layer, under her skin, understanding who she is, her unconscious motivations, hidden desires and urges. The hidden textures of relationships. The intimacy of her productions have taken us on journeys that unveiled an unpredictable tragedy within a marriage, landed us in the centre of a hyperreal future – masks of her face scattered across the floor – and addressed a consumerist culture that distorts us into a robotic routine. Let your perception sink deeper into these beautifully evocative photos captured by Zahra Reijs.
Introduction by Jo Kalinowska Special thanks to Maison the Faux for the clothing 20
SEVDALIZA
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INTERVIEW
SMIB Interview by Roxy Merrell Photo shot by Gilleam Trapenberg in Amsterdam
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SMIB Fav. Dutch act? Lo-Fe Le-Vi. It’s like, chill indie rock. And these young guys Beast Boys. It’s shit to turn up to.
Back when the first signs of summer were upon us, we spent a sunny afternoon at a funfair with GRGY and KC from Amsterdam collective extraordinaire SMIB. Six months to date, GRGY, KC and Tads Thots are lined up for our L.A.N. Party. We knew ultra-ambitious GRGY would be knee-deep in tons of new endeavours, so we called him up to find out what’s been happening since we last spoke.
Favourite food? Ramen. It’s always Ramen. This place Taka, near the Nieuwmarkt. It doesn’t even have a name I think. The guy’s name is Taka. Japan <3 I’ve been buying more Japanese manga books. My Japanese is not good. I can’t speak for shit. But I can write some bad stuff down to insult you if you like. No thanks.
Hey GRGY! In our summer issue, we described SMIB as pretty much synonymous with genre defiance and enterprise. What new projects have you launched? Releasing BAKUHATSU EP Mixtape. Our TNOxSMIB Beach fest. Pop-up show on Reguliersdwars in October. It was amazing. Like a listening party, cool hang out, selling SMIB clothes and other brands.
‘I got a MacBook. It’s NICE’
Best anecdote? Our TNOxSMIB festival was so good that I even stopped smoking weed.
Icon? Famous Dex. He seems cool. Makes cool music. Hashtag? #OMG #tbt #fail #bb3
Latest obsession? Uhm... I don’t want to tell you. [Silence] But it’s nothing weird! I got a MacBook. It’s NICE.
Cover boy experience? Awkward. People recognize me.
World domination plan? Yeah I guess. Get this shit as big as possible, by making cool stuff.
Last words? I’m excited about life and everyone should be.
What’s the next step? The end of Bummy Boys trilogy, Bummy Boys III. SMIB play Melkweg Oude Zaal at 22:15
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SUBBACULTCHA & MELKWEG EXPO PRESENT:
1 – 30 December 2016
L.A.N. EXHIBITION Opening: 1 December – 19:00 Melkweg Expo – Marnixstraat 409 27
L.A.N. PARTY SPECIAL Melkweg Expo and Subbacultcha are both platforms for emerging talent, development and innovation. Ahead of L.A.N. (Local Area Network) Party on 23 December in the Melkweg, Subbacultcha and Melkweg Expo present L.A.N. Exhibition. This exhibition will showcase a selection of photographs of local acts and organizations that have been featured in Subbacultcha magazine in the past two years. A tribute to the local photographers and musicians active in the varied music scenes thriving throughout the Netherlands.
The exhibition features: Wessel Baarda (Red Light Radio), Verena Blok (The Mauskovic Dance Band), Iris Duvekot (Meduse Magiq), Maurice van Es (Red Light Radio), Zahra Reijs (Sevdaliza), Eva Reinalda (Iguana Death Cult), Annabel van Royen (Waterlelyck), Gilleam Trapenberg (Torus & SMIB) and Isolde Woudstra (The Homesick & Idiott Smith)
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L.A.N. EXHIBITION
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COLOPHON Subbacultcha L.A.N. Party Special, December 2016 Editors in chief: Leon Caren and Bas Morsch Editor: Roxy Merrell Art director: Tjade Bouma Advertising and partnerships: Loes Verputten (loes@subbacultcha.nl) Copy editor: Brittany McGillivray Programming: Keimpe Koldijk and Anna Veenstra Contributing writers: Laura Bonne Maija Jussila Jo Kalinowska Roxy Merrell Derek Robertson Contributing photographers: Verena Blok Zahra Reijs Gilleam Trapenberg Isolde Woudstra Printer: Drukkerij GEWADRUPO, Arendonk, Belgium Distribution: Yacine Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;diaye (yacine@subbacultcha.nl) Thanks to: all our supporters who made this L.A.N. Party Special possible Š photographers, artists, authors, Subbacultcha quarterly magazine, Amsterdam, December 2016
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