On May 23, at Romexpo, Șuie Paparude will duel in front of the public with Connect-R, at Red Bull SoundClash, an event now in its sixth edition.
At Red Bull SoundClash, electronic music will duel with rap
“Truth Weekend”: How do you think it will be at Red Bull SoundClash, when Connect-R's audience is also present?
Junkyard: We come with pitchforks, with axes (laughs). We want the concert to go well. I don't think it matters who wins. If we win, we will be happy. If not, we'll be just as pleased.
Is there no such thing as musical arrogance?
Michala: There is, but at the same time I can appreciate the quality of a piece that won or not, or appreciate the audience's decision. At the same time, it may sound cliche, but music will gain from this event. And us, and Connect-R.
Junkyard: If we were two bands with the same style, maybe we would have some rivalry.
Michala: The experience of working on these pieces and everything going on in terms of collaborators are essential things. You discover yourself and those around you. Stay on top.
Did you discover Connect-R's music otherwise through these remixes?
Michi: I think we discovered ourselves more. We can approach things in our own style that we never thought of doing. This is the big win. What we are left with after this challenge enriches us.
From MC to MC
Junkyard, with the song “Atac la persoene”, some people consider you to be one of the best MCs in Romania.
Junkyard: I'm glad it's called that. I've heard this before, but I can't quite figure out how it could be.
How do you think the clash with Connect-R will be? Because he is also considered one of the best MCs in Romania.
Junkyard: Yes it is.
Michala: All the pieces are ready for a week. (no – the interview took place on April 19). On Tuesday we go to rehearsal with the band. Connect-R, when we first met him, told us that he was coming through Martin. The man comes from the hip-hop area, so he is no stranger to underground. He doesn't sing well, but very well, especially songs from the international repertoire, which gives us all the respect. But we go to Red Bull SoundClash for the music. We like this challenge, to make some pieces in a different style. We have a folk piece, which we've never done before (laughs). Just a guitar and vocals. I discovered some things that I didn't necessarily know or that I hadn't brought to the surface.
Junkyard: We managed to adapt the pieces we make in common in the style of Suie Paparude.
Michala: I'm glad that this Red Bull SoundClash gave me the perspective to play some songs for a bigger audience, and to have this yield of making songs again and quickly.
Rap is said to have competitiveness in its DNA. Do you feel it is also a battle of the MCs?
Junkyard: I don't think there is such a competition. I know that's how it is in rap, but I don't feel it. Maybe I'm more of a poet than you want in a rap battle. I haven't participated in rap battles and I don't think I'm talented enough to come up with that many lines on the spot.
Dobrica: We're not going to fight there. We are different musical entities. We are all veterans.
The Clash of Veterans
Șuie Paparude and Connect-R are two musical entities with weight and age born from the underground music of the 90s, who can be proud to still be active in 2024. How do you like the music from this position?
Michala: I still have the joy of making music or things related to music, coming to an interview or doing rehearsals, clips, concerts. I loved the idea for SoundClash so much that I made the tracks in half an hour. Last year we did not have this productivity. Why? Because I didn't feel like it. I didn't feel like doing them.
Dobrica: At SoundClash there is also a purpose for which you do them. The people from Red Bull proposed the idea to us and if we accepted, we will do the work.
Michala: When I know something big is coming up, I want to have something new just for that gig. I've been stuck with this since I was playing at Martin where I couldn't play the same song I played last week. It pissed me off, so I was making new tracks every week. For me, Red Bull SoundClash is something very beautiful musically.
Dobrica: I really like what Michi did. It's a kind of remix that was made of Connect-R's songs, that I think it would be cool to play them, from time to time, in our concerts, because it sounds very Suie. Except, really, they're songs with lyrics done by someone else on a different melodic line. But for someone who doesn't know they're Connect-R tracks, when they hear them on the spot, they'll think they're Suie tracks. At least the instrumentals. But even the voice, because Junkyard took that part very well.
