For the first time in Romania, rap competes with electro, at Red Bull SoundClash, on May 23, at Romexpo. Connect-R and Șuie Paparude are the artists preparing for the most creative music competition: 2 face-to-face stages, 4 challenging rounds, 1 single winner determined by the audience. Adrian Despot will be the MC of the event, and we will see ZDA again at the DJ booth. Early Bird tickets are available on redbull.ro/soundclash.
With each edition, Red Bull SoundClash surprises more and more with the diversity of artists dueling on the red-blue stages. If until now the indispensable rap fought for supremacy with pop and rock, the 6th edition of the event brings to the fore a new musical genre: electro. Suie Paparude and Connect-R belong to completely different universes from an artistic point of view, from lyrics and message to rhythm and aesthetics: Connect-R – a solo career, hip-hop and pop-dance tracks that harmoniously intertwine with elements of R&B. In contrast, Șuie Paparude, a trio with an experimental approach to electronic music. Their alternative-new-wave style explores complex sonic textures. An even harder musical match is announced, if possible, than in previous editions, with difficult tests, designed to bring out the best in the protagonists on a creative level.
Three decades of music
Founded in 1993 by Mihai (Michi) Câmpineanu and Mihai (Dobrică) Dobre, the band Șuie Paparude brought a new breath through the alternative-new-wave style that brought to Romania a musical product aligned to the club scene outside the borders. Regardless of generation and favorite musical genre, everyone knows at least one song from Șuie Paparude. They have done pioneering work across a whole musical spectrum, from big beat, breakbeat and acid to jungle and drum & bass, and continue to be referential in their sound, more than 30 years on.
The debut in 1995 with the hit “La mare”, from the album “Suie Paparude”, was just the beginning of a fascinating musical journey. In 1997, they released “Salveaža-te”, and the song “Iarba Verde de Acasă” conquered the public through a video spectacularly directed by Tudor Giurgiu. In 2001, the song “Help” was included in the soundtrack of the Hollywood film “Inhabited”. In 2005, they won Best Club Track at the Nights Awards with “For Hearts”. A year later, in 2006, they opened the Depeche Mode concert in Bucharest in front of 40,000 spectators. In 2010 they released the album “E suflet în aparat” and with this release they also brought new sounds. It was also the first time that a Romanian band decided to offer the album for free, which could be downloaded from the band's official website. After the success of the songs “Soundcheck”, “The best day” and “Death of speakers” other releases followed that delighted and delight the public. In 2020, they delighted their fans with the “New Album” and songs with which they captivate the crowds in concerts and festivals, where their music resounds every time in an incredible atmosphere. Today, Șuie Paparude means Michi, Dobrića and Cezar Stănciulescu (Junkyard) and any meeting with them on stage is an experience not to be missed.
Suie Paparude, 30 years of music
“For us, participating in Red Bull SoundClash is a musical challenge. It's an opportunity to explore new styles that we can then make our mark on. We sincerely hope that the audience will be pleasantly surprised. We learned about the event from our colleague Bean, who dueled Vita de Vie in the 3rd edition. I saw that edition on YouTube and was pleasantly surprised by the performance of both bands. I received the proposal with interest, because, as I said, from a musical point of view it is a challenge. We have the opportunity to combine our style with elements of other styles, which we have never approached before”, say the members of Suie Paparude.
Face-to-face, on two stages separated by fans and a decibel meter recording every shout and clap, for the combatants, Red Bull SoundClash is more than just a concert. It is a real challenge that leads them to reinvent themselves during 4 rounds of fire, a tough match played in front of the most demanding jury: the public.
The great duels
ROUND 1: THE COVER – The artists take turns performing the same international hit in their own style.
ROUND 2: THE TAKEOVER – Connect-R starts a song from his personal repertoire, and Șuie Paparude picks it up halfway through and sings it in his own style. Then the roles are reversed, for 4 plays.
ROUND 3: THE CLASH – Artists perform 3 of their own songs in 3 different musical styles.
ROUND 4: THE WILDCARD – The most anticipated test of the duel, where each combatant pulls an ace up his sleeve, that is, throws a surprise guest on stage, which can completely change the dynamics of the final result.
In 2017, at the first Red Bull SoundClash in Romania, CTC beat Carla's Dreams in a sold-out show. In 2018, Grasu XXL won a bloody match against Loredana. In 2019, Vița de Vie drew a stunning draw with Subcarpathia, an absolute first in the history of the global event. In 2022, Irina Rimes and Spike went viral with their electrifying moments, and Spike won by a whisker. At the last edition in Romania, the band Vama and Killa Fonic had an intense musical confrontation, which ended with an incredible score of 397.6 vs. 397.5 for Customs.
For 18 years, Red Bull SoundClash has been bringing fans artistic duels with enormous emotional stakes. The first edition took place in the Netherlands, and since then it has traveled around the world on five continents, in over 50 duels.
Red Bull SoundClash is an event that feels at maximum intensity, especially in the ring, between the 2 stages. Early Bird tickets are available on redbull.ro/soundclash. The minimum age to participate in the event is 18 years.
