Alfa Mist (GB)
Alfa Mist started out as a producer focused mainly on hip-hop and grime. But gradually he started to teach himself piano and became engrossed in the world of jazz and film soundtracks. The combination of these musical worlds has given rise to his original sound, which combines melancholic, fluffy jazz with alternative hip-hop and soul.
Since the release of his debut album Antiphon in 2017, Alpha has established himself as one of the UK’s most distinctive musical voices. He’s collaborated with musicians such as Tom Misch and Jordan Rakei, drummer Richard Spaven, producer Lester Duval and singer Emmavie. Alpha doesn’t fit and probably doesn’t want to fit into any particular genre, as his music includes everything from hip-hop beats to producing for artists such as rapper Loyle Carner, composing neo-classical pieces for the London Contemporary Orchestra, and reworking compositions by composer Ólafur Arnalds.
He released his latest album, Bring Backs, in 2021 and currently runs his own label, Sekito.
Acid Arab (FR)
Ten years ago, a band like no other emerged from the Parisian transcultural cauldron. French-Algerian collective Acid Arab was born when Pierre-Yves Casanova, Nicolas Borne, Hervé Carvalho, Guido Minisky, and Kenzi Bourras met. With their intoxicating blend of edgy Western electronic music with Eastern sounds and vocals, they gradually managed to win over and enchant audiences at festivals and clubs around the world. And how could they not, when they are perhaps the only ones of their genre? In their own words, their main goal is to create a space for Arabic culture in the world of contemporary electronica. After releasing a few EPs on the Versatile label, they signed with Crammed Discs and released their great debut album “Musique de France” in 2016 followed by “Jdid” in 2019. In their relatively short time, Acid Arab have played hundreds of shows in more than fifty countries on four continents. Earlier this year, they released their long-awaited third album ” ٣ (Trois)”, which they will also bring to Mladí ladí FEST.
MonoNeon (US)
The American bassist Dywane Thomas Jr. aka MonoNeon is unmissable with his eccentric image and unmistakable music, for which critics have coined the term avant-funk. In October he is finally coming to Prague with his solo project! The Memphis native and one of Prince’s last collaborators has a Grammy Award for his participation in rapper Nas’ King’s Disease album, and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers himself has called him the best of bassists. One of his most recent singles, Quilted!, featured a guest appearance by the King of Funk, George Clinton. A couple of weeks ago, he checked in with a great album, Jelly Belly Dirty Somebody. You just need to see this live!
Yarah Bravo (SE/DE)
RnB/hip hop songwriter and singer Yarah Bravo grew up in Sweden as a child of freedom fighters. Once she was old enough, she moved to NYC, then to London, and finally to Berlin. Prior to her solo career, she was part of the One Self project on the Ninja Tune label. Yarah has collaborated and shared the stage with artists such as Talib Kweli, Manu Chao, Grand Master Flash, Mos Def, De La Soul, and more. And if that’s not enough for you, the BBC once wrote about her that on her lips a shopping list would sound deep and heartfelt.
Noah Slee (NZ/DE)
Versatile New Zealand talent Noah Slee is not only a musician and composer but also a producer, visual artist, and director. His music crosses all sorts of genre boundaries, mixing traditional soul influences with electronic production, and incorporating elements from future beats to progressive RnB. Since moving from Auckland to Berlin in 2015 he has collaborated with artists such as Jordan Rakei and Shiloh Dynasty. Check out his Czech Republic premiere, before it was cool!
ECHT! (BE)
Belgians ECHT! are all rooted in jazz and mix electronic and hip-hop into their music. But it’s all live, using instruments and the human element. ECHT! are known for their explosive live shows, as evidenced by the fact that our programmers booked them for the Mladí ladí fest after seeing them play at the Eurosonic showcase.
During 2020, the band won the “Fresh on the Scene” award from Red Bull Elektropedia and is gradually building a growing reputation across Europe. Fun fact! No one in the band is originally from Brussels. Bassist Federico Pecoraro is from Italy, keyboardist Dorian Dumont is from France and drummer Martin Méreau and guitarist Florent Jeunieaux are from Mons, Belgium. Interesting, isn’t it? Fun fact!
Maria Chiara Argirò (IT/GB)
Maria Chiara Argirò grew up listening to the music of Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Björk, who even opened for her indie band These New Puritans. Maria’s solo work is a fragile realm made up of synths, samples, a streamlined voice, and an electronic beat. It’s indescribable… You have to hear it!
Metastavy (CZ)
Metastavy. That’s when the other guy talks. The voice inside. Listen in? Or silence it? Gentle lyrics about normal things, where even a sweater can become a metaphor, underlined by a bass line that weaves between drums. It’s all drenched in keyboard and synth tones. A playful combination of neo-soul and lo-fi hip-hop with a pop twist. The group consists of Anna Hokesova, Nodin Péci, Ashley Abrman, and Marek Pach – four people from three different countries who met in Prague and released their first album When I Grow Up in 2019 in the original line-up with Ursula Sereghy, with which they were nominated for the Vinyl Award in the Discovery of the Year category.
Aid Kid DJ set (CZ)
The darling of all Prague alt parties and a great producer Aid Kid probably doesn’t need much introduction. However… Behind the pseudonym Aid Kid hides musician, producer, and DJ Ondra Mikula. After the release of his first two singles, he became a rising star of the Prague electronic scene. He was a guitarist in the band Děti mezi reprákama and a part of the creative core of the band Zvíře jménem Podzim. He is also involved in stage and film music and, together with composer and producer Pjoni, is the winner of the Czech Lion Award for the music for the film Arvéd. He will perform an original DJ set at Mladí ladí FEST.
Meowlau x Val (SK)
The Slovak duo Meowlau X Val combine drum’n’bass with pop and their songwriting and sound sounds like a world class production. But their biggest strength is in live shows, which they showed at this year’s Pohoda Festival and now they’ll convince us at Mladí tuní fest 2023!