By Keith Walsh
I just heard from Petar Stojanović  of Slovenia’s electrorock band, KNTRDKSHN, who lives in the city of Brežice. In a smaller country with a population of 1.97 million people, the pandemic in Slovenia is on a smaller scale.

“We have around 500+ infected and one death reported,” he writes. “We have a restriction of movement like you — no hanging out, no bars, no restaurants, no concerts, no fun. Thankfully we closed the borders with Italy soon enough.”

Musicians around the globe have been strongly affected by the cancelling of gigs. Stojanović  says that in the absence of live shows, there are rumors that bands are turning to payola to get exposure on radio stations. “So now the slogan “stay at home” is popular… in Slovenia it’s called #ostanidoma. Payola exists, mainstream artists do this… we will probably also pay to be on air (but shhhhhh)…just kidding… not an option…”

Stojanović  says that the most powerful commercial radio station in Slovenia, Radio1, has coverage of 80 percent of the nation with their different stations. Rumor has it that “that a few of our A-listed rock bands had a meeting with the director of this $#%@ commercial radio…They take bribes directly… it’s like the law doesn’t prohibit this… like there is NO LAW or whatsoever that could stop this… the prices are around 800-1000 Euros it includes putting your single on a top10 list for that week, But first you have to make a single friendly enough for them:)”

A radio friendly single is certainly something KNTRDKSHN can deliver. Their debut album, 2016’s Reframing, treads the fine line between being commercial without compromising artistry. In an email I just received while working on this article, Stojanovič  tells me “we don’t wanna be heard on radio one.” With work on the new album, it sounds like the band will return to a rawer sound.. “Album 2 is in drum recording mode,” he tells me. .”The songs are made with basic drums. Bass lines are 90% done. Guitar lines are 50% done. Vocals and lyrics are around 75%…

There’s a debate here in the U.S. and elsewhere whether music work outside the home is ‘essential’ or not, with bands everywhere losing gigs and practice time. Stojanović  says his work is ongoing in the studio, in Krško., a 12 kilometer drive from his town of Brežice. “Drum recording is in full swing, tomorrow we continue,” he writes. “There will be around 12-15 songs on the new album. It will sound ‘less overproduced’ and a bit more gritty and dirty (appropriate for the time). I tried to turn around my style of writing and now I’m going for a bit more constructivism in lyrics. But totally de-constructed in other senses… a bit more gritty as I said.”

Here’s looking to the new album, even in uncertain times. And here’s hoping for a COVID19 cure and vaccine as soon as possible.

finis