From the basement in Shutka to Sziget and Roskilde

MK TR GR

Interview with Shutka Roma Rap

It was a cold autumn evening in the predominantly Romani community of Shutka in Skopje. We drove down the muddy alleys and got to the mosque where Fet Joe met us. He led us past a line of colorful houses and into a basement. Our senses were immediately captivated by cheerful Romani melodies. Sounds of the trumpet, saxophone, tarabuka, violin accompanied by strong hip-hop rhymes filled the room. The cheerful Shutka Roma Rap members were rehearsing for their upcoming concerts in Skopje. Mendo (saxophone and clarinet), Dade (bass guitar), Aynur (trumpet), Meko (percussions), Turkan (tarabuka) and rappers Fet Joe, Al-Alion, K1, Nusret, Mali and Taki were happy to tell their musical story. They have already released an album “I Sutka Tani Mo Than” (“Shutka, my birthplace”) and many concerts round Europe. They take great pride in being part of two big music festivals “Sziget” in Hungary and “Roskilde” in Denmark and have a modest desire of conquering the world with their original music.