Against the backdrop of Slovakia’s terrifying socio-political turmoil, this documentary radio piece explores Bratislava’s vibrant and courageous independent music and cultural scene and some of the community spaces in which it develops. Now they are facing their biggest challenge, to keep it alive and kicking.

We’ve been there (for the bad parts mostly), and we are still stuck there.

From Skopje to Bratislava, with love.

Recorded and edited by Gjorgji Janevski (summer 2024)
Additional interviews and recordings by Vid Bešter (Radio Študent)

Voices: Jonáš Gruska, Matúš Kobolka, Adela Mede, Poli, Daniel Vadas, Janneke Van Der Putten, Oliver from the garages, Olja Triaška Stefanović, Rozalia Vlaskova, Tomaš Hučko.

Music excerpts from Adela Mede, Bolka, Jonáš Gruska, Fissures, Patrick Balthrop, Rrrr

The publication of this article is part of PERSPECTIVES – the new label for independent, constructive, multiperspective journalism. The project PERSPECTIVES is being implemented by seven editorial teams from Central Eastern Europe under the leadership of the Goethe-Institut. The author of this article participated in the PERSPECTIVES Journalists-in-Residence Programme at the Goethe-Institut Bratislava.