“Karnawał” is one of the latest songs by the Podlasie duo Sw@da x Niczos. The song premiered in late August during the multicultural Barn+Field festival in Bielsk Podlaski, right inside a barn, with no stage or barriers between the musicians and the audience. The video perfectly captures the atmosphere among the crowd: “Everyone was on the same wavelength,” participants recall.
The duo from the Polish-Belarusian border region use the Podlasie dialect in their tracks. And not only the dialect: singer Nika Yurchuk, together with Wiktor Szczygieł, a producer with Colombian roots, create Podlasie bounce — mixing contemporary electronic music with the distinctive character of Podlasie.
Belarusian performers also came to the festival: Mandzik and the men’s traditional singing group “Kasary.”
The Belarusian “Kasary” and the Podlasie group Sw@da x Niczos joined forces in a format reminiscent of traditional evening gatherings. The result of the joint experiment was exceptionally colorful: “Kasary” performed the traditional feast song “Oy, Da Sontse” to the powerful Reese bass of the Podlasie musicians.
The Barn+Field festival has been held for three consecutive years. Its main distinguishing feature is its bold combination of electronic and rock music with authentic traditional motifs.
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