Slovak-Hungarian musician Adela Mede explores the interplay between voice and technology with field recordings. She sings in three languages (Slovak, Hungarian and English). Intimate ambient utterances with themes of spiritual growth accompanied by experimental electronics with a wide scope of influences; from minimalism to folklore. She studied popular music at Goldsmiths University, and her debut album ‘Szabadság’ was released on the 25th of February. It received positive reviews in The Wire, The Quietus, Dazed, Full Moon magazine and Foxy Digitalis. In spring 2022, Adela Mede toured Europe alongside Claire Rousay and played several concerts in Slovakia with Ondrej Zajac. Her work was presented at NEXT Festival and she opened for experimental musician Grand River.
FACTS
1. I sing in three languages
2. I love all my neighbours
3. I’m really scared of flying
QUESTIONS
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Interactions that bring joy and hope, and show humanness.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
When I was about 13 we started a school band with some of my classmates and I learned some chords on the guitar. That’s probably when I wrote my first songs. Up until then I only wrote poetry. Then when I was 15 we learned how to use the Sibelius software and that completely changed my life – being able to compose music like that. Then I went onto FL studio very briefly and then Ableton, which has stuck with me until now.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
Never really thought about this, but let’s give it a go:
Nem Arról Hajnalik, Amerről Hajnalott by Muzsikás, Loose by Nelly Furtado, Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares: Ritual by Bulgarian State Television Female Choir, untitled unmastered by Kendrick Lamar, Swim by Caribou
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
I’ve never been, but Marta Forsberg <3
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
The flat plains surrounding the neighbourhood where my parents live. I recorded most of my album there.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
Something with food.
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
Last thing I bought was a compilation called ‘From Ukraine, For Ukraine’ which came out on Standard Deviation.
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
A choir
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
As a performer it was in this 1000 year old church in Prachatice, Czechia and I played right after the legendary Irena and Vojtěch Havlovi who were extremely supportive even though I had really bad performance anxiety. As a spectator all the gigs I’ve seen in LOM space this year, curated by Jakub Juhás.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
It depends. I do a lot of field recording, and recording my voice in different spaces, so I guess I use my zoom for that. But I also have a lot of conversations, or read other’s conversations, listen to a lot of music, read things, talk things through with different people and of course collaborate with artists of all ages and levels. Technology helps consolidate all these things and can often elevate these things.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
Yes I have a sister and she is very supportive, she is on my album Szabadság as well and was an important part of the creative process for it. I consult with her a lot about many creative choices and often is the first person I share anything exciting with. Her and also my cousin (almost sister).
