Socks;SportSocks

Somewhere between discomfort and rock ‘n’ roll, between virtuosity and amateurism, between disarming honesty and irony, you’ll find the Rotterdam-based Socks;SportsSocks. With a contemporary DIY ethos, the band not only makes music, but also creates their own artwork and music videos.

After two EPs and performances at Motel Mozaïque, Grasnapolsky and Paradiso, it was time for their first full-length album, *Ironic Songs for a Sincere Generation*, which oscillates between cheerful, jangly pop and deeply depressing ballads. The most talked-about theme on the album is money – or, more specifically, the lack of it.

But fortunately, it’s also about death, giving up on laughter, and the fact that everything always stays the same and nothing ever changes. The album was eventually recorded in four different studios, after the band’s original studio went up in flames in 2023. By sharing this information, they hope to win the listener’s sympathy and thus put an end to their lack of money.

Tzara the Machine

Venezuelan born Tzara the Machine, one of Amsterdam’s most distinct voices, writes peaceful, playful and otherworldly universes as a protest to the violent and convoluted social reality of Venezuela.

Since moving to Amsterdam in 2020, Venezuelan singer-songwriter and producer Francisco Garrido has quickly established himself as one of the rising voices of his generation. Known for his unique approach to composition, characterized by great imagination— weaving sweet, flowing melodies with fresh harmonies—paired with unconventional production that creates a deeply textured and colorfully melancholic sound.

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Björk, Arca, and Animal Collective, Tzara creates a fresh, organic sound by mixing sampled acoustic instruments with electronic elements.