Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

Laibach to be first foreign band to perform in North Korea

by

LJUBLJANA Jul 16, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
No Image
by Jul 16, 2015 12:00 am
The Slovenian band Laibach will bring foreign contemporary pop to North Korea when it tours the secretive country next month, which also will be the first ever foreign band of its kind to perform in the country, the band's record label said on Wednesday.

Laibach will play two concerts in Pyongyang in front of some 2,000 people in a tour organised by the Norwegian cultural activist Morten Traavik, who has been collaborating with North Korean artists for the past three years, London-based Mute said. "In August 2015, Laibach will become the first ever band of its kind to perform in the secretive country of North Korea, a reclusive garrison state as well-known for its military marches, mass gymnastics and hymns to the Great Leader, as for its defiant resistance to Western popular culture," Mute said in a statement. Laibach, in an emailed response to questions submitted by Reuters, said: "The idea to perform in North Korea was put in front of us by Norwegian cultural activist Morten Traavik." "He believes that Laibach is what Koreans need at the moment and that North Korea is what Laibach need. We gladly agreed," the band said.

On his website, Traavik is described as a Norwegian director and artist "working across a wide spectrum of artistic genres and international borders". "He is also renowned for a series of controversial collaborations with North Korean artists and cultural authorities, as well as being an authorized cultural affairs liaison for that country," the website says.

Traavik told Reuters in a telephone interview that it had taken almost a year to get permission from North Korea for the concerts.

He said that Laibach, famous for performing in military uniforms at the start of their career, would perform in specially made costumes in Korean style. "We want the audience to think for themselves," he said.

North Korea has from time to time opened its borders to foreign performers. In 2008 the New York Philharmonic Orchestra performed there while in 2014 U.S. basketballer Dennis Rodman visited with a squad of basketball players.

Laibach, formed in 1980 when Slovenia was still a part of the former communist Yugoslavia, was active in a cultural movement against political repression which helped move Slovenia to independence in 1991. Their music features loud percussion sound, pounding rhythms and roaring vocals.
About the author
Research Associate at Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA) at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Jul 16, 2015 10:48 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    arts
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    Magical sights as crocus bloom on Turkey's Western Black Sea plateaus dazzle visitors
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021