"Something Out of A David Lynch Film" - Why Artists Love Playing Unsound

From 7-12 October, Unsound returns to Kraków's Hotel Forum with another boundary-pushing lineup.

The first edition of Unsound ended with artists getting chucked out of a club for playing music that was 'too weird' for regular patrons. The festival's uncompromising approach to curation has built a reputation for platforming innovative, experimental performances rarely heard elsewhere. Now in its 22nd year, Unsound Krakow has become one of Europe's most revered electronic music festivals.

"Krakow has a deep history with pioneering electronic music."

This year, inspired by the theme 'WEB', referring 'to the building of cultural networks across borders, zones and scenes', the lineup features some of the most exciting artists from experimental music’s outer edges.

We caught up with several artists performing at the festival this year, including Moin drummer Valentina Magaletti, 2k88 and Rainy Miller – commissioned by Unsound to collaborate together with south London artist Lauren Duffus and the multifaceted Bianca Scout – avant-garde producer Kavari, Polish artist paszka and dub techno expert Actress, about what makes Unsound stand out in today's saturated festival landscape.

Why is Unsound important for electronic music?

Valentina Magaletti: "Unsound pushes the culture forward, giving space to emerging and established artists alike. Music here can be challenging, emotional, even confrontational, and that’s what keeps the scene evolving. It challenges both artists and audiences to go beyond their comfort zones. Every performance and installation feels designed to push expectations, which is rare.”

2k88: "People come here from all over the world, and some of the most interesting names in electronic and experimental music perform. As a country with a heavy history and certain complexes, we used to look at the West with envy, where this kind of culture was simply part of everyday life."

KAVARI: "It’s one of the only major festivals giving this level of care to the underground and fringe electronic artists. Pretty much every electronic artist I love has played here at some point. It’s cool to be a part of that."

paska: "On the one hand, Unsound brings in some already established, important artists that people want to hear live, but on the other, and in my view more importantly, the festival is helpful in bringing attention to a lot of emerging artists from Poland and around the world. It can serve a role in canonising emerging artists, or at least bring them to a broader audience."

What sets Unsound apart from other festivals?

KAVARI: "Unsound has its ear close to the ground at all times. The curation of the line ups and the constant rotation of fresh talented artists really defines Unsound to me."

Rainy Miller: "It’s explorative of the forefront, whilst still taking risks on the creation of new works. I think that ability to let artists chase themselves down the rabbit hole is a really important thing for artistic development, and to have a stage for that is really something special."

Actress: "It's conceptually authentic."

Slikback: "The crowd that comes is unmatched. Their love for music and energy they give is really cool to see. Also the festival’s selection of artists and the arrangement of sets is great. Each day and night experience is really well thought through and has a really satisfying flow."

2k88: "The attention to detail, the yearly themes, the atmosphere, the search for unusual concert spaces."

paszka: "I love that it has a DIY character but focuses heavily on the quality of sound."

"Hotel Forum is an iconic brutalist building, it feels like something out of a Lynch movie"

What makes the location of Unsound special?

Valentina Magaletti: "Kraków has a unique atmosphere—its history, architecture, and mix of old and new energy make performances feel alive. Venues like churches, factories, and underground spaces completely change how the music hits you."

Actress: "Krakow? Great city. One of the first cities I performed in."

2k88: "Hotel Forum. Luckily, Unsound has returned there. It’s an iconic brutalist building, one of the most striking I’ve ever seen. Inside, it sometimes feels like something out of a Lynch movie, especially with the lights and the ever-present smoke. Without Forum, Unsound always lost something."

KAVARI: "Krakow has a deep history with pioneering electronic music. A lot of early avant-garde work came out of there in the 70s. Along with a club and rave scene that’s renowned across the world. A perfect spot for such an event to keep pushing the boundaries."

Rainy Miller: "It's maybe me romanticising things that I’ve only ever seen from a far, but that Eastern European influence on architecture, and even the weather, just lends to the chasms of sound that emanate from the festival."

Slikback: "The Hotel Forum has a brutalist style that I really love and feel works great for this kind of music. It has such a uniquely cool vibe from the moment you see the building from the exterior, to when you enter and explore each room and the sets being played."

What's your favourite memory from Unsound?

Valentina Magaletti: "I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve played here, but I clearly remember performing with Moin in 2010. Even then, the audience and the space felt incredible. Every act I’ve seen gives their absolute best, like the festival itself pushes everyone further. Not many places have that energy."

Actress: "I have quite a fragmented memory in general when it comes to the recall of events, but I do remember being high with Dean Blunt one night and trying to cross a busy highway. Still here to tell the story."

Slikback: "The first set I played at Unsound, I had no idea what to expect as it was my first international show ever but I had heard a lot of great things about the festival. The energy from the crowd was unbelievable and to see how open they were to my music, even the weirdest tunes, surprised me immensely."

2k88: "I remember playing with my previous duo Syny at a special Unsound edition around 2015, when the theme was 'surprise.' We weren’t announced in the lineup, it was a Polish-language project, and I had the feeling most of the audience didn’t speak Polish - while back home we were quite a popular band at the time. So for them it must have been a real surprise to suddenly see a Polish rapper on stage. Still, the atmosphere of the show made a strong impression. We even burned myrrh in a church censer during the set."

Rainy Miller: "I had a really beautiful embrace last year with an audience member, who held a written poem for me as I struggled to get to my feet. I think that was a pretty great marker for how the audience there receive performance and moments that can sometimes need patience."

paszka: "The more I think, the more good memories connected to Unsound I can dig up from my mind. Except for strictly musical memories, I remember hanging out with friends, talking and sharing feelings about the shows. Some of my friends I meet only once a year at Unsound."

Unsound has grown to have editions across the world - from NYC to Osaka - what do you think this says about the global appetite for experimental electronic music?

KAVARI: "I think people are getting bored with the same old stuff in clubs or at festivals. In a world that’s so violently overstimulating, people are looking for a new and better hit."

2k88: "I think it’s more about Unsound’s mission. By becoming a global brand - within this niche - It has earned huge respect and created its own legend. Many times when I’ve toured abroad and people ask about the music scene in Poland, the first thing they mention is Unsound. Many dream of playing here."

Slikback: "The global community is definitely growing as more and more people discover this side of experimental music and fall in love with it. Unsound expanding to the extent it has, and more great artists popping up now more than ever, is a result of this."

Rainy Miller: "The time spans that musicality, art; even just the age of information have to live by are now extremely short, so I think there’s an element of natural resistance to that force feeding of tidbit creativity, and that natural resistance is being born out of a direct opposition to music and art that is sold as entire commodity."

Finally, who are you looking forward to seeing at the festival?

Slikback: "I am really looking forward to seeing The Bug and Warrior queen, B4MBA and Mooki6, Nazar Rabih Beaini and Kavari, who are all amazing and really push sounds in interesting directions."

Rainy Miller: "Mohammed Adam is a great artist who’s just beginning his journey into live music, there’s also the Providenza Ensemble comprised of Puce Mary, Loraine James and Kelman Duran. Purelink are also amazing, Moin, Jim o Rourke which is insane! Billy woods! It’s endless."

2k88: "There are so many. I mostly hope to discover something surprising that I didn’t know before."

Valentina Magaletti: "I’m a huge fan of Maria Bertel, Joan La Barbara, and RP Boo. I’ll catch as many sets as I can, though it’s always hectic when we’re performing. Part of the thrill is discovering performances that surprise you."

Actress: "I tend to follow my ear."

paska: "I'm looking forward to NEW YORK's show. Yvu might also be interesting. I would also love to hear KAVARI and DJ Lycox's set."

Tickets for Unsound are available to purchase here.