The Ultimate Guide to the Hungarian Music Scene – 48 Bands and Musicians You Need to Hear

Hungarian Music around the Turn of the Millenium – The 00s

Péterfy Bori

Our pick: Téged Nem (released 2009)

Because: Her voice is so damn sexy, the video is great (miniature trains!) and the song is about growing stronger after a relationship.

Genre:  rock / pop

Years active: 1993 – present

Summary: Although she’s almost 50 already, Bori rocks every show and every stage. A super badass woman with a great style – both in music and appearance.

See more: youtube, facebook, homepage

Animal Cannibals

Our pick: Budapest Nyáron (released 2009)

Because: It’s a real feel-good Budapest summer anthem. And the video won the Hip Hop Hungary Music Awards of 2009.

Genre:  hip-hop/rap

Years active: 1989 – present

Summary: One of the most influential Hungarian rap-band with a positive old school attitude and a music style which has elements of funk and jazz.

See more: youtube, facebook, homepage

Ocho Macho

Our pick: Jó nekem (released 2008)

Because: It’s a beautifully sad song about total hopelessness.

Genre: reggae, ska, latin, punk

Years active: 2003 – present

Summary: Ocho Macho invented their own “huppogás”-style by mixing elements of reggae, ska, latin and punk. On top of that they are mixing Hungarian, Spanish and English in their lyrics and spread positives vibes with often melancholic lyrics.

See more: youtube, facebook, homepage

Kaukázus

Our pick: Tartós Béke (released 2008)

Because: We love cycling and it’s a great song about the dangers of climate change.

Genre: alternative rock

Years active: 2002 – 2010, 2013 – present

Summary: With their music Kaukázus want to make the world a better place and encourage people to think about changing the world around them. Their latest album can be downloaded for free from their homepage.

See more: youtube, facebook, homepage

Budapest Bár

Our pick: Szívemben bomba van (released 2007)

Because: It’s so iconic that whenever you will name the title, everyone will have the melody in their heads.

Genre: gypsy pop

Years active: 2007 – present

Summary:  Hungarian all star band (featuring musical icon Kiss Tibi from Quimby) mixing elements of pop, jazz, bossa nova, chanson, tango and folk creating a unique and very interesting kind of gypsy world music.

See more: youtube, facebook, homepage

Kistehén (or Kistehén Tánczenekar)

Our pick: Virágok A Réten (released 2006)

Because: It’s a great sample of the alternative folk-style of this band and will put you in a bucolic mood instantly.

Genre: alternative worldmusic, underground folk

Years active: 2002 – present

Summary: Kind of modern world music by mixing folk, gypsy, balkan, rock, ska, dance music in their best proportions.

See more: youtube, facebook, homepage

30Y

Our pick: Bogózd ki (released 2006)

Because: It’s about love, one night stands and not knowing what you want.

Genre: alternative rock

Years active: 2000 – present

Summary: Just imagine Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers playing songs of Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam, Muse, Radiohead and Blur on instruments and sound settings of Queens of the Stone Age, U2, Depeche Mode and The Cardigans.

See more: youtube, facebook, homepage

Heaven Street Seven (sometimes HS7)

Our pick: Tudom, hogy szeretsz titokban (released 2006)

Because: It will drag you down for days and will make your blood and heart freeze.

Genre:  alternative rock, indie rock

Years active: 1995-2015

Summary: HS7’s music style was initially influenced by the brit-pop boom, but gained a dynamic, complex, and subversive beauty over the years.

See more: youtube, facebook, homepage

Vad Fruttik

Our pick: Lehetek én is (released 2006)

Because: Slow setup with a great catharsis. Plus we like the colour-palette of the video.

Genre:  alternative rock

Years active: 1996 – present

Summary: Alternative mainstream with an interesting style somewhere in between jazz, rock, blues, dance song, easy listening, and electro.

See more: youtube, facebook, homepage

Quimby

Our pick: Magam adom (released 2005)

Because: If you think this is a love song, think twice. This song is about fighting addiction (and losing) and about the darkest and weakest sides of the human nature.

Genre:  rock, alternative rock

Years active: 1991 – present

Summary: With over 25 years of band history and 15 albums released, Quimby are one of the most popular alternative rock bands from Hungary. Profound lyrics meet diverse and rich sound with blues, jazz, pop, funk and strong rock elements.

See more: youtube, facebook, homepage

Alvin és a Mókusok

Our pick: Mikor a földön véget ér az élet  (released 2005)

Because: It depicts the fucked-upness of the world in a really witty way.

Genre: punk-rock

Years active: 1993 – present

Summary: After 25 years and 17 released albums the popularity of Alvin és a Mókusok (Alvin and the Chipmunks) is unbroken. In the ranks of their audience, besides today’s teenagers, many teenagers of ten and twenty years ago can be found. Us included!

See more: youtube, facebook, homepage

Yonderboi

Our pick: Before You Snap  (released 2005)

Because: It’s as dark, gloomy and intense as it gets.

Genre: electronic, trip-hop, chillout

Years active: 1998 – present

Summary:  Yonderboi is a true artist (besides music he also does visuals) and his three albums are actually a trilogy of beautiful melodies, various styles and a great and often very gloomy atmosphere.

See more: facebook, homepage

Bëlga

Our pick: Az a baj (released 2004)

Because: You’ll learn that you’ll never satisfy everyone. Or even anyone.

Genre: hip-hop/rap, rap-rock

Years active: 1998 – present

Summary: Parody, ironic lyrics and hilarious wordplays are some of the trademarks of Bëlga. The topics range from social criticism to simple, everyday problems.

See more: youtube, facebook, homepage

Tankcsapda

Our pick: Adjon az Ég (released 2003)

Because: It’s an awesome criticism of society.

Genre:  hard rock, punk rock, heavy metal

Years active: 1989 – present

Summary: To the early punk rock style, more and more hard rock and heavy metal sound was gradually added over the years. One of the most important features and reasons for their popularity are the unique lyrics. Tankcsapda are an iconic band and definitely made some heads bang in the early 00s.

See more: youtube, facebook, homepage

Kaláka

Our pick: Akarsz-e Játszani? (released 2003)

Because: It’s a beautiful musical version of a great poem written by a remarkable poet. Akarsz-e Játszani? (Do you want to play with me?) is originally a poem from Dezső Kosztolányi written in 1916.

Genre:  folk

Years active: 1969 – today

Summary: Kaláka is a band for everyone – adults and children alike and this for generations. What we love about them most is how they set amazing classical poems to music and thus approach them in a new, refreshing way.

See more: wikipedia

Hiperkarma

Our pick: Zöldpardon (released 2000)

Because: It was the anthem of a whole generation. Beautiful lyrics about youth, sex, drugs and amusement.

Genre: alternative rock/pop

Years active: 2000–2007; 2011; 2014 – present

Summary: Alternative rock with often profound and poetical lyrics

See more: youtube, facebook, homepage

Next Page – Hungarian Music after the Transition – The 90s

Overview:

• The Latest Bests of the Hungarian Music Scene – The 10s
• Hungarian Music around the Turn of the Millenium – The 00s
• Hungarian Music after the Transition – The 90s
• Hungarian Music during Late Socialism – The 80s
• Hungarian Music During the Communist Regime and Hippie Times: The 70s and 60s
• Classical Hungarian Music: Before 1945