OFFBEAT TM: George Staicu
Image and Sound
Vocea umană în muzica experimentală
— listening
The human voice is explored in experimental music as a complex sonic material, detached from traditional rules, text, or melody. Artists become researchers of their own bodies, transforming breathing, whispering, imperfections, and cultural memory into means of expression. The voice is often altered through technology, distorted, or expanded into choirs, forging a new sonic identity. This approach redefines the audience's experience, inviting them to listen to pure sound beyond predictable musical structures.
(George Staicu) aka Rogvaiv is a promoter, DJ, and organizer of unconventional events in Oradea and Budapest. Since around 2005–2006, he is the founder of Moszkva Cafe – a crucible for the live, free-improvised scene in 2010s in Romania. In 2019, he opened the first independent record shop in Oradea, Lazy Hour Store – an unofficial provider of great obscurities. He travels between imaginary worlds with great spiritual tunes, from exotic sounds to noise, amoeba to free jazz, and funk to the obscure.
Part of The Dissolution of Criteria series of listening sessions, curated by Micleușanu Mitoș in the frame of OFFBEAT. Produced by Image and Sound and co-funded by AFCN.
OFFBEAT is an open initiative for dialogue and collaboration centered on archives and collectors of musical obscurities, sound, and experimentation.
Focusing on the collector's roles within the musical ecosystem, the program examines the impact of private collections, labels, record fairs and shops, research projects, and dedicated platforms. Specific methodologies such as formats, collecting practices, documentation, analysis, dissemination and music production are also considered. Structured into three series of listening sessions, lectures, talks, and related events, the program brings together diggers, selectors, DJs, musicians, record label founders, radio broadcasters, sound curators, etc. Additionally, it offers free public access to an independent library in Bucharest, featuring a collection of rare books, music, and films in both analog and digital formats.
Photo by Petre Fall, courtesy of Image and Sound