Bea Palya's I'll Be Your Plaything

For decades, the state-run music industry in Hungary has artificially isolated musical worlds. I'll Be Your Plaything is a concept album comprising at times drastically re-imagined cover versions of Hungary's most popular hits from the socialist era. The album exemplifies how rich and appealing synthesis of sounds and traditions can be concocted when folk, classically trained, rock and jazz musical artists collaborate. Along with this freedom to blend and synthesize, the album opens up some long overdue space for women; playing with personas, voices and singing styles, Palya reflects on issues of femininity, maternity, sexuality, and coupledom across generations.