Czeching 2025: Lada + Yasha 96 + Madhouse Express

Along with the concerts of the three nominees in the Radio Wave Czeching 2025 music export project, you can also look forward to special guests* to be announced soon!!!The winner will then perform to an international audience at Europe's biggest showcase festival Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) in Groningen, The Netherlands in January 2026! With the financial support of Radio Wave, they will record a single and a music video or, in cooperation with the Czech export office SoundCzech, receive a coaching session with a leading music business expert.

Madhouse Express
recently celebrated ten years of existence with their biggest club concert to date while maintaining their reputation as one of the most distinctive bands on the Czech psychedelic scene. They draw inspiration from the sound of the 60s and 70s, but instead of blindly following known paths, they carve out their own unique direction. Their music blends mesmerizing keyboard textures, piercing guitar riffs, energetic drums, hazy vocals, and even the mystical theremin.Throughout their career, they have released several songs and music videos, contributed to a film soundtrack, and successfully undergone changes in their lineup. They have two albums to their name –Surreal Meadow(2020) and Something With Space(2023). Their sophomore album pushes the band’s sound towards more intense synthesizers and experimental arrangements, earning comparisons to the early works of Tame Impala and The Black Angels.Performing abroad is nothing new for Madhouse Express –they often play in clubs across Europe but also at festivals throughout the continent.

Lada
is a Prague-based vocal collective dedicated to interpreting Moravian and Slovak folklore. The eleven-member ensemble was formed in 2015, but its essence lies in deep friendships dating back to the mid 90s and experiences gained in a children's choir. Their repertoire consists mainly of love songs and ballads.The members of Lada carefully select songs from specific regions and interpret them with great respect for local traditions. Their performances feature both the majestic polyphony of central Slovakia and the raw, archaic solo singing styles of southeastern Moravia. The ensemble performs a cappella as well as accompanied by violin, viola, double bass, accordion, and occasionally even a cimbalom. Outside of their own concerts, Lada frequently collaborates with artists from different genres of music, theater, visual arts, and literature. In December 2023, they released their debut album Všelijake kvety.So far they have limited experience performing abroad, as their activities are primarily focused on the Czech scene, where they participate in a wide range of cultural events.

Yasha 96
is the indie-pop project of Berlin-based musician Jáchym Kovář, drawing inspiration from the singer-songwriter scene of the 90s. He uniquely blends its nostalgic vibes with contemporary influences, incorporating a modern take on post-punk into his music. „Delicate and danceable at the same time“ –this is how his sound could be described.His debut album, The Boy Who Came Here From The Dust, was named one of the best indie-pop albums of 2021 by the music show Reflektor. Yasha’s second album, FILIP(2023), was not only shortlisted for the Czech Music Academy Awards (Anděl) as Discovery of the Year but also received nominations for the Czech Music Critics’ Awards (Apollo) in two categories –Album of the Year and Single of the Year.Yasha’s long-term stay in Berlin naturally led him to international stages. He often performs in Germany, but has also performed at the Waves Vienna showcase festival and engaged in successful international collaborations.