Music
Four rounds, a whole lot of creative musicianship and plenty of surprises! It’ll take that, and more, to claim victory at Red Bull SoundClash.
Pablo Picasso said it best: “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
To succeed at a Red Bull SoundClash, you’ve got to work the system if you want to blow the crowd’s collective mind.
Each battle of the event's multiple rounds are a perfectly conceived test of abilities to plan, plot and sow surprises in an effort to get the crowd to raise the roof. Only the most inventive and entertaining will reign supreme, so it’s vital to know and understand the rules.
In an event where the audience decides the winner, entrants will need to smash each challenge if they hope to get the biggest crowd reaction at the end of each round and max out that decibel meter.
The warm up
To kick off the event and get the crowd ready for the spectacle that’s to come, both artists perform some of their biggest hits to make sure everyone is moving and in full voice. Guaranteed to entertain - this round is just the tip of the iceberg of what’s in store for the rest of the show!
Round 1 – The cover
Style and substance are the main objectives in the opening round as both competing acts perform the same song in their own inimitable fashion. Past remakes have included a hard rock version of Rihanna’s Man Down, a high-energy pop rehash of The Clash’s Should I Stay or Should I Go and a rap/electro reimagining of Nena’s 99 Red Balloons, so inventiveness from the opening round is key.
Round 2 – The takeover
Here’s a solid-gold opportunity to throw shade at the opponent as the second round sees both acts perform versions of their rival’s own songs. One side starts and, at the midway point, their adversary takes over in their own style. The possibility of outstripping the original is tantalizing. “It’s a creative friendly fire between two comrades, two groups who mutually admire and respect one another,” says one-time competitor Questlove of The Roots.
Round 3 – The clash
The third round sounds simple – each side must perform three of their own songs – but there’s a twist! Each track must be played in a comfort zone-stretching style far removed from the artists’ usual sound. Expect everything from reggae to funk and electro to country as competitors take their best-known tracks to parts unknown. The biggest cheer goes to the most creative use of genre. As former participants Ghostland Observatory say: “It’s a very exciting opportunity for us to twist up some of our original material.”
Round 4 – The wildcard
This is where the competition goes truly wild. Challengers vie for the most noise by pulling everything out of the bag, including some very special guest appearances. It’s an opportunity to go out with a bang and really subvert expectations. As Red Bull SoundClash Pakistan (2018) surprise star Ahmed Jahanzeb says: “When I walked onto the stage, it was a moment when everybody was shocked. It’s not a small thing, keeping a surprise from the audience and pulling it off successfully!”
The finale
Once the final note has been played, it’s up to the crowd to decide who will reign victorious. Only the act with the most musical versatility, showmanship and inventiveness will raise the roof and be crowned champions!