Bea Palya's I'll Be Your Plaything

For decades the state-run music industry in Hungary has artificially isolated musical worlds. The 2010 album <i>I'll Be Your Plaything </i>is a concept album comprising at times drastically re-imagined cover versions of Hungary's most popular hits from the socialist era. As such it is a testament to music as a medium's aptness to reflect on public and personal pasts. The album moreover 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.