The Stroj
The name The Stroy comes from the Slovenian word ‘stroj’ which means ‘machine’. Pronounced together with ‘the’, sounds as ‘destroy’. The Stroy is a pun with two meanings: machine and destruction.
The Stroy began in 1997, when a group of percussionists, craftsmen, and artists from Laško, Slovenia, first developed the idea of a huge mechanical sound machine that would sound like an articulated noise orchestra.
The Stroy combines powerful and complex rhythms with sounds from selfmade instruments together with visual effects. Their music has a unique and futuristic sound. It is a mixture of industrial, techno, rock, ethnic and jazz. They perform using heavy, rusty and strange looking instruments and ‘noisers’. The sound of the machine is upgraded with electronic effects and sound manipulations.
Current members
- Primož Oberžan – Loyz
- Aleksij Kobal - Alex Contrain
- Črt Lipovšek – Pihušek
- Dare Hriberšek – Biddonne
- Gregor Brvar – Grexon
- Matjaž Madjar – Magi
- Sonja Dernjač – Stroyna
- Sašo Kotnik – Vinkl
- Bojan Krhlanko – Boyanov
- Janez Levec - Johnny Kickers
- Miha Markošek – Mihaylo
- Aldo Ivančič - DJ Aldo
Discography
- Ventilator (StrojMusic 1999)
- Gremo! (StrojMusic 2002)
- Cona / The Zone (StrojMusic 2006)
Venues
The Stroj perform at events in locations such as mines, stone-pits, abandoned factories, large vehicles, and high buildings.
Documentary
In August 2000, TV Slovenija shot a television documentary about the construction of The Stroy's new machine for the Sila/00 project at the stone-pit in Rečica near Laško. The film covers their work in their hometown Laško and the nearby stone-pit.