Rock Monsters Romania

Orkid Hit the Road with “Mult mai bun,” Kicking Off Their Tour with a Bucharest Release Show on November 5

Three new tracks, a sonic universe moving from harmonies submerged in reverb to wall of sound, darkgaze, and noise, and an almost stubborn belief in a better future. Orkid are wrapping up one of the most prolific years in the band’s history with the release of their EP “Mult mai bun” and a national tour that kicks off in Bucharest.

“Mult mai bun,” the new EP by Bucharest trio Orkid, starts from a simple but far from modest idea: the hope that a future generation will succeed in repairing the world we live in. Its three tracks move between quiet harmonies, wall of sound, darkgaze, and noise, creating a record about believing in a better future without turning away from the noise and uncertainty of the present. The EP brings one of the band’s most prolific years to a close, with three releases in 2026.

The first concert of the release tour, part of the Stray Lights showcase series, takes place on November 5 at Control Club in Bucharest. Orkid will present their new material at a special event alongside Sașa-Liviu Stoianovici, a Bucharest based interdisciplinary artist exploring the sounds and folk cultures of the Balkans and Carpathian regions. His work brings traditional instruments such as the Turkish saz, Romanian cobza, Ottoman tanbur, and various types of bagpipes into dialogue with electronic sounds. Doors open at 7:00 PM, and the concert starts at 8:00 PM. Tickets cost RON 40 during the presale, with a reduced price of RON 30 for students.

After the Bucharest show, the tour continues on November 6 at Teatrul Nației in Ploiești, November 7 at Rock’n’Rolla in Iași, November 14 at Lokal in Oradea alongside Baby Elvis, November 19 at Machines in Cluj Napoca alongside Rotko, and November 28 at FITT Timișoara.

Tickets and details for all concerts: Eventbook: Orkid, Mult mai bun EP Release Tour.

Orkid describe their music as post traumatic blues, a phrase that says something about the way the band operates: with intensity, melancholy, contrasts, and little interest in genre boundaries. Their influences range from punk and garage to post metal, indie, and blues, as well as math rock, prog, and classical music. On “Mult mai bun,” quiet harmonies and expansive soundscapes meet bursts of wall of sound, darkgaze, and noise, forming a three part statement about hope, belief, and the possibility of a world that has not yet had its final say.

Over their 11 years together, Orkid have played more than 350 concerts and shared stages with major international acts such as Mogwai, Death in Vegas, Mono, Madrugada, The Underground Youth, Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys, and It It Anita. They have also performed alongside numerous Romanian bands, including Vița de Vie, Șuie Paparude, Coma, Subcarpați, The Mono Jacks, E.M.I.L., and Implant pentru Refuz.

So far, the band’s discography includes nine albums and EPs: “Standing Still in the Dark” (2016), “Suruaika” (2018), “Deraiat” (2020), “In the Light We are Safe” (2022), “Noi contra Noi” (2023), “Eclipsa / În altă parte” (2026), “Ängelholm” (2026), “Tot timpul” (2026), and “Mult mai bun” (2026).

Orkid is also a project where music naturally meets visual art. Vlad Ilicevici, a screenwriter and film director, and Radu Pop, an animator and graphic artist, have built a distinctly cinematic universe around the band, where illustration, animation, and design complement the live experience. On stage, their sonic world is often accompanied by visual interventions from Pisica Pătrată, aka Alexandru Ciubotariu, an urban artist known for illustration, comics, graffiti, and graphic art, who joins the band for live drawing sessions.

The band’s connection with film goes beyond the visual aspect. The song “Cad” was included on the soundtrack of the HBO series “Ruxx,” while “Stargaze” and “Beasts Apart” feature on the soundtrack of the feature film “Băieții buni merg în Rai,” directed by Radu Potcoavă. Since 2018, the band has also composed three soundtracks for animated short films: “Suruaika,” “Nephilim,” and “Eclipsa.”

The current Orkid lineup consists of Vlad Ilicevici (guitars, synths, vocals), Radu Pop (percussion, synths), and Mihnea Dumitrescu (bass), alongside Pisica Pătrată (live drawing).

“Mult mai bun” is therefore more than a new chapter in Orkid’s discography. It is their way of giving sound to a hope that comes with no guarantees, but refuses to be easily persuaded to give up. And, naturally, the best place to experience it is at a concert.

More information about the band: orkid.ro · Orkid Linktree.

Stray Lights operates as a support network connecting dozens of active alternative bands, including Cardinal, Orkid, D.E.N.I.S, Zammorian, Second Wave, Baby Elvis, PLANT, Valerinne, Methadone Skies, Midpoint, and Air Lines. It represents a form of cultural resistance within a fragile music ecosystem.

“Stray Lights 2.0 is a necessity. A way of bringing together, collaborating, and supporting as many bands as possible that are making alternative, contemporary, and relevant music in Romania. (…) It’s not an agency, it’s not a label. It’s a small group of people trying to help one another and, every now and then, put on a gig.” (Vlad Ilicevici, Orkid / Stray Lights initiator)

Media partners: Clivaj, Contacte Culturale, Critic Eyez, Happ.ro, Infomusic, Observator Cultural, Radio Guerrilla, Rock Monsters, Subversiv, Sunete, Trăiește Muzica, Utopia Balcanică, Zile și Nopți.