Compact Disco
The four band members of Compact Disco have been performing and recording music together since 2005, but only four years later their first album was launched. Now they are one of the most popular acts in Hungary.The Hungarian four-member band Compact Disco is comprised of Behnam Lotfi - one half of the techno producing team Collins & Behnam - and three former members of the funk-pop outfit Brownfield: vocalist Csaba Walkó, keyboard player Gábor Pál and bass player Attila Sándor.
In 2005, Lofti was on the lookout for a talented vocalist when he spotted Walkó in the Hungarian equivalent of the TV talent show American Idol. He approached Walkó to sing lead vocals on Collins and Benham’s cover of Seal’s Killer. At that time, Walkó was singing in the funk-pop ensemble Brownfield. Fellow band member Gábor Pál, leader and founder of Toy Division, went along and the three founding members of Compact Disco - Lofti, Pal and Walkó - were introduced.
However, three years passed before the three got together as a band playing electronic vocal pop music. In August 2008 they rolled up their sleeves and started working immediately on their first collaboration: the track Fly Or Dive. In July 2009 the band had a name - Compact Disco - and their first album - Stereoid - was ready to launch.
The video for the first track to be released off the album, I’m In Love, was hugely popular. It topped the Hungarian VIVA Club Chart and entered various international charts including the UK Buzz Chart and the Swiss DJ Chart. The track also scored a hit with acclaimed DJs all around the world, including Tiësto. In May 2010 Bravo magazine nominated the band for a 2010 Hungarian Otto Award as "Best New Artist". A busy summer followed with Compact Disco appearing at almost all the major Hungarian music festivals.
The band released their second album titled ‘II’ in May 2011 which significantly boosted the band’s popularity. The single “Feel The Rain” received heavy airplay in all major radio stations. Compact Disco won by popular vote the MTV Europe Music Awards 2011 in “Best Local Act - Hungary” and received a nomination to the European selection for “Worldwide Act”.
Compact Disco had the honour to perform at the bicentennial celebration of the famous Hungarian composer and virtuoso, Franz Liszt's birth, called Liszt Remix. They were accompanied by the Budafoki Dohnányi Orchestra (BDZ) which also accompanied Sting on his second Symphonicity tour.
Their first ever big solo gig took place in January 2012 on the sold-out A38 ship - which by the way was voted the world’s best bar by Lonely Planet’s website just in February 2012. On 11 February 2012 Compact Disco won the televised Hungarian National Selection of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, after a series of pre-selections and semi-finals. They are going to represent Hungary in Baku, Azerbaijan with their song Sound Of Our Hearts.
