Croatian singer and composer Boris Štok conquered the audience at ex-YU venues as the frontman of the band "Quasarr", with which he released three albums. In addition to numerous awards, their track "Ti" was also used as the opening credits of the series "Novine", the first season of which was broadcast on Television Vijesti.
A year ago, he decided to try himself as a soloist, and recently his debut album "Under the Skin" was released, which includes 12 songs. Štok talks to Vijesti about leaving the band "Quasarr", solo career, numerous duets.
With the band "Quasarr" you managed to win over the audience thanks to your unique sound. And as a soloist, you continued with electro pop. What was the decisive moment for you to decide to go solo?
There was a certain saturation of working in a band, which is not unusual when you are surrounded by the same people for years. We stopped looking in the same direction, we no longer shared the same ideas, and I wanted to work more and differently. Honestly, I don't have much of a choice, because I have a tremendous need to work, record and express myself, so continuing solo was my only option. Over time, I surrounded myself with new people, some new energy, and I'm very happy in my skin right now. In just over a year, I recorded an album, released seven singles and recorded a music video for each, played some great concerts and festivals, and was nominated for Porin. So, everything is going well and I hope it will continue like that.
Your first solo album is called "Under the skin", and your music affects the listeners exactly like that. Considering the authentic style and the color of the voice, how much easier is it because of those two things to float in the sea of similar singers?
Considering that I already had three recorded albums, with the previous band "Quasarr", I played the whole region, some songs already have a cult status, so it was easier to present myself, people still know you well. But I believe that only through music and work do you differentiate yourself from others, I do a lot of research and experiment with arrangements, production and authorship, with vocals I put more emphasis on the melody. However, as a singer and performer, the most important thing is that authenticity, that after a few bars people recognize that it is you. There will always be categorizations and comparisons, but that's normal. I know my identity very well and I have no problems with it.
Considering that you write songs yourself, what inspires you the most?
I am inspired by relationships, intimacy, people, situations... everything that surrounds us, and then seen through my own sensibility. I'm quite an emotional person, so I always prefer to focus on emotions rather than criticizing society or inciting revolutions. As a person, I am constantly changing, so such themes can be ungrateful when you sing them four or five years apart.
Do you now sing songs from the period of the band "Quasarr" at your performances?
Of course, that band and those songs branded me as an author and singer, they are part of my personality. After all, the audience always wants to hear them.
Your EP "Puls" contained six tracks and was released in limited edition. Are you satisfied with how those six songs went over with the audience? Was it a field test of how the public would accept your solo career?
The EP came out a year ago and heralded a new sound and signature since I've been working solo. In October, my first long-awaited album "Under the skin" was released, which includes 12 songs, which I set out to promote in concerts around Croatia. It was well received by critics and audiences, the reviews are superlative and all these things make me very humble and grateful. I try to enjoy the moment. As for the album, I'm happy with how it sounds because it's still a record of a creative process where I knew what and how I wanted to make it. My friend Darko Terlevic, with whom I get along very well, helped me a lot in this, so the whole process of recording and working is simpler.
You recorded duets with Josip Lisac and Yaya. How was the experience of fitting them into a genre that is completely different from the music they play?
The experience was excellent, I was first of all impressed that such singers and artists sing my songs. Everything happened in a very pleasant tone, we immediately understood each other because our aesthetics and musical sensibilities are similar. Musicality is what brings people together, not style.
I can't make a living from music the way I want
You graduated in management at the Faculty of Economics, are there numbers in music and an opportunity to show what you learned at college?
My education and what I do during the day has nothing to do with the creative part and music, which is actually my life and what I dedicate myself to 100 percent. But I'm realistic and I realize that I can't make a living from music the way I want, at least not at the moment. Marketing and PR are another story, but one is always learning there.
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