Sarajevo band "Teška industrija" released a new album "Selfie" for Croatia records, which received very positive reactions from critics. Winner of the 19th Sunčanih skala, the band was formed in 1974 in Sarajevo and at the end of that decade was engaged in progressive rock sound, and then stopped working. It was reunited in 2007, when it gained new popularity with the albums "Kantina" and "Bili smo raja". For a short time, the frontman of the band was Seid Memic Vajta, and then the band hired singer Lea Mijatović. "Selfie" contains 11 singles released by "Teška industrija" from 2012 to today, and the new album for "Vijesti" was spoken by bassist and one of the original members Ivica Propadalo.
The new album is called “Selfie”. Is it a comment on modern culture? What do you think about the selfie phenomenon in general?
Personally, I'm a fan of selfies. I like to play with my mobile, especially when the company is pleasant and the moment is convenient. To brag, I have at least 20 thousand selfies. One of the first ones I shot was the one with the famous actress Angelina Jolie. My friend, Belgrade-born Londoner Brajan Rašić, also the photographer of "The Rolling Stones", declared me the "King of Selfies". By the way, the first selfie was created in 1839 by Robert Korneljius.
Sthis time has its own interests for the masses and it is a phenomenon that will certainly remain permanent, especially among young people.Since we play a lot and drive in a van, we bring a lot of such photos from the road, both of us and with the audience. And that's how I got the idea for the name of the album. I must admit that everyone reacts positively. And the equipment of the CD is very interesting. I think there are about 1000 such photos in it.
Tell us more about the album, what kind of sound and themes characterize it, what makes it different from the previous one? It contains the hits you've released since 2012, so can it be said that it's more of a compilation, what binds those songs together?
The previous album "Bili smo raja" was released five years ago. He brought us back to the regional stage. For those who are not in the know, it is an album dedicated to the Sarajevo pop rock school. It has 10 covers of our friends' songs that we loved. Of course, we achieved the greatest success with Halid's "U meni jesen je".
After that album, we devoted ourselves to original work. With him, we showed that we also know how to write our own songs in addition to covers. Perhaps due to the time gap of four years when the first song was created, it seems to be a compilation, because all the songs were successful singles and videos were made for them. But if you listen carefully to the album you will see that all the songs have a connection and you will like at least half of the album.
What was it like to collaborate with a legend like Željko Bebek on the last single "Jednom daje bog", I know you've been friends for many years?
And we have been friends with Željec for almost half a century. We shared in the Skenderija Youth Center both the rehearsal space and the stage in the "Dancing" hall of the same center. And with Željka, everything is simple. A singer who knows how to sing and convey emotion. His and our Lee's voices matched very well. Those who have heard the song say that Bebek sounds like from the best days of "Dugmet". And the song also sounds like it's from the 70s, but of course in the sound and production of this time.
How did sharing a room with "Dugmet" work?
That room was called “Section D”. We stole each other's instruments for gigs. Of course, that was normal for us in Sarajevo. Like: What am I going to ask him when I know he'll give me... You know, that romance is gone, it's gone forever. I'm not nostalgic, but I still regret that time. Sincere camaraderie and friendship were sacred. There was very little malice. At that time, the "Button" was clearly growing, and we were all a little behind. There was no jealousy...
The album also includes a duet with Kemal Monten, in collaboration with whom you won at "Skale". How did you experience his death?
Our dear Kemica is still alive in our hearts. We miss him very much, as well as Arsen, with whom we also collaborated. When I think of those two, I always have a smile on my face. That says a lot. We recorded "May Rains" with Kem, which left a mark. Won on your "Sun Scales". Guitarist Hadžiavdić and I even played in his backing band.
Critics say you're like wine - the older you get, the better you sound. What is your formula for such success?
I personally prefer younger wine. Understand this from different angles. We have a combination of experienced members and younger ones led by vocalist Lee Mijatović. When a person lets go and relaxes, and stops fantasizing and having dreams, he grows old overnight. We still have the children in us. We live and play in the spirit of this time with the experience inherited from better and more romantic past times. Young people today lack that, because they live in a superficial time.
Since the 2007 reunion, you've kind of had to rebuild your career. Today, after almost ten years, are you satisfied with your status on the scene, is it better or worse than the status of the old "Heavy Industry"?
The old "Heavy Industry" did not leave us a large dowry. These were songs that lasted ten or more minutes each. The only thing we play from that era is: "Masquerade Ball" and "You are my best in everything". True, this last one was performed by "Indexi", but it was made by our former keyboardist Gabor Lenđel. It's hard to say who had a better status. Those were different times. It was difficult to rise without a great legacy from the past. We can do more and better. You'll see, even this song with Bebek certainly opens many new doors for us.
We like to play in Montenegro
What are your further plans, can we expect you in Montenegro soon?
Teška is preparing a collection of all previous albums. It will be published in a month. Now, on May 12, we have a concert in the iconic Zagreb "Factory of Culture", with guests: Bebek, Matija Dedić, Slavonia Band, Nikša Bratoš... In the spring of next year, something completely new and different will be released. Many will be surprised...
We love to play to a wonderful Montenegrin audience. Last month we played for students in Podgorica. We were in Cetinje in the fall. There are calls, there will be something again. Call us and we will be happy to come. We are proud because we are a regional band, which everyone is happy to host.
Today, when you look back, how do your first steps look to you and are you satisfied with what you have done, would you change anything?
Both I and the whole band are satisfied. But we certainly deserve more than what we have achieved, and we strive for that. We do a lot and we believe in what we do. I think it was easier to succeed before. But once you established yourself, it lasted and everyone respected you. Today, everything happens faster. They forget you quickly and you have to prove yourself daily. Everyone is into music. Technology and the media easily make a star out of a non-singer. Once upon a time in Yugoslavia there was a shund commission that you had to pass if you wanted to play on radio and television or to release a record. He would be very happy to revive that commission again.
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