This is the road of no return in the most positive sense

Alternative rock group Vrpca from Podgorica released a new single entitled "Oko nje", which can be heard on the YouTube service, and announces the upcoming debut album of this group. The guest on the song is Stefan Pantović, on backing vocals and synth, and the track was recorded and mixed in his studio Stevi.

At the end of last year, Vrpca released a music video for the song "Hate", three months ago the single "Nikad zakono nije", which the rockers plan to screen, and in June the short film "Vrpca at Stevi", which shows their creative process. The Podgorica band emerged from the group Qtera, which was formed in the mid-90s, so frontman Braco Subotić, drummer Zaria Pavićević, guitarist Miloš Pejović and bassist Danilo Pendo can be said to be true veterans of the domestic rock scene, who have never been more active than now. Subotić, who as a poet is part of the Montenegrin literary scene, explained to "Vijesti" why he did so, talked about the future of rock and roll in our country, the impact of the coronavirus and further plans.

When and how was the song created, what inspired it? Your audience knows it well because you've been playing it at concerts for a long time, why did you wait until now to release it?

It's true, the song has been alive for some time. It's as if, in a way, she was looking for her own way, maybe she got hurt, but now she's finally framed. Now he is traveling in the right direction. Inspiration is versatile, if I may say so. It's a matter of choice, as they say about luck. So who exactly it revolves around is up to you to choose. We are recording the album in full steam, and these two singles are only an introduction to the complete material so far. In the autumn, most likely, we will publish the third one, as an introduction to the final set.

In the last less than a year, you have released three singles, a music video and a mini-film, are you satisfied with how they went with the audience?

We were hardworking, very hardworking. Music has always been our guide, without question. The response of the audience is significant for us and very impressive because we share the process with them, and they know very well that we have not slowed down since the middle of last year, but we have only been working and advertising. Their feedback is an extremely favorable tailwind for us, if we look at the group as a ship that sails and is massive. From the comments and likes on our official Facebook page, it's clear where we are right now.

How has this situation with the coronavirus affected your everyday life and your work - of course, there are no gigs, but some have used that time to devote themselves more to creation, what is your case?

Covid disrupted the entire planet, so we weren't left out either. The situation is worrying, pre-arranged performances and everything that goes with it have been cancelled. For example, lately I have been living exclusively from music, so now this coloplet slows me down and stops me, but as long as it lasts, it will be me and us. Something is always being created, either poetry or skeletons for new songs. Time is not wasted. The rest of the band composes and wittily makes moves for the future, which we all eagerly await.

You mentioned earlier that you are also working on a new music video, what is going on with that? Your music video for the song "Hate" has far fewer views on YouTube than the audio singles, and all this in an age where music is watched more than listened to - why do you think that is?

The video is in the work phase, but certain technicalities are missing, that's the current situation. The track "Hate" was previously only on the Vimeo service, it could not fit into the system due to some regulation at the time. At the end of 2019, when we formed our YouTube channel, we hung it up and that's simply why it didn't get more views.

It seems that this team - both as Vrpca and earlier as Qtera - has never been this constant in publishing something every couple of months, what is the cause of that, what "clicked" this time?

Through a joint search, before the epidemic and other turbulences that touch all of our lives, we really clicked and realized that this is the path of no return, in the best and most positive sense. Music is like a living being, therefore a person, little loved. We told ourselves that despite everything, we should and must continue because, apart from family and a few other life components, there is little that makes sense or deserves attention. It is a wonderful moment of realization and relief at the same time.

When I remember the beginnings, I am satisfied with the state of the scene

As veterans, how do you look at the current rock scene in Montenegro and its future - only a few bands have some kind of constant work, and the new generations seem to be more interested in other genres, rap and electronica are taking over the primacy?

The music studio "Stevi" has become a center for the gathering of people with ideas and a strong desire to realize these and such ideas. The stage exists and the audience moves along with it. Whether it is the same in the deficit, when we look at all the circumstances, in my opinion, is less important. The only thing that matters is that the lifeblood does its job and that there is room for literally anyone who is determined to market their story and persevere. Parampaščad, Bubnjivi, Mikrokosma, Sound Floor, Yonic are just some of the active bands that have their followers. When I recall the beginnings of this carousel, today I am still satisfied with the flow and events in our musical sky.