One of the most popular Montenegrin rappers, Balša Krkeljić Sivilo, unexpectedly returned to the scene in full glory and renewed his concept of "Gray Wednesdays", within which he has now released a second, as yet untitled single. So far, two released songs can be heard on Sivil's YouTube channel, and the third will be released tomorrow. So far, the question has been the classic battle representative numbers in which Sivilo points out that he is back on the scene stronger than ever.
Sivilo previously had a concept called "Siva srijeda" in which he published one song a week, as the name itself says - every Wednesday. Now he has added another interesting element to that concept, drawing his fans even more into his creation. Namely, Sivilo decided to publish new songs without a title and leave it to the audience to give their suggestions, and the best one will be chosen as the title of the song. The new series "Sivih srijeda" thus began two weeks ago with the first track, which has now been named "The Last Bastion", and the second track is still waiting for the title to be chosen.
Sivilo was on the rise half a decade ago, the concept of "Grey Wednesday" was originally launched in 2015 by releasing tracks from the release "Ljeto kada su me krunisali", which followed the extremely successful album "Tamna strana ščeća" and the broadcast of its videos on the regional MTV channel, whose charts recorded enviable results. Then he collaborated with one of the strongest independent publishing houses in the region, certainly the best label dedicated to hip hop artists, under whose auspices a number of releases were released that would become classics of Serbian rap.
However, apparently something didn't work as it should have and Sivilo soon completely disappeared from the map. A long break followed, during which there were also speculations that the rapper from Podgorica hung up the microphone on a peg, i.e. ended his music career, but Sivilo denied them in August of last year.
After a five-year recording break, Sivilo returned to the scene completely unexpectedly and unannounced at the end of last summer with the track "Guraj grizi glođi", which can also be heard on the YouTube service. He talked about all this for "Vijesti".
Why were you away for so long and how did your return to the scene come about? Where are you now, what did you do and what do you do besides rap?
I paused to recalculate. "The dark side of happiness" and "The summer when they crowned me", along with all the publications, collaborations and processes, explained to me how everything works and how I want to do music in the future. Ideally, at that moment there was also a sudden turn in hip hop that merged with turbo folk music. Seeing who was all swallowed up by that trend, I gave myself time to pursue my second career as a video producer in marketing in order to create a life where I could continue to pursue my "unprofitable" music and thus remain uncompromising and free in my express.
Are you satisfied with the response of the audience so far, did they like you as much as you? Do you think that this break may have distanced you from the audience, that you will somehow have to rebuild your image?
There's probably some truth to that, but I don't pay much attention to it. It's up to me to just create songs, and whether it reaches one fan or a million is out of my control (although with today's online marketing tricks it can easily be), I just know that I'm grateful to anyone who takes me on consideration. The response is more than good and that makes me very happy. Communication with fans is very important to me. We create "Sive srijede" together - I make songs, often through their bits, they name the songs and thus we have a common product that we are all proud of.
What can we expect from this season of "Gray Wednesdays" - how many tracks will there be, what kind of sound and theme, how are the songs created?
The sound will vary because I like to rap over different instrumentals. Topics will be related to inspiring and motivating the masses, rapping about taboo topics, provoking, pushing the boundaries of free speech. "Grey Wednesdays" are a living thing and nothing is 'planned'. For now, it takes me about three or four days to create one song, so I've created a small advantage for myself. Anyone interested should follow my YouTube channel to make song after song from Wednesday to Wednesday... Until one Wednesday there are no more.
How did this corona period affect you - both creatively and mentally, and as far as your everyday life is concerned? Some musicians I talked to told me that they used the extra time to dedicate themselves to creating, others were depressed by the whole situation, so they couldn't create because of that, how was it with you?
So I am in this first group. Long before the corona, working on myself was pretty much down to discipline and self-denial, so with the corona, all that only intensified. Discipline and daily rituals help me a lot to establish a rhythm where the feeling of usefulness gives you the self-confidence to be able to impose more obligations on yourself during the day. Making music at this pace is one of those things.
Are you planning to film any of these tracks? In addition, there are no concerts as we know, that's why many have turned to online performances and other forms of communication with fans via the Internet, can we expect something like that from you, what are your general plans for this year apart from Gray Wednesdays?
Well, apart from trying to make one song a week, which I believe is challenging and time consuming enough, I would like to work on connecting with fans who show interest in my music. Corona is not very grateful for filming my videos that require a bunch of people together in one space jumping and screaming. And anything less than that, I'm afraid that such videos in which I'm isolated too much, don't do my songs justice
Considering the aforementioned entry of hip hop into the mainstream, where do you see yourself in all of this, what is your position, and how do you see the current position of hip hop and the future, will it happen or have there already been some divisions on that line - for or against?
A glut will happen. Corona will happen, so songs that celebrate rafts and parties and promiscuous life will not make sense because we are alone in the house and we need something else to identify with. "Slower" sounds, lyrics, podcasts, books got people interested. Things that celebrate inner development, not outer sensations. Hip hop and mainstream can work together in a healthy way and I've proven that several times in my career. You have the option to make music that will become mainstream, popular because you did something original, unheard of. Audiences love it when something knocks them off their feet. The entire film industry is built on it. Or you can think you know what's popular and then become a slave to some made-up formula that, if you stick to it, will guarantee success. Satisfying the petty bourgeoisie can only produce mediocrity. I will continue to nurture an independent spirit, propagate individualism, motivate and inspire. Whether it will be mainstream or underground, whether I will be in it myself or part of the majority, time will tell.
Being independent is priceless
What's going on between you and Bassivity, you were part of the team, now by all accounts I'd say you're not anymore, why? In an earlier statement, you said that you were disappointed that a good part of the hip hop scene "lent their talents to turbo folk", did that maybe affect why and how do you think that happened, since you were in Bassivity, maybe you have some insight into that story we don't have?
Bassivity releases shaped my childhood. I really liked the sound they cultivated and the rappers they had on the roster. Being invited to be a part of it is a boyhood dream come true, but unfortunately, nothing more than that. Business-wise, I wasn't the smartest, which is normal for a young and inexperienced rapper. Many businesses are built on this business principle. A good businessman among "business ignorant" artists can go far. During my experience with them, I realized that being independent is priceless. And it doesn't make sense if you're already investing in your music, videos, making everything yourself, wasting money, that at the end of the day someone takes it just like that and says it's theirs forever. Bassivity is a publishing house, a company, a business, which has the only goal and that is profit, like all other companies. To romanticize a company as something that is uncompromising, bold, unique, "artsy" is wrong and I am guilty of it myself.
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