I push my story, my sound, my lifestyle, without scandal

Almost a decade of hiatus did not discourage the former Montenegrin musician Đorđe Maraš from devoting himself again to his, as he says, his first love - music

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Photo: Private archive
Photo: Private archive
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

Almost a decade of break did not discourage the former Montenegrin musician Đorđe Maraš to devote himself again to his, as he says, his first love - music.

He used to be a member of the Montenegrin trio DNK Zona, with whom he released several songs.

However, he was not only known to the audience as a performer/rapper, he also actively participated in fashion shows in those years. And then he decided to look for his future in a neighboring country, so he has been living and working in Belgrade for years. After he succeeded in his business, he decided to return to music, so the track "Punishment" marked a new beginning for Maraš on the music scene.

With this song, he tried to follow the current trend, but also to bring something new.

Đorđe Maraš talks about his musical career, rap, rap, and fitness for Magazin...

For a while, you were involved in hip-hop as a member of the DNA Zona trio, and after a long-term break, you decided to come back, but also adapt to the current trend, and you will continue your career through trep. Does a musician have to adapt to be competitive?

Years ago in those teenage days I used to do hip-hop with my group at the time, however even then it was a flirtation with some commercial of the time, but really a lot has changed from those days to now. Trends, technical way of execution, everything is quite different now. It even seems to me that now what I'm doing is much harder and much more authentic because I've adapted everything again to myself and what I like to listen to privately. Trep came across as a trend, but I started making soul-trap, which is much more cultured, there is much more singing, compared to dry trap that consists of monotonous rap sections, more mellowness, warmth, mysticism, I would describe this as "music for car", something that drives you, and it depends on the listener where it will take him.

Unlike recordings before, today in this type of music, autotune is inevitable. How do you feel about your voice through autotune and was there a need for the same?

In the last decade, the mixes in which autotune comes to the fore have become so established that my old ear got used to it in the old days, and it even sounds good to my voice, adding a bit of that foreign mood.

As a former rapper, how do you like these variations of the mentioned genre?

I can't categorically say that I was thrilled at the start, nor that I had any complaints, because like in all other genres, there is a large percentage of performers who really offer quality, and of course there is the other side. I single out what I like, stuff myself with it and feed myself every day, I try to create such an undertone, and that's the essence. The good thing is of course that today various experiments are allowed, so you can spill a dry quality on the same beat, as well as something that you will be ashamed of, but for now I really like this musical path that I'm on, I kind of stand behind everything that I do and that is very important to me.

Đorđe Maraš
photo: Private archive

The lyrics in this kind of music don't have very nice messages. Given that you wrote it yourself, how difficult was it to choose a topic that can interest fans of this genre, without the lyrics being vulgar and inappropriate? Given that you are a parent yourself and that maybe your children will listen to this, was that a motivation and a guiding star for you when writing the text?

Of course, it is very important to me not to spread bad messages and lessons in my texts. I'm looking to pack it all into a sophisticated and mature vibe, no matter how many tweaks it requires. What I would not like for my kids to listen to and say tomorrow, i.e. texts that mention crime, narcotics, and similar things, I very much avoid serving to others today. Admittedly, my child is very young, another baby is on the way, so my texts will not reach their ears for a long time in the way they may reach today's teenagers, but I certainly identify with them and that all of this carries a certain burden and weight, because and they are someone's children.

In the media, we often have the opportunity to read about flashers in a negative context because of the scandals they cause themselves. But you are not a conflicted person. How difficult is it to be in that job and not stand out from your colleagues too much?

It's easy, it's weak, and I follow events on the scene that don't concern the music itself and novelties in that sense, so most of the time I'm not even up to date when any scandals happen. I'm pushing my story, my sound, my lifestyle, without scandals, with clearly defined priorities, and for now there is no winter.

Đorđe Maraš
photo: Private archive

Ten days have passed since the release of the song "Kazna", what are the reactions, are you satisfied?

I am very satisfied. For me, all this is a new beginning, a different country, a new environment, a new presentation of me as a solo performer and author under a new pseudonym (which is also my last name). In these ten days, the song has crossed 150 views on YouTube and continues steadily. I encountered a great response from media portals, television, magazines, so everything is going as I had planned. Life has taught me that you shouldn't make any outlandish expectations, but step by step, sure of yourself and what you're doing, clear and tread the path before you, and the results will come sooner or later.

You said it yourself that this is car music. What do you listen to while training - rap, rap or something else?

All of the above, and more. The day comes when the workout playlist is exclusively old school rap, so 2Pac, Biggie, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and the like. The very next day I train with Travis Scott, Pop Smoke, and others without any problems, it just depends on the mood. Really in general it's quite a wide range of music that I listen to. While relaxing in my home, with some nice wine, very often records are playing on my retro record player Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, and other big, and my favorite jazz and softjazz names. So much for extremes.

Detail from the video: Đorđe Maraš
Detail from the video: Đorđe Marašphoto: Private archive

The new pseudonym is reminiscent of the hero from crime films and series that the audience adores. What are the common traits that you and Marash from the South Wind have in common?

If you are referring to Biković, considering that I do not know him personally, all I can say is that I see that we are both faithfully committed to our interests and work in general. As for the comparison with his role as Petr Maraš, we have absolutely nothing in common, it seems to me, if we once had it was in the old childhood days, I try to lead a harmonious life, in the same relationships with the people around me, much slower than of everything shown in the film, so that hardly any point of contact can be found.

What about your duo mate Mario, is he into music?

There were three of us in those high school days, Mario, Vukasin and I. Those were beautiful days, from the group we got everything a teenager needs, some small pocket money, a little extra for each girl, and a full cap for us. At some point it became insufficient, I moved to Belgrade, Mario to Munich, and Vukašin stayed in Podgorica. With Vukašin, we have a fair, not so common relationship, while Mario and I, as in those days, are best friends and probably future godfathers, so nothing has changed, except that he has been in completely different spheres and areas for years, and also was also realized on the family level.

As you said, you have been living and working in Belgrade for years. How did you manage and what do you usually do?

Yes, I have been in Belgrade since December 2015. When I first arrived, it was a bit of a struggle, because moving here is no different than going to, say, Austria, Sweden or wherever, except that the language is not foreign. So you build everything from scratch. However, relatively quickly I got the hang of it, upgraded my knowledge, got my degrees, got a job and made it in the fitness industry. Over time, he became independent, and my family and I have been living on it for years. So, to knock, everything is great, as long as it lasts.

Đorđe Maraš
photo: Private archive

Today, everything is much more accessible - nutrition, training, we can literally find it online. Does the advice that appears and is easily available hurt, and do clients come who think that thanks to it they know how to do something or eat?

The expansion of fitness has been going on for at least a decade. It seems to me that with the advent of social networks it is the same thing in all areas. Virtually everyone who is educated, learned or ignorant today has the opportunity to record a video, in some way argue their views and publish them publicly. It is up to the people to judge whether there is something tangible and true in all of this, or whether it is all a sale of the fog. Chances are half that you'll come across something really useful that can help you, and you'll be wasting your time and money. I certainly suggest always hiring a good old-fashioned trainer or nutritionist on recommendation.

And, does that mean that fitness is a profession and music is still just a hobby?

Fitness has been my livelihood for years, after all it's what allowed me to be able to record songs and music videos, as well as many other enjoyments and hobbies, but regardless of what eventually turns out to be primary, music is my first and greatest love and a dream that has been going on since my early boyhood days, and which, with a lot of effort and luck, I have a chance to dream in Java.

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