Although they are the youngest among the Bosnian performers who nurture traditional music and sevdah through their creativity, the band Divanhana has a large number of awards behind them.
The most prestigious world music magazine Songlines from Great Britain has been awarding its annual music awards Songlines Music Awards for the fifteenth year, thus promoting music and artists from all over the planet. Divanhana is often on their list, and this time they are nominated in the competition for the best band in the world in 2023.
Who will win the prize in this competition will be known only in the fall, and in an interview with "Vijesti" the members of Divanhana - vocalist Selma Droce and keyboardist Neven Tunjic admit that they are honored to be in such competition.
"Songlines" magazine nominated Divanhana for the best band in the world in 2023. How much does the nomination itself mean to you?
Selma Droce: First of all, we are very honored and happy. "Songlines" magazine is a really prestigious world media, when someone like that follows your work, and really gives you credit for it, then it's proof that you're on the right path and a strong motivation to move on.
Last year, the Bosnian artist Damir Imamović won one of the awards of this magazine for the best artist in Europe. To what extent are the awards and performers who were in these competitions before, responsible for the fact that the whole scene of Bosnia and Herzegovina is followed much more?
Selma Droce: In the last ten years, sevdah has taken a bold step towards the world music scene, within the direction that is now called "World Music". The whole process of approaching the world market was started by the Mostar Sevdah Reunion with its sound and interpretation of sevdah, then later Amira Medunjanin, Damir Imamovic and somehow as the youngest in that sevdah "guard" of Divanhan. When you look at things in this way, it is clear that every recognition of any artist or group significantly contributed to the development of the sevdah scene, both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and internationally. Without each other, we would hardly be able to achieve all that, and we are more than proud of the achievements of our dear and respected Damir.
It was the current album "Zavrzlama", which you released in the midst of the corona, that was announced in the "10 best albums of 2022". However, Divahana is a concert band. How difficult was it to reach an audience during the pandemic?
Selma Droce: After we realized that due to the pandemic the whole world has stopped, and that due to precautionary measures we will not be able to perform concerts for a long time, we looked for some other ways to be who we are even in these difficult times. Fortunately, we recorded the complete audio material for "Zavrzlama" before the corona, so we used that time of closure for additional corrections, mix and mastering of the album. Also, we did some co-edits in the Quarantine version, each from our own home, and published them on our social networks, YouTube and Bandcamp platform. In this way, we stayed connected with our audience in the days when every connection meant a lot to us, as well as to all people around the world. Later, we did concerts for a limited, smaller number of people, and fortunately, the pandemic ended.
Just because of this nomination and the song from the album "Zavrzlama" will be more in focus?
Selma Droce: Immediately after the release of the album, we impatiently started the "Zavrzlama Tour" with the intention of giving our audience and admirers of sevdalinka what we worked hard and lovingly on. The current year will also be marked by concerts within the tour of the same name, and that was our intention, regardless of all the nominations and recognitions that followed later. However, how much "Zavrzlam" and its songs will be in focus in the future, we cannot know at this moment, it will be determined by the audience and time.
The music of the remaining three performers who found themselves in the competition with Divanhan is completely different, they all bring their cultural heritage somewhere. How much more difficult is it to evaluate music because of this and what is it that decides in such situations?
Neven Tunjic: Yes, that's exactly the beauty of the World Music scene - that listening to the music of the world you discover some new inspirations, cultures, languages. Being in competition with performers from Senegal, Burkina Faso, Great Britain shows how well sevdah is on its way to becoming a globally known musical expression, a kind of trademark of our country. Honestly, all the performers who joined us in the "Best group" category are special and genius in their own way, so I wouldn't be in the shoes of the one who decides on the best. It is certain that whoever wins this award will be the best of the best. I definitely suggest your esteemed readers to visit the Songlines magazine page and take a peek into the magical world of world music, where they will most certainly find out a handful of joy for your heart.
One of your colleagues claims that one who has many performances cannot always evoke emotion, but that in such moments he relies on a craft thanks to which he arouses emotion in others. You have many years of experience, what is more difficult - to convey an emotion, or in moments when you don't feel like it, and there are certainly such moments, to rely on your craft and awaken it in the audience?
Selma Droce: Maybe we didn't find ourselves in the same situation as our colleague because we are a team and that's just how we function. It's very possible that at a concert one of us doesn't feel motivated and that concert would probably be played professionally, but that's where teamwork comes in and the fact that, on the other hand, the energy of the band or another member of the band at that concert will motivate the others as well. Although, if we are talking about emotion and energy, the audience also has a very important role, it can be a brake, but also a really great driver for magical concerts. It is not necessary that we evoked all emotions in the audience, some cities and some audiences will be remembered forever precisely because of the emotions they gave us.
For a year and a few months, the album "Zavrzlama" has been on the air. Are you happy with how it went over with the audience?
Neven Tunjic: We are very satisfied because we notice that at the concerts we organize throughout the region and Europe, the audience often sings "Ćilim" or "Lola" with us, our original songs that are only part of the colorful mosaic "Zavrzlame". It is a great happiness when your music enters the hearts and souls of people, when it somehow improves their day, enriches their everyday life. These are the joys for which we create and spread sevdah with all our hearts.
Soon after the release of the album, Šejla Grgić was replaced by a new singer - Selma Droce. Did this and to what extent affect the promotion of the songs and what kind of energy did Selma bring?
Neven Tunjic: Absolutely not. Selma Droce is a fantastic music worker and a great professional. For years, he has been a respected artist and music pedagogue in our country, where in addition to working at the Music School in Mostar and the Music Academy in Sarajevo, he also has a very active career as a vocal soloist and pianist/accompanist. We are happy and grateful when, as a collective, we can attract such wonderful, talented and young people who, with the same enthusiasm and desire, want to spread beauty and only the good in people, in these slightly gray times.
What are the plans, is Montenegro on the Divanhana concert map?
Neven Tunjic: As my colleague Selma mentioned, Divanhan is already heavily involved in the concert promotion of the new album "Zavrzlama", and so far we have toured many cities in the region and Europe with sevdah. Many concerts in the region await us in May; 12.05. Belgrade, 13.05. Zrenjanin, 14.05. Velika Plana, 19.05. Sarajevo and 20.05. Banja Luka. We are very happy that on this trip we will be able to visit all those wonderful cities and meet our dear paradise in sevdah. Certainly, Montenegro is an unavoidable destination on our sevdah map, and we will certainly soon spread sevdah with the dear paradise in the Montenegrin neighborhood.
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