Ever since the first songs he wrote for Hladno pivo in the late '80s and early '90s, Mile Kekin he liked to talk about everything that was bothering him through verses. Whether it was about love or some other problem, he openly criticized, advised, even spoke about activism.
Even today, at concerts, he likes to sing the lines "I have a T-shirt with a solid message, I have a T-shirt with a middle finger on it, it says 'Fuck the System', I bought two of the same ones", and he always specially announces the single "My T-shirt" from the album "Closed Days" door". Then in 2020 with my wife Ivan joined those gathered around the platform "We can!" in the hope that their joint activism can encourage positive changes in Croatian society.
He allowed them to sing his lines in the pre-election campaign "Let's get out of the roundabout, the fight will be fierce, I dreamed everything is waking up, and there are happy people around me!", and they won seven percent of the votes in the parliamentary elections, only to take over a year later government in Zagreb.
"I entered politics because I wanted to support an option that I think is good and that has turned out to be good. And that is the "We Can" platform. These are people I knew even before they started to engage in politics, who are honest, sincere and would like to change something. Of course, changes cannot occur so quickly because, unfortunately, a criminal organization called HDZ is in power in Croatia. But we hope that, little by little, that will change", said Kekin in an interview with "Vijesti".
However, political changes do not happen often in the Balkans. Even when it comes to them, the system by which the government functions mostly remains the same. This is also the reason why voters often choose to abstain.
"I think that the moment we all accept that nothing can change, it means that nothing will ever change." It is in the interest of ruling parties everywhere to convince people that nothing can change and that everyone is the same. Because then their clients will always vote for them, while the latter will not go to the polls. Thus arises the state of eternity. We live in this state of eternity under the pretext of being a fake democracy. That state of eternity is not good for the psyche, because when you live in that state you are constantly in a kind of vacuum. No matter how much you scream, talk, bring new arguments, it means nothing to anyone because you live in a vacuum where it does not reach anyone. That is why this state of eternity is dangerous for a society. We all have to scream, fight and believe that there is someone who might disappoint us as well. And that's ok. Feel free to circle someone else who will disappoint you as well. That's better than giving up and saying - 'Oh, I won't go to the polls and vote because they're all the same anyway,'" advises Kekin.
He promises that through lyrics and new songs, he will continue to criticize everything that needs to be changed, and that he is aware that some people will not like it.
"I cannot separate Miletus the poet from Miletus who has his preferences in food, politics, sex, sports. That's all me. To me, the idea that I should renounce my political being in order to be acceptable to everyone and to have more people come to my concerts is creepy. Those advices that I should not engage in politics in order not to offend the left, the right, some option, populist, that is unacceptable to me. No, I will continue to say what I say through songs, at the cost of continuing to perform in my living room in front of my dearest friends. I don't buy into that narrative that you have to be tasteless to be acceptable to everyone. I am a political being, as I am a sexual being, as I am a family being. That's my completeness, which I present on stage as well", believes the musician.
His parent band Hladno pivo was active for 35 years, and then in 2022 they did the farewell tour "The Last Tour of Hladno pivo". It also marked the beginning of Mileto Kekin's solo career. He released the announcement single "Mala" in November last year, and the solo album "Nježno djonom" was released in May of this year. The sound has not changed, nor has the expression that this musician is known for, since he is the author of most of the songs of the former band.
"According to the concerts I've had, I would say that the audience likes my solo material and what I'm doing now. I haven't given up everything I've done before. I am the author of all the texts of Cold Beer. I must admit that the rest of the band Hladno pivo also contributed to the sound of those records over the past 35 years. Now I have a different story, but the sound remains the same. I still perform the songs I wrote. My situation has not changed much, except that my name is no longer Hlado pivo but Mile Kekin, while the guys from Hladno pivo now have their own band and will continue to play the songs we created together. I don't want to deny them the ability to perform those songs. I'm glad that those songs are being played and that people are listening to them. They will play older albums, I will play this one a bit newer", promises Kekin.
The fact that he is no longer part of the band does not mean that this project has been completely put an end to. As bands reunite for anniversaries, Mile leaves this option open:
"Don't bring us together now, we just fell apart. Now, five, six years of pain and suffering must pass first, and only after that we may be reunited (laughs). We'll see what happens. I'm enjoying it so much so far. I just released a solo album three months ago and I'm really enjoying playing with my boys. I want to continue promoting new songs”.
Cold beer was among the most sought-after concert bands, and Keka's solo career did not go any worse. The schedule is full, and Mile still does not spare himself on stage and the extreme heat, but neither the rain nor today after more than three decades on the stage are a problem. He is always in a good mood and ready to extend his time with the audience at the request of the audience.
“I enjoy it. And that is not a sign of any nobility of mine. It is a sign of my selfishness. I like to please myself, I like to be on stage, to play. I like to see in front of me joyful people who share that joy in collective singing and celebrating life. It's actually prehistoric luck. Ever since people started socializing and stopped being hunters, they cultivated the land, they liked to meet and celebrate something together. My concerts are a primal expression of community happiness and celebration," admits Kekin.
A harder sound is unimaginable without beer, so at Kekin's concerts you can often see glasses in the air when the fans are "hit by the song". Sometimes the glasses end up on stage, and Kekin describes it as part of the "rock and roll culture".
"The only thing that bothers me is when people throw beer glasses at electric instruments because they are sensitive. However, it's a question of electricity and it can fail, so you can't continue playing. Otherwise, even if a glass of beer hits me in the head, I don't have any big problems. People are celebrating, throwing things in the air. As long as there is no aggression, and I have to admit that I have not experienced any aggression at my concert for a long time, everything is acceptable", says Kekin, and reveals how he feels when he sees "silence" in front of him at his concert:
"This is great. It is good for those who are silent. Just let them always look around and watch out for the weaker ones. There are women who just then want to crowd in with the men and be in the front rows," he advises.
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