Magic for the eye, ear and soul

Prince Sevdah, Bosnian singer-songwriter God's Sack since the first concert in Podgorica, he did not hide his love for Montenegro. However, the audience in Montenegro always knows how to respond to that love, and more tickets are always requested for his concerts.

This time, Vrećo did not visit the Montenegrin regions for concerts, but decided to shoot footage for the new video at Lake Skadar. It is the original Montenegrin song "Po ladu, po zalada", which together with the music video Božo will bring in a completely different spirit.

"Given that it is a traditional Montenegrin song, the recording of which we know was created in the people by an unknown author, the first time I performed it at a concert in Podgorica in a new musical style peculiar to me. People were delighted and the desire to shape it visually and turn it into something magical for the eye, not just for the soul, was born immediately. Lake Skadar and Žabljak Crnojevića spontaneously imposed themselves with their beauty and mysticism. I always imagine that lake fairies live in it and even on several occasions when I was picking a couple of white lotuses for a scene through the reeds and sedges, I seemed to hear them. Their blessing is especially important to me and I knew that every day would bring unique scenes and the same unadulterated emotion", he says in an interview with Vijesti Vrećo.

Whenever he chose to sing traditional songs, Božo always liked to learn some story related to that song. This time, his interest was aroused by the composition "Po ladu, po lada", and he reveals what kind of emotion it arouses in him and what he learned about it:

"Actually, I went deeper into the very analysis of the song as such, where there is an apparent almost naive synthesis of chanting, very minimalistic in its telling, but with a lot of love for them to yield to each other. However, what was my leitmotif in the song, is the transformation of the hero man into a raven as soon as the night comes, and that bond of mysticism and something spiritual in it, alchemical, was very important and inspiring to me, without being a tragedy. So, a ballad and a romance in their epic, epic presentation, and thus similar to a mountain fairy tale that dispels any bad luck and makes a fateful gift to each other and a new life together come true," said the musician.

Montenegrin musical folklore is characterized by seconds, these melodies do not seem overly demanding because they are reduced to only a few tones. When it comes to interpretation, Božo has proven many times that he can sing even the most demanding numbers, given his magnificent vocal abilities.

"Every song I perform, I make vocally in my own way more difficult and demanding to sing, because I think that someone who has the skill and gift of singing can play with the melismatics and the structure of the song, and also decide where the short breath and the long singing are. . A skill that can be learned and improved", emphasizes Vrećo, who started his career covering traditional songs. However, he showed that he is just as good as an author who writes songs modeled on traditional ones. When asked if the single "Po ladu, po zalada" heralds a return to the roots or perhaps a new album where he will bring traditional songs in a new guise, Vrećo answers:

"I am still working concisely on my seventh singer-songwriter album 'Sevdahology', which will be released, I believe, in the spring. Until then, I will release several screened singles, all of which are my lyrics and music, except for one song that I turned from epic into lyrical poetics and in that way modernized, personified and returned to it the primordial treasure that had been taken from it. All of this is a perfect synthesis of harmonies, a balance of singing and telling, emotions and memories. It is also the sevdah that I create, inherit and cherish. Sevdah in which not only I believe, but thousands and thousands of my admirers because I tell them and sing the truth about love, how strong, self-sacrificing, unwavering and eternal it can be", notes Vrećo.

At concerts in Montenegro, the musician always takes the opportunity to sing some old Montenegrin songs. However, this is not surprising, given that his mother is from Cetinje, and that he is familiar with the oeuvre of songs from this area, and reveals which are his favourites:

"The song 'Ah dear mother lift me up a little' is unsurpassed Ksenija Cicvarić, is my personal favorite, and there is another one - 'Mlada Jelka ljubi Janka'. Those two somehow became close to my heart on the first listen, but take my word for it, I know every sevdalinka and recognize myself in it, above all in karasevdah, which I myself record and successfully pass around the world like pearls from the Balkans".

For the new video, Vrećo gathered a team that worked diligently for several days. Horses were also rented for the video. Božo does not hide that he loves nature, and about how much this experience will encourage him to spend a vacation in Montenegro, he says:

"There is no rest with me, except for a few days that are possibly interspersed between concerts. But I also rest while I create, record and travel," claims the musician.

He recalls that they filmed for two days on lake locations.

"We filmed at locations with wild horses and the equestrian club Horse Riding Montenegro, and finally at the location of the fortress of Žabljak Crnojević, where we closed the circle of storytelling and hugged each other. I had valuable and wonderful actors with me on the set who contributed to my vision and direction because from now on I create my artistic sequences myself, and with the help of a great cinematographer Indir Merdanović was able to faithfully depict everything that I write down or sing and visually takes on my characteristic and very recognizable director's character and personality of expression. That's the fullness I was striving for and I simply imagine every scene that, with God's help, takes on and forms supernatural visions and colors them with some divine light", he adds and says that he enjoyed himself during the filming, as did the rest of the crew.

"The video will be released in October, after my tour in Canada, and I can't wait for you to see, notice and hear everything, and then I'll say something more about everyone who had their roles and was actually just deeply themselves throughout the ages. I am infinitely grateful and it is wonderful that everyone knew that I was there and reciprocated with love and respect and hospitality, we said out of kindness that this was my return to the homeland, so let it be so, to the roots of Zeta, Cetinje, Žabljak and Rijeka Crnojevića , Podgorica and everything that is Montenegrin and exemplary honorable. First of all to my favorite director and visionary Živko Nikolic whose films I know by heart and still inspire me", concludes Vrećo.

I make each song that I perform vocally in my own unique way more difficult and demanding to sing, because I believe that someone who has the skill and gift of singing can play with the melismatics and structure of the song, and also untangle where there is a short breath and a long singing. A skill that is learned and developed

Perfect day, perfect experience, perfect people

In Bož's new music video, in addition to numerous actors, Montenegrin model Sandra Marković also appears.

"The collaboration came about quite by accident. He asked Sanda Rakočević for help, and she contacted me through Mr. Srđa Lubard from the Fashion Chamber of Montenegro. Božo and I made contact through Instagram, talked a bit and agreed on cooperation very easily. I am pleased to have met him and he is truly a wonderful person, full of emotions," recalled Marković, emphasizing that he was perfect on the set.

"Perfect day, perfect experience, perfect people - this is how I would briefly describe that shooting day. Božo is a person you can't help but fall in love with at first sight. A wonderful man, an artist in the true sense of the word," she added.

Although it is an old Montenegrin song, Marković admits that she has not heard the track "Po ladu, po zalad" until now.

"The way Vrećo sings this track is perfect to say the least. And the rhythm, and the melody, and his voice. I am sure that everyone will enjoy it when the music video and the song see the light of day", she is sure.