The group "Far North" is a new name on the Montenegrin rock scene, but their songs sound like tracks from a band you've known for years, even decades.
Light-tempo rock 'n' roll that invites the listener to sit back and indulge in the ride through the city scenery dominant in the lyrics in which the individual searches for his place and purpose in the busy, noisy urban jungle, between fears and dreams.
Maybe because this band has been playing behind closed doors for years before going out to the public, or because among the members of already hardened rock and roll aces, only in the music and lyrics of the Far North there is not even a shred of pretentiousness - everything is reduced, precise, simple and very effective. Maybe that's why they sound so simple, maybe that's why they attracted attention even outside of Montenegro with the first song they released - "Grad", so the listeners declared that track the hit of the week on the Croatian portal Muzika.hr.
It's been a year since "Grad", and the audience has a new single "Let it fix yesterday", which is accompanied by a lyrics video available on the YouTube service. The success of the first song caught them off guard, the band joked when asked why they waited so long for a new song.
Gathered for the pure love of music Ivan Mrdak (the guitar), George Sulaver (drums) and Ivan Andrijasevic (keyboard) have been playing together for years, and at those gatherings a double-digit number of songs have been created so far. He joined them last year Dragan Lučić Lujo, a well-known face to the local audience from Nikšić and the most important Montenegrin punk band DST.
"The moment we released the previous thing, we just wanted to try our hand at the studio, recording and the whole process that accompanies music after it leaves the four walls in which it is created. Let's see what we're up to and who our songs might attract. Positive comments, playing on radio stations in Montenegro and the region, the title of the hit of the week on the Croatian music portal, presentation in the Bosnian-Herzegovinian media in the show 'Propuh' are things we did not expect. Today, I guess that's how people measure the quality of a song. Of course, and the inevitable likes. If that is so, then we have succeeded", says Mrdak.
He adds that some other standards suit them better - "messages of support, advice on what could be improved or when you hear someone listening to your song in passing".
The guitarist says that the year was spent balancing personal obligations and mapping the path the band would have to take until now, as well as the constant birth of new ideas during rehearsals that would capture their attention. Sulaver admits, however, that the periods between releasing songs should be shorter.
"We ourselves have become impatient to hear how our ideas sound when they are packaged and published. Several tracks are almost ready to go to the studio, but they are more atmospheric and complex than the recorded ones, so we want to wait a little longer and finish every detail. The first goal, as probably for every band, is - an album", he reveals.
There, however, lies the dilemma that plagues the Far North, as well as many authors today: how to market an album in today's time of fast life, short dopamine hits and hyper-stamping of music so that every part of it gets the attention it deserves.
"Following what is released, very often we see that some exceptional songs go completely unnoticed when the album is released. The habits of the listeners have changed, the ways of consuming (I use this term intentionally) music have been deformed. Today, listeners don't have time for any beautiful melodies, not for those famous 'fillers' that used to fill the space and minutes of albums when the band lacked creativity. In today's hyper-production era, it's often for nothing even when you have an outstanding song. All this causes headaches for the authors, and in the end it ends with the publication on YouTube, so whoever hears, hears. Ever since the release of the song 'Grad', we have been thinking about the way in which all the songs that will one day be on the album will be presented to the public in an equal way. It sounds like an impossible job, but we have to do what we have to do. Like preparing a child for life. And then let the songs find their way. Or they don't find it," says Sulaver.
His keyboard colleague Andrijašević agrees that the songs released so far are in some way connected - both textually and atmospherically. Is it a coincidence that both describe the relationship between the individual and the city, a kind of discomfort, but also the search for beauty in it? Probably not, because, according to Andrijašević, these are topics that have always interested artists.
"The story of discomfort and beauty can be viewed from a personal as well as a collective perspective. In principle, this story is as old as the world itself. These motifs are found in some of the most important works of world art. Maybe it gets a different meaning when it is placed in the scenography of cement, iron, fast internet, excess information and lack of communication and emotions, but it is the same topic. Cities are inexhaustible themes for musicians around the world: 'Bright Lights, Big City' Jimmy Reed, 'Inner City Blues' Marvin Gaye"This City" Steve Earle or let's turn to local music 'Cities' by Kralj Čačak or Azra's 'City Without Love'... To paraphrase the latter, it is difficult to say something different when 'others have passed through here before us'. But what we sing about is sincere. These are things that we live and experience every day. The story is universal. We hope that there are more similar ones and we hope to meet those similar ones", he points out.
And until the next meeting, the Far North does not have any grandiose plans. They want to accelerate the realization of the songs and maybe play a concert by the end of the year. But it's okay for them, as they say, even if things don't go that way. In the meantime, "Grad" and "Let Today Fix Yesterday" are available on the YouTube service for all interested ears.
The scene has never been more active, it's done for pure pleasure and you can feel it
"Let today fix yesterday" completes the good rhythm that Montenegrin musicians have caught in recent months when it comes to announcements. Bass player Dragan Lučić says that it seems that the local scene has never been more active, and that it is nice to see that the barrier between the region and Montenegro has finally been broken.
“So many great songs and albums have been released in recent years. Last year and this year they were pregnant. There is both quantity and quality. It seems that people are completely unencumbered by success, career, performances, but work for pure pleasure. When you hear what was recorded in Montenegro, you have to feel it, and I think that gives the songs space to come to life", he believes.
Where is the place of the Far North in this composition is not burdened. Lučić says that once someone will put them in one drawer, someone else in a completely different drawer.
"I think that once the YouTube stamp of 'Public' is put on a song, it begins to live its own life, completely independent of the band or the plans that its authors have made for it. These two songs are like some paper ships released into the sea. We don't want to influence how far it will reach, even if we could. We wish them good sailing, but if they are not well made, they have no help," concludes Lučić.
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