The second edition of the Biser Jadrana music festival will take place on July 18th and 19th in Tivat, bringing an even richer program than last year. This year, the festival lasts for two days, providing the audience with twice as much musical excitement.
On the first evening, the stage will be reserved for Montenegrin performers, who will have the opportunity to present their music and original work, while on the second day the festival will be dedicated to the ex-YU music scene, bringing together performers from the wider region.
Montenegro was once recognized for its competitive summer festivals that attracted musicians from across the region, and the Pearl of the Adriatic now aspires to take that very place, bringing back recognizable festival energy and summer music spectacles to the Montenegrin coast.
However, the first evening dedicated to local performers will certainly enrich the Montenegrin music scene, which has been stagnant for the last few years, and the festival director Bojan Delic hopes to inspire not only singers but also authors, because without authors there is no strong music scene.
"Our goal in the first year was for Montenegrin scouts to come out in as many numbers as possible, and that's what happened. We had 15 performers, plus authors. This year, we will have a local story on the first evening - the first festival day will be dedicated to Montenegrin performers. Now, we did not stipulate that the first evening must strictly be Montenegrin authors, although our priority is to include them. We had an example last year when several performers from outside sang songs by authors from Montenegro, so we hope that it will be the same this year. The motto of the festival is 'Tivat connects the region', so we will try to connect performers and authors from this area through music, but to especially awaken Montenegrin authors and performers," says Delić in an interview with Vijesti.
The competition for this year's edition starts on February 14th, and everyone - both debutants and established singers - can submit their songs. One thing is certain, and that is that Montenegrin performers will have their night, and that they will perform their best in the finale of the Pearl of the Adriatic.
"The competition officially starts on February 14th. Performers from Montenegro can apply for the local evening, and as many as eight first-place winners from that night will go to the regional evening. By doing so, we wanted to emphasize the importance of our musicians and have as many of them as possible at the regional evening. Performers from other ex-YU republics who send their songs to the competition will be considered for the second, regional evening. I am sure that we will have a lot of work to do. The only important thing is that they follow the rules and send pop-entertainment songs with a Mediterranean sound to the competition. I hope that this year we will manage to bring musicians and authors together in one place, and once again work together to promote beautiful and quality music," says Delić.
Last year, a large number of participants applied, and most of the songs were from Montenegro. Our scene definitely lacks festivals, because rarely does anyone decide to release singles, let alone a full album. As someone who started at festivals, Vijesti's interviewee explains why these kinds of events are the best way to promote a song for domestic artists:
"Last year, most applications came from Montenegro, but many from the region wanted to participate in the Pearl of the Adriatic. Around 130 compositions were submitted, which is quite a lot for the first year. This year we expect that number to be higher because we already have a lot of interest in informal communications, even at this moment more from the region than from home. PR of the festival Zvonimir Nedeljković "Since the previous festival ended, we have an excellent website that is constantly updated and has all the information. Social networks are also functional. It is precisely because our scene has become dormant and we were all much more active when we had Skale and Budva, that I decided to organize a festival. When I started, I sang at a lot of festivals myself and I know what kind of energy they bring, how important they are for promoting artists and songs, I know that a lot of media follows it. We have produced several names and songs from last year's festival. I admit that I myself am less active when it comes to singles, and we have to get used to releasing songs more often because that is the only way we can get the scene back on its feet. Festivals certainly motivate us to record as much as possible, and then the scene is richer, you can listen to beautiful music. I think this is the right story," Delić is sure.
Although songs are an important factor for an event like this, what attracts the audience, but also the sponsors, are certainly the big music names. However, they do not want to compete, and even when they agree, they have their own conditions - and those are prizes. Bojan reveals how difficult it is to encourage them to appear, and not to meet the conditions such as the first prize:
"Everyone interprets 'big names' in their own way. We had offers from famous performers, and what I'm proud of is that last year we had brutally strong performers at the festival in terms of singing. The big names had conditions that we couldn't meet in terms of promising prizes. The same practice will be followed this year, so there are no conditions, everyone applies voluntarily, and the jury decides on the best ones. It's not in our interest to build a festival where it will be known in advance who will be the winner. Everything will be open and fair until the very end. That's why I'm calling on all my colleagues to apply in as many numbers as possible, because I know that some commented last year how surprised they were that their songs were accepted because they thought everything was rigged. We're here to work for music and build new performers and singers. Certainly it is good for the festival if there are well-known names, it would be an honor for us if they participate, but without any set-ups and nonsense", says Delić, who is satisfied with last year's edition, although not with the broadcast of the songs, because he thinks they deserve more space in the media. He claims that the experience when they are performed on a big stage compared to when he listens to them from the demo recordings to the final versions is significantly different.
"This festival is a great love for music, and we want it to be a point of connection between colleagues and songs. When I listen to the songs individually, I am truly proud of all those people who were there. I must say that last year we had many beautiful and quality songs, who loves that genre of music, pop-Mediterranean. They were listened to, not to the extent they deserve, but the media must also get involved. We must have the entire machinery so that the scouts have the opportunity to present their songs. I have lived with these songs from the demo recordings to the final versions and in a way I see them as my own. I am proud and happy for all those colleagues, of course I have a few favorites. This year some new songs will resonate on the Summer Stage, I hope that they will remain hits after the festival, and I could not have done all this without the support, especially of the first man of Tivat Željko Komnenović, who understood that this story is important not only for the promotion of Tivat, but also for Montenegro. We will be a connecting point this year and I can't wait for it all to happen again," concludes Delić.
The big names had conditions that we could not fulfill in terms of promises of rewards. The same practice will be this year, so there are no conditions, everyone applies voluntarily, and the jury decides on the best. It is not in our interest to build a festival where it will be known in advance who will be the winner. Everything will be open and honest until the very end
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