Social themes that are not always cheerful, but also rhythms that make you want to dance, these are the basic characteristics of the music created by the singer-songwriter. Petar Zorkic. Instead of ballads and pathetic heartbreaking phrases, Petar chooses a sound that can improve the mood, but also lyrics that make you think. His singles “Vreme curi”, “Psihički labilan” and “Altruism and Patience”, which will be found on the upcoming album, are exactly that. Although the aforementioned tracks fit perfectly into the spirit of the times and easily evoke images of contemporary society, Petar began creating them long before the protests began.
Instead of being sad and pessimistic, Petar transforms his dark thoughts into bright melodies and rhythms that move. He uses optimism as a way to bring balance and encourage good mood through sound. For him, music is a way to cope with everyday life and provide support to those who are fighting for a better tomorrow.
Since he is certain that art should encourage thought, that is exactly what he wanted to achieve with the new singles he talks about for Vijesti...
Petre, about ten days ago you released the third single from your upcoming album on digital platforms. It's called "Altruism and Patience". Given that the simple times we live in have taught us to look "inwards and into our own pockets", and there aren't many who selflessly care about the well-being of others, is there altruism without patience?
Patience is learned and practiced. You need to be calm and self-aware enough to plan something in order to achieve a goal. It is true that altruism has long become a term that people misuse. These two terms are not necessarily related, I combined them to characterize a certain balance. I think that both should be nurtured, that both should be strived for, so that it becomes a formula for normal functioning in any community and society. It is a difficult and somewhat utopian task, which is why I turned it into a song.
Art is there to warn, to criticize, and through it we can always have a perception of what the time was like when it was created. To what extent can art today influence the perception of future generations about this time period in which the songs for the album “Altruism and Patience” were created?
So, in addition to its aesthetic function, art should warn us, make us think, develop a critical attitude towards society, situations, the system, deconstruct, ask us questions about love, existence, politics, etc. The historical moment in which a piece of art is created is very important. Therefore, I think that music is not just mere entertainment, but also a reflection of the moment we live in. Since I am a sociologist by formal education, although music is my primary activity, I try to fit everyday topics into the moment I find myself in, with rhythms and melodies that can adequately color certain messages.
Every time brings its own turbulence, adversity, and uncertainties, and the current social turmoil and antagonisms are more than obvious both here and in the world.
I started preparing the songs for the upcoming album long before the current student protests and the struggle for a dignified and more just social organization. But they are the ones who dared to very wisely and prudently articulate their dissatisfaction and point out concrete steps that can contribute to the healing of the chronic problem that we have all been struggling with for many years. My music just happened to come at the same time, and that is why I am extremely glad. No matter how much injustice we are faced with, I think that students instill confidence in us and encourage courage. That is why all my dark thoughts, when they come to me, I transform them into joy, a playful rhythm or a positive melody, and I am also an optimist by nature. I love to rejoice and share joy with others.
All art influences generations to come, we will only see to what extent we will consume art carefreely in the future, and to what extent we will continue to engage in activism.
Altruism in art means giving without expecting anything in return. Can we really talk about altruism in art, given that artists often expect recognition, feedback, or some kind of reward for their work?
Every work of art that is conceived and presented to an audience already becomes altruism in itself. And not only altruism, but it represents the stripped-down sensibility of each author. To that extent, it is “given” to people for consumption, to identify with that piece or to reject it. That is the richness of writing, composing, painting, acting, sculpture, etc. Recognitions are constructs that can in other ways stimulate the ego or motivate, although we are witnesses that recognitions are often in the service of ideology, personal interests or politics. I think that direct recognitions and conversations with the author are key. Artists have the ability to create some new value from silence, a blank canvas, a blank page of paper or on the boards that mean life. So, to create something out of nothing, while practically exposing themselves to the world. That requires a certain amount of courage, and I think that can already be a sufficient reward and satisfaction. It is important to understand that culture is one of the main carriers of the identity of a climate and people, and unfortunately many still do not understand this.
Patience is the key to achieving big goals, but in a time when everything is available at your fingertips and waiting is often perceived as a waste of time, how do you develop patience as a virtue?
I believe that patience is practiced, like many other things in life. Excessive expectations are what paralyze and produce dissatisfaction if they are not met. Being patient is really difficult nowadays because everything happens quite quickly. But as we know, quickly can also be short, i.e. unfinished. So, practice and just practice, sometimes even beyond your established customs and habits. This approach also relies heavily on Far Eastern philosophy. Waiting in itself is not smart, but one should go towards one's own ideas and aspirations, and not wait for something to happen by itself. Perhaps I would rather call it anticipation, if one thinks about it wisely.
The single that preceded the current one, “Altruism and Patience,” is also interesting - “Psychically Lable.” In it, the main character is presented as a gentleman, a person who follows norms and expectations. How would you sociologically explain the phenomenon in which altruism, as a form of selfless help, becomes in some way marginalized in a society that values practicality and personal gain more? To what extent does the psychological lability of individuals also affect the fact that such people are often characterized as “fools” or “stupid” because they help without expecting anything in return?
For this poem, I was inspired by my family members and dear friends and colleagues from whom I learn a lot. Thank you for inspiring me to translate all those qualities into this poem. It is true that people who follow the norms, respect the laws, show empathy and humanity are often characterized as fools in today's world. If so, then I too accept being that fool, but a fool who sleeps peacefully and carefree, a fool who can look himself in the mirror and can look anyone in the eye without fear of being caught in a lie.
You need to think smartly and slowly, make plans and balance your desires, needs and possibilities, and above all, you need to be prepared for the possibility that your ideas may not come true. However, in the end, you should not give up, especially if you are doing something with passion. Today, in a time when we live just a click away from everything, we need to be careful not to neglect the twists and turns, not to ruin education, not to skip topics and constructive discussions, not to approach it superficially and grumpily, and most importantly, not to neglect the upbringing of children, i.e. future generations to come.
We have a systemic problem, and it all starts with throwing rocks and spitting on the street, parking in a disabled space if we are not disabled, ignoring our neighbors in the building, leaving trash in elevators, hallways, and parks, and all the way to corruption and nepotism at the highest level. If everyone, on their own micro level, manages to encourage themselves and others to be better than they are and does so day after day, then we can expect some positive changes in society as a whole. This is exactly what students have been teaching us in recent months, although it seems to me that many are forgetting the so-tried but true phrase - that the world rests with the young.
I called the song "Psychologically Labile" more as a joke, precisely because this man does everything out of pure pleasure to contribute to the betterment of the community and the environment in which he finds himself.
In the song “Vreme curi” you addressed generational anger and the feeling of missed opportunities. In the chorus you yourself ask yourself “will we be better people while time is running out”. To what extent does everything that happens to us in life make us better, or does life teach us to look at ourselves and our needs more often?
To be better for others, we must be better for ourselves, of course. If we surrender to circumstances, if we whine or keep quiet and pretend to be crazy, if we give up our basic rights to a dignified life and do not think about the betterment of our fellow human beings and the betterment of society as a whole, then our presence is in vain, or at the very least selfish. Self-sufficiency is cursed, it is not necessarily seen immediately, and then it is too late. We are a climate characterized by many missed opportunities, a lot of superficial approach to things, lack of attention and whatnot, which is why I ask myself in the poem whether we will be better people. Without any idea of comparing ourselves with these or those, but only to see whether we are here, now capable of being better than we are. I am afraid that this is a rhetorical question, but you should be optimistic, especially if you have young people who are admonishing you.
Could this very feeling that time has "passed" or that opportunities for change are being lost motivate young people to get involved in actions such as protests or social movements?
I think it is evident that our youth are fed up and that they have taken action precisely because of the mass inaction and lethargy to which our society is prone. Every major social change has its pivot. Today, these are young students, who as a collective entity are introducing a new paradigm in the study of social processes. These young people have not had much contact with the hardships of previous decades in the former Yugoslavia, except that they were able to listen to stories from their elders. They are mostly a generation that grew up on digital services and social networks, but they are precisely the proof that social networks can be used in a good way if you organize yourself smartly and wisely, while preserving your own dignity and taking care of society as a whole.
The way you deal with all these social issues is also interesting. The lyrics carry a strong message, while the music is singable and simply makes you want to dance. Music is a medicine in a way, especially when it comes to overcoming stress and anxiety. Did you want to contribute to the mental health of the listeners by combining serious social issues with dance melodies?
I am not a big fan of ballads, nor of cheap words, pathetic heartbreaking platitudes that often state generalities. I like playful rhythms and melodies, and accordingly I combine messages with sound. I like to transform serious topics into an optimistic scenario. Deeper immersion in suffering and giving up lead nowhere. In that sense, I could agree with your statement that it is a certain therapy and a way in which I share my mental hygiene with others.
Bonus video:
