Rock and roll is a movement of rebellion, but also of love and peace.

In recent years, the Montenegrin rock scene has been slowly awakening from a long sleep. Regardless of modest media support and the fact that popular trends often go in a different direction, rockers do not give up. On the contrary, they persistently build an audience, bring new ideas and create an authentic sound, so they can rightfully be ranked among the most active on the scene, along with rappers.

In this new trend, the band NeonoeN stands out, having recently released their debut album “Huk na zvuk”. The album was well received by the audience, eager for something fresh in rock and roll. They are now embarking on a concert promotion of this release, which is further proof that there are no obstacles to rock.

The first in a series of concerts is scheduled for Saturday, September 13th, in Podgorica's Njegošev Park, while, according to one of the founders and guitarist Ilija Pejović, the band members can expect gigs throughout the region.

Ilija Pejović talks to "Vijesti" about the reactions to the album, the concert, and the Montenegrin rock scene...

It's been a few months since the release of the album "Huk na zvuk", you let the audience learn the songs and now you're slowly starting to actively promote it. Are you satisfied with how it's been received, and is there a song that particularly stood out?

We are very pleased with the reactions and comments on the album, especially from certain people whose analyses go beyond banal comments based on platitudes, but seriously delve into the essence of the words, melodies and arrangement solutions. It seems to us that with this album we have made a kind of confirmation and seal for our past work and fulfilled the promises we made earlier, both to ourselves and to the public, that we are not a short-term project for a few singles, but a serious author's band that has continuity.

There is a difference between musicians who play live almost identically to the CD and those who give songs a new dimension or energy in concert. How important is it to you that each of your gigs brings something different to the audience, that the songs don't sound the same as in the studio version? Is there any improvisation at concerts?

When it comes to new songs that are just finding their way to the audience, I believe that they need to be presented live in a way that is as close as possible to the one on the recording. After all, the recording was played live only in studio-controlled conditions. On the other hand, songs that have long been known to the public should be given some new spices that open up new dimensions of listening. Concerts are precisely the opportunity to find the right balance between these two approaches.

“Huk na zvuk” brought nine songs, which is not enough for a full-length concert. In addition to songs from the album, will you also play those songs by your colleagues that you love tomorrow night?

In addition to the songs from the album, we will play our other original songs, which we already consider as “early works”, and refer to the period before the rebranding from Neon to NeonoeN. All in all, more than an hour of original music. It should be noted that the audience will also enjoy a DJ set at the beginning of the evening. We have no doubt that Mr Jools will know how to choose the right repertoire.

Your music has that powerful roar and noise that is reminiscent of rock and roll rebellion, but still retains a warmth and softness. How important is it for you to maintain that balance between rebellion and the emotional side of the sound?

Rock and roll is a movement of rebellion, but also of love and peace. That's why we don't allow ourselves to be trapped by the constant need to push only one dimension at all costs - rebellion for the sake of rebellion. In addition, a very important link for us is the very breadth of musicality, that's why we are not slaves to uniformity and have no genre complexes. We create what comes out of us and what we ourselves are satisfied with.

It is often said that rock and roll is slowly dying and being supplanted by other genres. It is rock bands and rappers in Montenegro that have brought new energy to our scene in recent years and are the most active. Do you think that today's rock scene has managed to bring something new and fresh compared to what we had before when the Gitarijade in Titograd and the Point marathons were held, which gave birth to many rock bands in Montenegro and where they had the opportunity to show themselves?

One important difference compared to previous periods is that we notice that a wave of quantity and quality has finally happened in Montenegro. And that people do not give up after the first attempts, which are often disappointing, but push forward and believe in the idea. If some bands from the previous period had endured, perhaps we would not have the feeling that we are always at the beginning today. But we hope, if nothing else, that our generation is finally paving the way for all future ones in the full sense.

For the album Huk na zvuk you received support from the PGP-RTS record label. With this concert I assume that the tour on which you will promote it is just beginning. What is the plan because, it seems to me, today the audience learns songs best at concerts?

As for us, we would like to confirm that everything we create as authors is confirmed precisely at promotional concerts, festivals, gigs, clubs that offer technical support for such performances. It turned out that this September is one of the most intense periods in our work so far. We play in Podgorica, then Belgrade and Novi Sad. Finally, both the organizers and the audience put us in the line of those bands that we often put in the “regional” category.