Mirela Priselac Remi for "Vijesti": An album intended for women who fight, care, think and love

Musician Mirela Priselac, better known in the region as Remi and a member of the band Elemental, which, in addition to her, also includes Luka Tralić, Vida Manestar, Davor Zanoški, Erol Zejnilović, Konrad Lovrenčić and Ivan Vodopijec, will perform with this band in Montenegro on July 3 at the Children's Resort in Veruša, as part of the Rockstrikcija festival.

However, Remi is currently in the spotlight of regional media because she released her first solo album "Gola" in early May, so she spoke to "Vijesti" about that project, but also about her desire to present new songs to fans in Montenegro as a solo artist, including the single "Djevojke".

"After her 2020 poetry collection, Remi takes this release a step further, delving deeper into her personal space and bringing her most intimate writings. The album was in the making for years, from the first sketches that date back to 2020 through periods of loneliness, motherhood, love, moving, and global uncertainty, to its final form. The author initially composed most of the songs with a guitar, consciously separating this intimate expression from her band work," is the announcement of her first solo project.

"The album 'Gola' is out. I can finally share it with everyone who is willing to listen. It's not an easy album, it requires attention, listening to it alone, from the beginning... I'm not easy either, so somehow this album and I are going together. I'm calm. Open, on the right path. I know we did a great job. I put it all together calmly, with people who are my confidants and family," Remi announced the solo album on social media.

As she explained, she spent a long time shaping this album, which is available on all streaming platforms and will also be released on vinyl this summer, and she played the first notes on a borrowed guitar back in 2018. It includes the songs "Sloboda", "Kradljivci", "Istok", "Mirna", "Januar", "Lav", "Ljetnja kiša", "Igramo", "Mjesec", "Samo nježno prema sebi", "Uspavanka" and the single "Djevojke", which was the first to receive a video.

“Gola” is described as “a collection of simple yet powerful songs” that explore themes such as women’s empowerment and personal freedom. On the other hand, the single “Djevojke” stands out as the album’s manifesto, delivering a message of support and unity among women, countering societal pressures with the idea of ​​authenticity and personal freedom.

Although attention is currently focused on her solo project, Remi is an indispensable part of Elemental, which is a welcome guest in Montenegro, and in an interview with "Vijesti" she reveals how much they enjoy performing in front of this audience.

"A concert in Podgorica is never just a concert - it's a small victory for Elemental. Why? Because in Podgorica we have people who love our music, who feel safe at our concerts and who share our worldviews. It's a victory for the band and for the message we send, through what we do best. Thank you for loving us!" says Priselac, who will have her next performance with "Elemental" as part of Rockstriction, and hints at the repertoire they are preparing for the occasion, and also answers the question - how difficult is it to put together a set list and "please" everyone.

"A new Elemental album has been released, so the setlist will rely heavily on new songs from the new album 'Dobra djeca'. But we won't forget the songs that made us famous either - we'll come up with a well-balanced setlist, so that no one goes home sad. As a yoga teacher, I know a lot about balance, so I'll try to make it nice and not hurt anyone," Remi explains with a laugh.

In addition to Elemental, Vojko V, Mile Kekin, Partibrejkersi, Smoke Mardeljano have also been announced... And with a large number of performers, the band members know each other personally, so Remi also looks at how much they use such performances to socialize, and on the other hand, whether they sometimes have time to relax and listen to their colleagues' gigs.

"I really love festivals, especially when it gets warmer, because besides being comfortable on stage, we also have a great time behind it. We have great respect for the colleagues you listed, some of them have put the Balkan scene on its feet, and some are our contemporaries - quality people who create praiseworthy music. Now, some say, it's better not to meet the people you admire - but with this list of performers, that's not the case. Legends to the core!", concludes the musician, who also talks about her solo album and reveals why now, after a long career, was the right moment for it.

"The stars aligned! I'm really glad they did, because I worked long and hard on my solo album, but also on the Elemental album. Why not drive in both lanes, when we can (laughs)... We have a lot of ideas, a lot of creative energy, and it's a nice coincidence that - by supporting each other - we can release two albums in the same year!", she replies.

Asked what her first solo album brings, she says that it contains "very intimate song themes."

"With minimal instrumentals, just as I imagined it would be. Edi Cukerić is the producer of my solo album and we both agreed on our love for minimalism. I wanted to say a lot in the lyrics, but with few words, the songs are all sung, the instrumentals are fresh, we look at eternal themes from a new perspective. The album is intended for women who fight, care, think and love, and for men who are our comrades without whom we cannot and do not need!", concludes the interviewee of "Vijesti".

She also explains how much she wanted to stand out from Elemental with her solo album, or whether this solo project came about precisely because she was creating songs that did not fit into the band's work.

"No, these songs are not 'repeats' of Elemental, but songs that I made just for myself, for my soul. When I made one, two, three, and played them myself on the guitar, I realized that this was something that I had kept inside me for a long time, and that wanted to come out. And I let my imagination run wild. I played the guitar again, which I hadn't done since I was 12. Only later did my friend Erol Zejnilović (with whom I also compose in Elemental) get involved in the process, so the two of us reached the number of 12 songs, and realized that it was a full album," she explained.

Along with the album, Remi also released a video for one of the songs - "Djevojke", and she also talks about why this particular single was selected for the film adaptation.

"What I started with the song 'Freedom', I have now rounded off with the song 'Girls'. It is very important that we have songs and works in the public space that deal with women - and especially young girls. I hope that my voice in the song does not sound like it is speaking 'from on high' but rather gentle, supportive, like the voice of an older sister who has already lived 10 lives (laughter)... We do not cherish each other enough, so I am replacing the old 'woman is a wolf to a woman' with my coinage 'woman is a circle to a woman'. And I really think so. Moreover, that is how I work," the musician emphasized.

Asked if she plans more videos for songs from her solo album, she says fans should "wait until the fall."

"I think I'll go on a new video adventure then," she hints, and finally reveals whether she will come to Montenegro in the near future as a solo artist and present the album "Gola" live.

"I would be overjoyed to come and perform in Montenegro! I have assembled a new band that will accompany me on this independent part of the journey, as the backing band for the album 'Gola', and I would love to present these songs to my dear Montenegrins. Let's deepen our love," says Priselac.