Living up to other people's expectations means giving up on yourself.

It is not uncommon for bands to build their careers by performing other authors' music for years, but few of them, after so many years, step out of their comfort zone and dedicate themselves to their own work. For the members of the band Senkina đeca, that moment came after more than fifteen years of working together, when they decided to turn the experience gained through countless performances and playing music together into their own songs. With the single "Boje", they point out that they are opening a new chapter in their career, and in the coming period they will focus on original music instead of covers.

"Our further plan is to focus on original music. We are currently preparing to shoot a video for the second song and hope to present it to the audience in the fall. In the meantime, while we work on our material, we will continue to play gigs," founder and guitarist Dejan Ljujić reveals in an interview with "Vijesti".

The song “Boje” has a different sound than what Senkina đeca was known for as a club band. While the audience mostly associated them with funk, this track is in a rock-blues style. However, as the interviewee of “Vijesti” points out, this does not mean that they are changing their sound.

“'Boje' is actually a sound that we love and we took a thoughtful approach to creating an arrangement for it. The sound in the song is based on organic band blues playing. The Hammond and double bass with other instruments give the song a breadth that is rarely found in domestic modern production today. We tried and, I would say, succeeded in preserving and conveying the band's essential sound. The song that we plan to release in the fall is completely different from 'Boje', so we cannot subordinate ourselves to one genre but will simply follow the feeling,” promises Ljujić.

In today's music scene, it is increasingly common for performers to choose to cover well-known songs rather than create their own original expression. This is often due to the fact that it is easier to introduce familiar melodies to the audience, while creating original music requires time, patience, and a willingness to break away from established patterns.

"I believe that the reasons are different, but we also don't all have the same goal. Playing covers makes it easier to achieve some benefits, such as financial ones, but in the long run it doesn't bring anything beyond that. Many bands probably plan to first perform other people's music, then change direction and start working on original things, but they don't get there because there are a lot of factors that have to coincide. I think the audience will give it a chance and there is an audience, so you should try, because you can't lose anything," advises Ljujić.

The song “Boje” talks about moments when a person stops, reconsiders their own choices and tries to find their way back to themselves. Through a story about losing one’s own identity under the pressure of other people’s expectations, but also about the strength to rediscover repressed emotions, the band brings a theme close to everyone who has felt distant from themselves at least once. When asked how difficult it was to choose a theme for the first single, Ljujić answers:

"We didn't look for the topic, it found us. It talks about people who spend a lot of their lives constantly adapting to situations and circumstances, while completely denying themselves and, ultimately, escaping the pattern in which they are used to functioning," he emphasizes.

In the song they say, "For too long I've been giving my dreams away to others," but through their lives and careers they've learned not to live up to other people's expectations. They don't hide the fact that this is one of the hardest lessons a person has to learn.

"I think that to some extent and in some segments of life, a person should think about the expectations of others, that this can be a good motivator. But living according to other people's expectations means giving up on oneself. The lesson is difficult, but I must say that it is much easier when a person has the support and understanding of family, partner, friends, so perhaps the lesson should start from there - let's learn to listen to others, to be a support to someone," Ljujić points out.

The line “Why am I not nice when injustice stings me” seems to speak about social pressure to be obedient and not react. On why we are still more uncomfortable with the person who points out a problem than the problem itself, Ljujić explains:

"Because people are used to being ignored. Because whenever you need to stand up for something and join forces to make it better, it usually comes down to a few people. People are used to taking the path of least resistance. To be silent and obedient 'because it's safer that way.' It's a broad topic, but I'll just say that I hope that at some point we will all find our 'colors' and give importance primarily to ourselves and our needs, and then to all the other people who are trying to do something and change.

Audiences often have certain expectations from the artists they follow, especially those who have built a recognizable sound and style over the years. Fulfilling those expectations is not always easy, as every new musical direction or different approach carries a risk of how the audience will react. However, the members of Senkine Đece are not afraid of the audience's reaction to the song "Boje".

"We think the audience will like it precisely because, just like at the gigs, we gave it our all when recording it," he is certain.

Although they are active when it comes to gigs, "Boje" have not yet had the opportunity to perform live to an audience.

"The point is, we plan to include it in the repertoire as soon as possible, because we haven't had the chance to perform it yet. Every song has a different energy when performed live, so we can't wait to play 'Boje'," says Ljujić.

Today we have bands and authors who create new music, record and put in a lot of effort, but often do not have enough space to present their work to the audience - whether through the media, festivals or concert platforms. In such an environment, it is difficult to stay motivated, persevere in authorial work and believe that quality will find its way to the audience.

"As far as the media is concerned, we always had the impression that there was room for everyone who had something to say (and show) and that has indeed been confirmed now that we have released our song. The situation at festivals and other major events is better than before, but there is still plenty of room to give a chance to bands that create their own music, because that is where the focus should be. I don't believe that this greatly affects motivation because a musician creates to express themselves, to share their musical thoughts and talent with people, but it is sad, considering that we know how much effort, will and resources are needed to realize all of that, to see that no one recognizes and appreciates it," says Ljujić, whose band members are musically educated, and some of them play professionally in the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra. When asked to what extent this band and the creation of original music is a kind of exhaust valve for them in relation to their daily, disciplined work and hours spent practicing the classical repertoire, and whether this combination of different musical experiences gives them additional freedom in expression, they say:

"Absolutely! Listening to and performing different musical styles provides the best basis for creativity. It is a great honor for me that, as a member of the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra, I have the opportunity to perform works by the greatest masters of orchestration, works that have lasted for centuries, but of course it is a special experience to create something of my own," admits the interlocutor of "Vijesti" whose brother Slaven, who is also part of Senka's Children, is dedicated to jazz when it comes to his authorial work. Slaven has several of his own projects, and he supports Dejan and the rest of the team not only as a player.

"We always support each other, which is natural. Slaven is a man whose brain works incredibly fast and always has some interesting idea to suggest. His contribution is great because he contributed ideas to the arrangement, we recorded in his studio and he was signed as the producer of the song. I would invite people to take an interest and listen to his original music because they have something to hear. I must also thank the other band members and colleagues who participated and contributed their ideas to the work on the song: Sandra, Martin, Jester, Luna, Enes," concludes Ljujić.