Different in its simplicity, measured, and above all talented. These are the words that could perhaps be used to describe singer-songwriter Vanja Radovanović. About what music represents for him, he told "Vijesti" that it is first and foremost a way of expression.
"I always felt that I express myself better through lyrics. In addition, music gives me the opportunity to create, and that's something I wouldn't trade for anything in the world," says Vanja. When asked if there is one of his songs that he is attached to by special emotions, he answers that "some moments bind you to each one, usually those related to the creative process itself, when the song takes shape and when out of a million possible directions it chooses just that one." .
"It always fascinates and excites me. Of course, there are some songs that you are more proud of, some less so, but it all goes to the service deadline".
Especially proud of "Don't Ask About Me"
He reveals that for him personally, of the songs published so far, "Ne pitaj za mene" is certainly one of the best and, as he says, he is particularly proud of it.
"Of the unreleased ones, maybe "Svi životi moji" or "Prvi pik" will be on the new album, although I have to admit that there will be more songs on it that will be a dangerous competition for them", he believes.
When it comes to the current state of the Montenegrin music scene, Vanja says that we have a lot of talented and great musicians, but that the basic question is who wants what for themselves and how far they are willing to go.
"It is difficult to generalize. Some want fame, lots of money, some want to create, some just want to play. There is definitely a lack of places for gigs, where a scene would be physically formed", he states.
He emphasizes that you should not complain, but try to expand your career to the region and show the quality you possess.
"Fortunately for us, many people from here have proven that it is possible and that you should be persistent if you believe in it," he points out.
"David is a wonderful baby"
Vanja recently became a father. Regarding whether that role has changed him, he says that he does not know whether he has changed radically.
"I laugh incomparably more, although I have never lacked a smile, and I definitely have an excellent reason to destroy every plan for the final growing up, because now I have someone to share my infancy with," he says.
When asked what he considers his greatest success, he answers that it is definitely his family
He points out that his wife Ivana and he enjoy parenthood in the full sense of the word.
"Fortunately for us, everything is going as one could wish. David is a wonderful baby. The smile of that little being completely disarms us and gives a new dimension to real life. Being a dad is a great feeling, and it gets better and better every day, it seems. In fact, I'm sure of it,” he says.
When asked what he considers his greatest success, he answers that it is definitely his family. "It may sound like a cliché, but when you lay bare the reality, it is the greatest wealth and the greatest joy in life. Everything else is just a trick," he says.
He says that today things either last too short or turn into a habit and boredom.
"People, in general, don't know what to do with themselves because everything is more or less within reach, but somehow we always try to reach for the unattainable. And the family is always there, my always attainable happiness, which gives me meaning in everything I do", says the singer-songwriter.
Traveling tops the list of hobbies
When asked if he has any hobbies, Vanja answers "nothing unusual".
"I try to sit at the computer as little as possible, because it makes me terribly tired, not only the screen, but the millions of information"
"I like to read, play soccer, swim, I'm a big movie buff, a standard package of hobbies. I will try to include travel in the list of hobbies and to climb to the top of it as soon as possible, because if travel can be included in hobbies, then it is my first choice", he states.
In his free time, he says he likes to escape somewhere, especially from technology.
"Somewhere in nature or among people, as long as it's the real, tangible world. I try to sit at the computer as little as possible, because it tires me terribly, not only the screen, but the millions of information, most of which are completely irrelevant," he points out.
He says that he fights against the need we have in us to read, open, see everything, to be constantly up to date and always online.
"Various phobias lurk there and I try to escape from it as much as I can. On the other hand, a great antidote to that is the guitar, which is always there somewhere, just in case," he says.
Modern, fresh, different
With the song "Parachute", Vanja announces a new album, as well as the beginning of cooperation with the production company "Goraton".
He points out that one of the most respected Croatian producers, Denis Mujadžić Denyken, is in charge of the music production
"We are currently recording the rest of the material in Zagreb and it will be characterized by a slightly different sound than what people are used to. Of course, as much as the songs allow, but certainly very modern, fresh and different", says Vanja.
He points out that one of the most respected Croatian producers Denis Mujadžić Denyken, who has worked with all the big bands from Hladni piva, Majka, Jinx, to Laka and Nina Badrić, is responsible for the music production.
"Collaboration with him is really something special. His principle of work goes into the essence of playing music and playing with a band, which is very rare today, and in fact it is extremely effective in every sense", he says.
The need to send a message
About engaging songs, which in his work stand out in addition to those in which love is the motive, Vanja says that they are, to some extent, the meaning of playing music, especially when it comes to singer-songwriters.
I had the opportunity to write a couple of lyrics for the band "Indigo Pop" from Podgorica.
"We used to have Dilan and Šobić, but today it's a little different. Music is more a market than an art, so such songs have almost disappeared from pop music. But we will come up with something," he says.
He points out that he always needs to send a message through each of his songs and that on the new album it will be possible to hear exactly that combination of love songs with criticism of life and society.
"Something simple, but very thoughtful. I had the opportunity to write a couple of texts for the Podgorica band "Indigo Pop" in exactly that manner, where we wanted to say something and yet not be too harsh," he says.
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