Through various elements of Mediterranean and Balkan music, vocal artist, singer-songwriter, but also a professor at Berklee Tamara Jokic tonight, she is taking the audience from Podgorica on a journey through musical landscapes, with the desire that each individual realizes warmth and joy, but also awakens understanding and attachment to different (musical) traditions and cultures, she told Vijesti.
Her premiere concert in Montenegro will be held today, as part of the music program of the Cultural and Information Center (KIC) "Budo Tomović" in Podgorica, at 20 p.m. He will share the big stage of KIC with his quartet, which consists of: Dušan Popović Lipovac (the guitar), Goran Savić (percussion) and Miloš Bosnić (bass guitar).
Tickets, at a price of seven euros, can be purchased at the KIC ticket office from 20 a.m. to XNUMX p.m.
A native of Valjevo, Jokić showed an interest in music, especially fado, from childhood. She graduated in Spanish and Portuguese at the Faculty of Philology in Belgrade, after which she received a scholarship and obtained a degree from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. His musical path took him to New York, where he currently lives and creates.
"In her repertoire, Tamara delicately combines Mediterranean and Balkan melodies, creating unique interpretations. Her commitment to Mediterranean culture and music has led to collaborations with a number of eminent musicians and producers, including Javier Limona, Mariza, Diogo Clemente, Amira Medunjanin, Bojan Zulfikarapšića, Izrael Suarez Piranha, Paul Winter, Jamie Haddad and others. In addition to vocal performance, Tamara is also engaged in musical research of various cultures and geographical areas. From Spain and Portugal, North Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East, she comes to her own expression that includes the musical heritage of all these cultures, which is why she received the award from the Institute for Mediterranean Music of Boston College", according to the KIC announcement.
The international music career of this artist gained momentum in recent years thanks to concerts in Spain and Belgrade, and she also performed in one of the most prestigious concert halls in the world - Carnegie Hall in New York. Confirmation of success and an important milestone in her career is the contract with the Portuguese branch of the music company Sony Music Entertainment and her debut album "Transiberica", released in 2022 under the auspices of the famous Spanish producer and guitarist Javier Limon and the famous composer Dioga Clemente from Portugal.
In addition to nurturing traditional musical forms, Jokić also writes his own music, which he colors with Spanish and Mediterranean sentiments, in a contemporary musical context, and he talks more about all this in an interview for Vijesti.
This is your first performance in front of the Podgorica audience. Do you have any expectations, and on the other hand, what can the audience expect?
I feel very excited about my first performance in front of an audience in Podgorica. Every performance carries a certain amount of excitement and expectation, especially the first performance in a capital city. I hope that the audience will feel the sincerity, love and passion that I bring to my performance, as well as that through the songs, they will travel with me through time and different climates.
What program will you perform at the concert and what would you like the audience to take away with them?
At the concert in the KIC, we will perform a program that combines various elements of Mediterranean and Balkan music, with the addition of some new original compositions. I would like the audience to take away with them the feeling of warmth and joy that this music brings, as well as a deeper understanding and attachment to different musical traditions.
Your music combines Mediterranean and Balkan melodies. What inspired and encouraged you to explore and combine these musical styles, how attractive are they in music today, whether in our region or abroad? Additionally, how do you preserve the authenticity of each tradition while simultaneously integrating them into your own unique style?
The inspiration for merging Mediterranean and Balkan melodies comes from my personal experiences, origins, growing up and travels, as well as the desire to explore and integrate different cultures into my musical expression. I think that these musical styles are very attractive today, both in our region and around the world, because they offer a wealth of different sounds and emotions. When we integrate different traditions, it is important to preserve the authenticity of each of them through respect for the source material and through a creative approach that strengthens their essence. It is not always easy, it requires love and dedication, but also musical knowledge, which my stay in Boston greatly contributed to.
You graduated in Spanish and Portuguese and then graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, which is known for its innovation. How did that combination, along with your origin, affect your style, but also your musical career? In addition, you often explore themes of identity and belonging. How do your personal experiences and travels influence the creative process and thematic choices in music?
Studying Spanish and Portuguese, as well as the Berklee experience, definitely influenced my musical style and career. The love and commitment to these languages and music has continued since early childhood, and formal education in these areas was little more than a fine shaping of the previously existing one. That combination enriched my musical vocabulary and opened new horizons in terms of harmony, rhythm and arrangement. When it comes to exploring identity and belonging, my personal experiences and travels are an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Identity includes various elements such as culture, language, origin, religion, social status, personality, interests and many other factors. Each person has their own unique set of different identities and affiliations. Exploring these concepts through music is an endless process and can only make sense as such.
Given that you live and create in New York, and you come from the Balkans, how did that world metropolis shape your musical expression, ambitions, and then what opportunities does it offer you both privately and professionally?
This metropolis provides me with numerous opportunities for professional development and networking, but at the same time it reminds me of my Balkan roots and keeps me connected to my cultural heritage.
You have rich experience in researching musical cultures of various parts of the world, which was additionally enriched by your experience of staying... Can you single out some cultures that are particularly close to you, that are at the foundation of your personal and musical identity, and then also which are interesting for further research?
Cultures that are particularly close to me are Spanish, Portuguese, Balkan, Middle Eastern and Latin American. They are the foundation of my personal and musical identities, emphasizing the plural, but at the same time they continue to inspire me to explore further.
Your debut album "Transiberica" brings a kind of journey through various musical landscapes, a strong emotional charge and a deep connection with different cultures. How does it reflect your aspirations and research in music and culture?
The album “Transibérica” represents a kind of journey through Iberian musical landscapes and cultures, reflecting my aspirations to explore and connect worlds. I hope that the audience will recognize that deep connection and emotional charge that the album carries.
Is it necessary to balance between the commercial requirements of the music industry, including the audience, and one's own artistic expression, especially today when consumerism has taken precedence in almost all spheres of life?
Balancing commercial demands and one's own artistic expression can be challenging, but I believe it is possible to find harmony between the two. Despite that, I don't strive for that and I stand by myself - it's important to stay true to yourself and your honest vision.
Would you like to add something?
In January of this year, I became a professor at Berkeley. I teach at the Department of Professional Music at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Each area has a special charm, and awards open new doors
You won an award from Boston College's Mediterranean Music Institute. How much does this award mean to you and how did it affect your career?
The award from the Institute for Mediterranean Music in Boston is a great recognition for my work and effort. She gave me additional motivation and confidence to continue my music career, opening doors for new opportunities and collaborations.
You have performed in prestigious concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, but also in halls in small towns in our region. How different is the performance experience depending on the space and how important is the hall?
The experience of performing in different venues is definitely different, but each venue has its own special charm and challenges. Large concert halls provide a unique atmosphere and acoustics, while performances in smaller halls allow for more intimate interaction with the audience.
Artificial intelligence has no place in music
How do you see the future of the music industry, in the context of combining traditional music with modern genres, but also in the context of digital technologies, numerous streaming platforms, and the use of AI? Is there concern for the original form of musical communication, live performance and creation?
The future of the music industry is not entirely clear. I firmly believe that traditional music will continue to have its place alongside modern genres. Digital technologies and streaming platforms provide new opportunities for music distribution, but it is important to preserve the original form of musical communication through live performances and authentic creation. I think that using artificial intelligence in music can be helpful in a technical sense, but when it comes to the honest creation of melodies, lyrics and when it comes to conveying emotions, artificial intelligence has no place there.
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