Exposed Vocals Interviews VRELO

VRELO’s music is simple, natural and logical, but unusual and original fusion of traditional Serbian singing and new music genres (punk, rock, reggae, dub, techno…). It is bridge between now and then, here and there. It is music for dance (Serbian kolo, ritual dance, dance arena…), for love and hope, for tears and for joy… VRELO keeps musical genetic code in a “special package” and brings a new treasure to the world music scene. VRELO is an art, culture, entertainment, burlesque…

VRELO was founded by Natasa Tomic at the very beginning of 1999 in Ruma, Serbia. Up to 2003 VRELO performs traditional vocal and vocal-instrumental music of Serbs and other Slavic nations, but with original arrangements. In that period the small orchestra of traditional instruments was also part of the VRELO.

In the autumn of 2003 the bass player Stanko Tomic joined the ensemble and brought ideas that changed music concept of VRELO. Traditional instruments were replaced by electric bass guitar and drums, and vocal-instrumental ethno ensemble was transformed into band. VRELO still uses the Serbian traditional vocal music substance as the basic element of their work, but combines it with modern music and stage forms. At one side the minimalistic approach, simplification and nakedness of the expression through only two instruments (bass guitar and drums), and on the other side several female voices moving between old, inherited archetypal patterns and modern expression, are joined in the music of VRELO into unique wholeness.

After entering BBC`s The Next Big Thing 2007 VRELO was chosen among over 2500 performers from 88 countries to play in London at Maida Vale studio and won 2^nd place of this prestigious competition with their song “Posle Mome”.

Ever since, VRELO had a lots of performances at big festival and prestigue clubs an many Europian cities (Paris, Berlin, London, Oslo, Prague, Graz, Saint Petersburg, Budapest, Zurich…). In Serbia VRELO performed at all important festivals (Exit, Guca, Nisville, Zajecar Guitar Fest, BELEF…).

VRELO is a band with a well formed music expression, but it is not afraid to make changes. With every performance they make a step forward, building themselves and growing as a musicians. Various music experts (critics, producers…) see their music as very recognizable, strong and original, comparing to standard criteria. VRELO is one cheerful crew, always opened for new challenges and joys!

VRELO in Emir Kusturica’s Punk Opera “Time of the Gypsies”

Other than working on their own music, VRELO has great luck and priviledge to cooperate with few top artists. The first place in VRELO’s double life takes work with the director Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra.

At the end of summer 2003 VRELO took part in the recording of the soundtrack for the film “Life is a Miracle” by Emir Kusturica. This cooperation continues in 2007 when VRELO becomes part of the cast in Kusturica’s punk opera “Time of the Gypsies”. Opera was premiered in Paris in the “Opera Bastille” and played there during the summer 2007.

VRELO and Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra still work together with success. Other than the engagement in the opera, VRELO are occasionally guests and support on the concerts of TNSO.

Exclusive Interview

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

Nataša: I grew up in the town of Ruma, near Belgrade. When I was five years old I started dancing serbian folk dance. I passionately fell in love in dance moves, traditional lyrics and melodies, and splendor of national costumes. And there it all began. Naturaly, dancing and singing merged into a whole. That princip I kept useing in my further work with the group Vrelo, that I found in 1999. It was virtually a group of highschoolgirls eager to have someplace where they could get away from everyday life, something with higher purpuce and soulhealing. Soon we started with serious inner work, changing ourselves and our expression, experimenting with diverse traditional instruments, combining them with the choir performances of old songs. In 2003 Stanko Tomic came up with the idea to combine such a singing with the bass and drums. That idea brought us the second place in the world on BBC’s competition The next big thing, in London in 2007.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

Ivana: Vrelo means springhead. The music we perform is based on traditional serbian and othar slavic music. We explore a very roots of music or, as we say it in serbian, „a springhead of music“. That is how the name of the band emerge by it self.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

Nataša: I have two completely different opinions on the subject. When you create a song, it ceases to be just a part of you. It starts to live a life of its own in other people, it settles in many souls, becomes a part of them, and therefore part of a public good and in the end a part of the universe. So it’s not wonder that people share their songs for free. It is better to have someone to hear them for free than to be trapped without an audience, without a chance to revive in someone else’s ears.

On the other hand, artists are supose to have a material and not just a spiritual satisfaction out of it. Everybody expects a reward for their effort, hard work and sacrifice. Not to mention that people do not apriciate things that are given them for free. That is the problem, because people are starting to think that it is easy to make a song, styles and everything that goes hand in hand with creativity. I think the art has to be paid. Thats is an investment in their soul, prosperity and growth. An artist gives his or hers bare soul and that is a big thing.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Nataša: It is not easy to give advice to young bands and people who are starting to create their own music. The key words are THEIR OWN! In my opinion, aldo imitating is popular today, an artist must have his or hers own means of expression, to be original and unique. Sounds easy, but to be yourself and recognizable for what you are is actually the most difficult thing. There are also other obstacles or challenges and I speak from my personal experience. There are wonderfull musicion who just can’t get to media and I don’t have an explanation for that. You have to find a way to stand out. Perhaps, to apply to a competition and if you win you my become more recognizable, as we did in 2007 in London at the BBC’s compatition, aldo we didn’t win. J

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

Nataša: Our music is based on traditional songs. Since I have danced a folk dance for years I had the opportunity to gather a large amount of “musical material” in various festivals, events and seminars.

Most of the lyrics are recordings of the songs that are several hundred years old. However, for some songs we wrote-up parts of the lyrics, whether verse or chorus, but we took care to keep the spirit of tradition in them. There are no rules/patterns by which we choose songs. More often songs find us. Sometimes we combine two or more songs. When you merge two lyrics you get a new story, a new meaning, a new life… Sometimes lyrics of one song become a verse and lyrics of another become a chorus of the new song.

We do a lot more experimenting when it comes to melody. Sometimes we keep the original melody, with some changes, but more often the we create music ourselves.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

Ivana: We have the official band website. It is www.vrelomusic.com. We also use video sharing services suche as youtube, social networks such as facebook and twiter, and audioplatform such as soundcloud to represent and share our music. This services, networks and platforms can realy help musicions, specially the beginerrs, to reach audience and promote music more easely and to have direct contact with fans.

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

Nataša: Half a million dollars? With that money, I’d do the same thing I’m doing now, only much more comfortable! I’d continued working with my team what I love most, because that is us – music is our job, our love, our hobby, our friend, our dream, our life! Money would only help to more easily implement our countless ideas. With money you buy peace out of other life problems, and people who do not understand how someone can play when there are a bunch of problems around us, bills to pay… An of course, we would do rehearsals in Hawaii.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

Ivana: Beside the networks and the platforms that we talked about, the best way to promote music are good old gigs. Nothing can compare with live performance, when you give audience live sound and raw energy. The feadback that you get from the audience gives you the best clue whether you are doing a good job or not.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

Nataša: There are a lots of new things in Vrelo’s creative kitchen. This year we celebrate 160th anniversary since birth of our famous scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla. We are privileged to be participants of the central celebration ceremony that would took place at the beginning of July latter this year.

Besides that we are working on new songs for our third album where we would get away a bit from a hard rock sound of drums and bass. All songs would be played on accoustic instruments. The sound will be different, but our main idea of keeping tradition remains.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Nataša: I am not sure that life without music is possible. 🙂 Even if I would do something else for living that has nothing to do with music, music would always be a part of my life at least as a hobby.

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

Ivana: If you love what you do it’s not so difficult to organize all of your tasks. Sometimes you do have to sacrifice a bit of your spare time or sleep just to be able to get everything done but the end result is worth of that.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

Ivana: Let’s keep it as a surprise. J

D i s c o g r a p h y

VRELO published their first album “Preko reke”, at the end of August 2008 for the publishing firm PGP-RTS.

In the summer 2010 VRELO made promo/demo mini LP with five songs for French production company Palass.

In February, 2014 VRELO published the DVD of concert “Hear My Song” held in Ruma, Serbia in November, 2012 for the publishing firm »World Music Association of Serbia« (WMSA Records). Digital Publishing & Distribution is “Brown Cow Records”.

The second album of the band VRELO, named “Shepardes“, is released (online edition) in May 2015 by publishing house “Lampshade Media”.

VRELO`s YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/vrelomusic/videos

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VRELO . Posle mome / BBC’s The Next Big Thing 2007

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkyM0JNd_pY

VRELO . Oj ubava / Exit 08 (Live)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhUNzQDPd6w

VRELO . Morava / Demo 2010 (Official Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx6ukkprcxI

VRELO . Kuco moja / EXIT 2013 – Main Stage (Live)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HovKK8V2RI