Boris Jelic is a real rebel in the music industry. Not afraid to push the boundaries and get to provocative, to make people think and feel certain ways. His new single ”Freedom” is a celebration for the LGBTQ+ community but with a dark twist, just like his life. Boris is never afraid to speak his mind and he always writes his music after real experiences.
Exclusive Interview
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Boris: I grew up in a very small town in Sweden called Trelleborg, where everyone judges everyone. I had a pretty rough childhood since I was the only openly gay kid in town and my family were the biggest homophobes so it wasn’t really easy for me growing up, but it never really got to me. I was always very strong and proud to be gay and I love being gay. Honestly the only thing that kept me going was listening to a lot of Britney Spears and Marilyn Manson. Those two literally saved my life and from depression etc.
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?
Boris: I started out being completely tone deaf, I couldn’t sing at all. I had the biggest stage fright you could imagine but my dream of becoming a musician was bigger than that and nothing was going to stop me. So my advice is to take in whatever critique you get and if people are saying that you’re bad and should quit music, then practice ALOT and prove them wrong. It worked for me, hard work and a lot of motivation, so it can work for you too.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Boris: I don’t have any stage fright at all anymore, so if I make a mistake during a performance I just laugh it off and continue with the performance. Sometimes I can get tears when everyone in the audience knows my lyrics and my songs, since I’ve been working so hard with music and to get that kind of feedback while performing is overwhelming.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Boris: I haven’t been on a real tour yet, so no.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Boris: I am working on my debut EP which will be released in the summer and it’s called ’’Do Or Die’’, It’ll be a very intense story about my life and all of my fans, friends and family will know exactly everything that has been going through with me and my life in the past year. I don’t have a regular job anymore so music is my only income and since I don’t have any restraints, I can do whatever I want and I go to the most amazing adventures.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Boris: It’s actually a funny question but I promote myself mostly while I’m partying. I’ve learned that a lot people that go to the same parties I do are very much into the music industry. That’s how I got some contacts that I’m going to work with with some music videos and festival gigs this summer. Then I just send millions of e-mails whenever I release a new song.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Boris: I think that me and Britney Spears would put on a great show together since I’m a dancer and so is she and we both live for a big production as well.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Boris: I am currently promoting my new single ’’Freedom’’, but you can expect a new song in early may, then the EP ’’Do Or Die’’ in the middle of the summer. I am taking my time and I want this EP to be inspirational and motivational. I also want to do a music video for every song, and that is going to take a lot of time and effort, but it will be worth it.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Boris: Well I had a year off from music when I moved to Stockholm back in 2016 when I was 19. I ironically moved there to pursue my music career but instead I ended up working in the restaurant business for a year without releasing anything new. That is also the reason my EP is called ’’Do Or Die’’. I literally have no choice but to make it this time since I’m unemployed and I am not thinking about going back to a regular job anytime soon. So now I have to focus and deliver great songs and just hope for the best and there isn’t a plan b. I am always going to make music no matter what and I will never have a boring, regular job again.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
Boris: A lot of new gigs, my first music videos, fashion editorials for fashion magazines, possible a European club tour and just some badass music.
Exposed Vocals: Any Shout-outs?
Boris: A few actually. Nadia Tehran who has a song called cash flow and it gets me every time, it’s very deep and I can connect to it, Ängie who’s such a rebel and I love her for that, my friends Mary Lou, Ida Tosh and a cool chick from England called GIRLI,
