You became a performer at the age of just six? “I had my first two bigger performances in my life at the age of six, so I believe that marked me as a future per- former [laughs]. One was a solo part for admittance into the pioneers at which I performed a headscarf dance, and a couple of months earlier I’d played Mary in a crowded church for Christmas. They don‘t sound very compati- ble, but it showed a wide range of interests and styles :-)” The Lollobrigida Girls actually came about quite by accident, because you felt embar- rassed to perform alone? “I started dealing with original music in high school, when I founded my first punk band. Lollobrigida was cre- ated purely for fun. I recorded the songs myself on a small children‘s synthesizer, burnt them onto blank CDs and handed them out among my friends. One of them in- vited me to perform at his birthday party. I was embar-
dent of the world... “As a youngster, I wanted to be Scandinavian and to move somewhere in Copenhagen or Iceland, among the fine people who care for everyone in the communi- ty, recycle all their waste and live harmoniously with na- ture. But I gradually realised that my place is right here, in the Balkans, with the aorta towards Zagreb and the vein towards Belgrade. It‘s difficult to live here; there are lots of things that make me angry, but there’s also so much warmth, spirit and some raw tenderness that I can‘t find anywhere else. It’s a very inspiring place. I’m staying here, and it’s here I’m building a better world for myself and my offspring.” How did you spend the period of isolation and what emerged for you creatively during this period? “The most intense period of my life. During the time
rassed to perform solo, so I invit- ed a friend, and thus the band was formed! We sang about everything candidly and through laughter. We donned amazing costumes, wore wings and had various installations on our heads. The story of this cra- zy female punk band spread, we started being invited by festivals all over the region, and we had more fun than anyone’s ever had.” How did Ida emerge from that? “Lollobrigida is the band I grew up with, all my most impor- tant moments are linked to Lol- lo. It was also through the band that I met my husband and moved to Belgrade. But my musical taste evolves; I can‘t sing the same songs for 20 years, I‘m ultimately a com- pletely different person now. My solo project was a departure from that youthful madness, an entry into a new world of secret touch- es, feminine sensuality, unutilised chances, dreams and the scent of
of the lockdown, over the period of a year and a couple of months, I recorded seven songs with music videos, my absolute record. That period of isolation, loneliness and fear was tough for all of us, and we also had family crises, stress- es. I wasn’t lacking in inspiration. I churned out those melodies and verses, created an entire parallel world that helped me to sustain myself mentally. And people recog- nised that. I think Dodir, Kvar, Sad and the other songs really meant a lot to many people, they felt ex- actly what I felt then – they wer- en’t alone.” In the lunacy of life, how do you establish a work/life bal- ance? “For me, life is simultaneously work. I have that crazy luck. I live life in the best way I know. I play music, I travel, I try to spread posi- tive energy wherever I go. And the work attached itself to that. I on- ly work with clients who share my
the sea. Lollobrigida is a grumpy kid who jumps, laughs and screams, while Ida Prester is a smooth lady who pas- sionately dances, lives and loves.” When it comes to all your musical influences, who is number 1? “Oh, that’s a terribly difficult question. Long ago they were Michael Jackson and Blur, then Ladytron and Peach- es, while today I listen to everything, from James Blake and Jan Blomqvist to Bat for Lashes. I think it’s important for a musician to find some style of their own. I caught mine long ago. I don‘t think my music is reminiscent of any of my role models, I‘m building a world for myself.” You’re somewhere on the route between Za- greb and Belgrade, but you’re actually a resi-
values, who love and understand that lifestyle. I live in a physically arduous way, with constant travelling and hus- tling. But I have balance mentally; I really love my life a lot, and all those wonderful people who surround me.” This will be your first appearance on the Bite- fArtCafe summer stage. What will await the audience at this concert? “We haven‘t performed independently in Belgrade for a long time, and this has perhaps been the biggest break in the last 15 years. I think we really longed to see each other; Belgrade is my second home. We’ll perform all my new songs and the Lollobrigida Girls’ biggest hits. Just come, and I’ll worry about making sure you never forget the experience.”
Music » Muzika | 45
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