gradonačelnik noćnog provoda / DJ PERO DI REDA, mayor of nightlife
P eppe is often dubbed the mayor of nightlife in Belgrade. He has spent almost 30 years mixing the decks of the largest local clubs, but also major stages throughout the re- gion, and is the right person to reveal to us the secret of a good time in the Ser- bian capital. - People perceive Belgrade as the cap- ital of good times in the Balkans, as the Balkan Paris when it comes to nights out. Masses of people who used to go to Berlin just for a good time are now abandoning it because it has become too commercial, so Belgrade is one of their new destinations. In our country there’s this totally sincere moment of enjoying nightlife and hitting the town. Everything hasn’t been commer- cialised yet, and apart from that they al- ways come across people here who are very kind, and who want to hang out and answer all their questions, says DJ Peppe. We are talking to him at “Lasta”, one of the city’s most popular raft clubs. This club on the water is situated on the River Sava and offers a beautiful view of the river and the magnificent Ada Bridge. And it’s no wonder foreigners like coming here... - Matinee’s at “Lasta” have become a synonym for good fun on Sundays. It’s interesting for people to head out at six in the evening and stay until one in the morning, and they have a great time. We should mention the scheduled 9 th Sep- tember guest appearance of CamelPhat, who have been nominated for a Gram-
my, while Nightmare on Wax perform at “Kućica”. Peggy Gou is also coming to “20/44”, which is certainly one of the top 10 underground alternative waterfront venues in Europe.“Barutana”has announced the performance of Laurent Garnier and I think that will be the party of the season. Fun is guaranteed for the entire summer. Peppe explains how foreign- ers love the atmosphere they feel in the clubs of Belgrade, but that they also don’t miss the opportu- nity to hear national folk music. - They are most interested in places with folk music. It’s unbeliev- able how they get it. But, okay, Bel- grade is a nursery for beautiful peo- ple and a good atmosphere, and they go to such places for some kind of authenticity. Peppe’s current repertoire fea- tures original disco and funk sounds, just as it did when he started. Recalling his first sets and the repertoire he has maintained all these years, he says that one can draw a comparison between nightlife previously and today, but that one thing has remained the same – a good time. - I was about 26 years old when I start- ed, and it was unrepeatable fun because not everything was available to us. There was no internet and records had to be smuggled. I had to ask my aunt and un- cle from abroad, or friends, to buy albums
and bring them to me, and that burning ember when I come across new music and play it is something unrepeatable. I think
that was somehow the sincerest of times when we were the hun- griest for good times. Peppe is also tasked with bringing to life Belgrade’s most popular quarter at present when it comes to night outs - Savamala. He and his friends opened a small underground club there, and then convert- ed it into six different venues in one building. It was then that other bars and restau- rants began sprouting up in that neighbourhood. - Well, we were some- how compelled by anguish to make this concept. We first opened “Mladost” in Savamala as a small un- derground club to suit our own tastes. However, next
door to us was another venue and we re- alised there was a chance that anyone could come there, so we invited friends to create some cool venue there, instead of some folk music people coming and ruining the entire concept. However, no- body wanted that. Everyone was asking: who will come to this neighbourhood for a night out? ... And then we simply had to open something ourselves. And that’s how “Ludost” was created...
THE CHEDI LUSTICA BAY: OCEAN-PACED LUXURY
The Chedi Luštica Bay offers a five-star experi- ence that transcends trends, opting for a time- less, grounded peace The Chedi Luštica Bay hotel is Montenegro’s new five-star retreat, and yet, it feels as if it has al- ways been here, snuggled into the verdant Lušti- ca peninsula between blue sky and an even blu- er Adriatic sea. Opened in July, the hotel is set serenely on the waterfront of the Marina Village in the coast- al town of Luštica Bay. Alongside the Marina Vil- lage, it takes its inspiration from the tradition- al architecture of Montenegro’s medieval coastal towns. Local materials of wood and stone, ele- gant arches, shuttered windows, terracotta roofs and breathable interiors align to create a re- treat that is rooted in its surroundings; that sim- ply belongs.
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