Music brightened my spirit no matter what was going on this year.
The concerts were wild. We kicked it off by breaking the stage at the Koikoi concert (yes, Marko invited me onstage first, but it took me forever get over the barricade, okay). We met Luka from Pocket Palma at Zappa Baza and took a picture with him, after I embarrassed myself by telling him how much I loved his voice (it was supposed to be a collegial comment from a fellow singer *melts into floor*).
We had the pleasure of attending Funk Shui’s raucous and illuminating talk about music production — lyrics are just sounds! (How many times have I written that?!) Although the Mirëdita, Dobar Dan festival was heartbreakingly cancelled and La Fazani couldn’t perform in Belgrade, we did have an uplifting concert from OneBeat Balkans earlier in the year.
Turkey came to us, with both Gaye Su Akyol and Lalalar blessing Belgrade with their Anatolian psychedelic rock. And I went to Turkey: through some friends and collaborators, I met one of Turkey’s hottest up and coming young jazz bands, Mojo 5, who are on a really cool album of young jazz artists — definitely check that out!
I chatted with Buzz' Ayaz for a while after their extremely fun Karmakoma gig! Profusely thanked Niko Nikolić for the gorgeous Privatni Indigo after an intimate show at an interesting bar. Reconnected with Kitka after their Wintersongs concert, a Georgian-supra-inspired evening of toasts and songs – goumarjos!
I was lucky to attend a vocal retreat in Veli Iž, led by Marta Kolega and Gloria Lindeman, where I met some amazing women and had a blast learning about my voice. We sang beautiful songs, including one from the island of Iž called “Divojka je garoful gojila” — not available online anywhere! I sang at the top of my lungs in a field of sheep in Montenegro! I went back to Jazzinty, where I worked with Lucy Woodward on jazz vocals and got to know Slovenia's up-and-coming jazz stars! Thank you to my AMAZING BAND for backing me up on “I Only Have Eyes for You” at that jam session. (Technically, Bojana Vunteriševič opened for me that night! (Speaking of concerts, I'll have to tell you more about that one sometime.))
I performed several times with Etno grupa Zlatnik; we recorded an album and had our first solo concert in Belgrade in November. I’m looking forward to more singing in 2025, especially after a little vocal breakthrough thanks to my work with the brilliant Elena, who runs the singing school Slobodno Pevaj.
The new releases were strong: complex, catchy, and emotive! As 2024 draws to a close, I’m highlighting just a few that meant something to me — a bit of a different concept from previous years, but there’s just too much noise out there right now.
Standout hit: “Lan," Zeynep Bastık
Will there ever be a year that Bastık doesn’t make my list? I loved “Lan." I especially loved the live version where she and the songwriter, Mabel Matiz, sang it as a duet. My friend and collaborator Danny even made a short film of me singing this song in various rooms around the house, I suppose portraying what it’s like to live with a singer, one who is obsessed with “Lan.”
Best traditional/folk album: Hape Portën, Agona Shporta
Fans of Amira Medunjanin’s sevdalinka will also fall for Shporta’s album of traditional songs in Albanian: mellifluous, soft but full of strength. This album hit me at exactly the right time and has accompanied me through the last few months. Thank you, Agona, for this jewel box.
Song of the summer: “Rituali,” Luka Rajić
My favorite category of song. This is one for dancing around your beach house rental! oMg! Luka, you did it, baby!
Absolute banger of the whole year: "Dilber evin barkın yok mu ?” Erkal Sonel
I discovered this song on the Turkish dizi Inci Taneleri and it changed my life. Has it changed yours?
Artist who inspired me: Lara Di Lara
Lara Di Lara has been on my radar for the past few years, but it wasn’t until 2024 that I went deep into her discography. Lara Di Lara is an inventive, unapologetic artist whose life and music seem to inspire each other. I found her presence in my speakers incredibly encouraging this year.
Vibes of 2024: O kipos, Nefeli Fasouli and Antonis Apergis
When I was waiting for summer to happen, this album was there. When it was summer, this album was there. When summer was waning, it was still there. Now, we’re starting to crave summer again and guess what? This album will always be there.
Most compelling concept album: Bilo je sada, Dunije
This album made me feel part of a sisterhood of strong, resilient women throughout time and space. They do a gorgeous job of sounding “etno feminism,” something I hope to see more of, and be part of.
Queen of the Ottoman ecumene 2024: Marina Satti
This year, Marina Satti did more for the Ottoman ecumene than basically anyone recently. After competing in a fraught Eurovision with a song and video that poked at stereotypes about Greece and Greek music, she put out an outstanding EP, and I want to highlight the mixtape song because it is like a sonic representation of everything the Ottoman ecumene actually is, expertly woven into this single dynamic piece of music. Let’s also not forget the interview during Eurovision where she literally explained the Ottoman ecumene for us all.
What were your favorites? Let me know in the comments!
Happy New Year to you all. May it be full of strength, peace, and song. Thank you for supporting my blog!
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