It is in human nature that we are always searching for emotions and to understand them just like sevdalinka does which dates back to 400 years ago.
People approach tradition in different ways. Music artist Amira Medunjanin has chosen to go back to sevdalinka (a traditional genre of folk music from Bosnia and Herzegovina) in many ways – as an admirer and as an experimenter, but, as she says, always “in the service of music.” Amira’s every performance and every new album dedicated to the world of emotions show such an understanding of indebtedness towards the ancestors.
1. What makes sevdalinka so universal whether performed in Innsbruck, Amsterdam, Prague, Melbourne, Sydney, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago or New York?
Love, one and only, our meaning of life. Sometimes we do not believe in that, sometimes we are suspicious, and sometimes it’s very difficult for us to overcome the pain that we sometimes feel. Even when we do not want it, it happens. This message finds its way effortlessly to the audience regardless of where in the world they are. As you said, I had the opportunity to perform on four continents and the audiences who come to see me with an open heart can feel the message that I am trying to convey to them. The truth is that sometimes I fear how will the audience react to the music they have never heard before, but any fear that I might have disappears after a couple of songs.
2. Melody certainly takes precedence. Does the audience who cannot understand the language of your songs also search for the meaning in your songs? How much can they grasp the meaning of sevdalinka?
Yes, of course, it takes precedence. A long time ago, when I was just starting off in music, I always preceded every song I sang with a lengthy story about it. I thought that, by doing so, it would help the audiences who didn’t speak my language to better understand the emotions contained in the lyrics and the musical interpretation. But, in time, people have learned a lot about traditional music from this part of the world. Through regular communication via social media, I have an opportunity to inform them about our music tradition because they are really eager to find out more about it. It often happens that people come to Sarajevo and give me a call to meet up with them. I am glad that I can be their host – to take them on a walkabout around the city, to see all the places that are interesting to them and to have a cup of coffee somewhere in Baščaršija.
3. How did you come up with an idea to modernize sevdalinka to fit the 21st century? What kind of modern sound or emotion can you detect in sevdalinka?
Since the dawn of the new century, the world has been rapidly changing. At least, that’s how I perceive it. Maybe it is due to new technologies, or maybe it is because a certain lifestyle has been imposed on us. I don’t know what is your view of this, but I think that we are constantly surrounded by noise. Truth be told, I don’t like noise and it depresses me. Still, we are only human beings in search of meaning and we find it difficult to find our way around in this all-encompassing noise. As far as your question goes, I am not sure that I would use the word ‘modernize’. I have recorded several albums that have totally different starting points. The first album was a homage to our tradition and to certain performers that have enriched our lives. After that came albums that could be called experimental, but all in the service of music. Combining and fusing different music genres is equally important today, as well as in the decades to come. Although, I would love for people to understand that classifying music into strict genres oftentimes affects artistic creativity. Sevdalinka is a love song that carries a timeless message and is great for improvising. In that context, I always find a new way to interpret it and it seems to me that I can hear and most importantly, feel the emotion in a completely different way. You know, some of the songs I sing are over 400 years old, and their lyrics give me goosebumps every time I sing them. We can highlight this strength and beauty in a different musical environment and bring them closer to the people who probably would have not noticed them in other musical forms.
4. Critics praise you for maintaining a balance between respecting the old-fashioned way of performing and experimenting. Can you define the border between tradition and new?
Good question! But before I answer, I would like to underline something. First and foremost, I see no border. Secondly, I don’t think that tradition should be locked away somewhere. Thirdly, and most importantly, preserving tradition is not only our obligation but also an obligation for future generations. I believe that we all have a responsibility, in a way, towards our ancestors. I was born in the 20th century and I grew up listening to sevdah which was very popular back then. We are in the 18th year of the new century, and I think that we should be much braver and more agile in preserving our tradition. This is absolutely required so that the known and proven values could become a guideline for all young artists/performers. Everyone should form their own view of old songs. I believe that diversity in interpreting, improvising or creating new songs inspired by tradition can only benefit not only music but also the society as a whole.
5. Last year, while celebrating 15 years of your career, you said that, for you, it felt like “15 centuries and 15 worlds”. What kind of „a century and world“ are you living in this year? Is there something new that inspires you?
I am inspired by the places I’ve never been to and people I’ve never met. That’s what has been pushing me forward all these years. I would like to visit every corner of this planet and tell the people who live there a tale of sevdah. I believe and sincerely hope that I would not need „15 centuries“ to accomplish this. In terms of the near future, this year I am going to tour several towns I have already been in, and in which I have some ‘unfinished business’ music-wise. Since the launch of my album „Ascending“ I have been trying to organize performances with local classical music ensembles in the towns where we are performing. I have to say that each new performance is different from the previous one and that’s the world I am currently living in.
6. Sevdalinka speaks of the deepest human emotions. Given the fast and broken lives that we lead, we sometimes feel that we have lost these emotions. How do audiences react to them in your concerts?
I have to disagree with you. I don’t think that we don’t feel those emotions anymore. It’s just that people don’t have enough time to deal with themselves. The fight to survive has taken over, unfortunately. At least, that’s how it is in this part of the world. In concerts, it is very difficult to refrain from showing emotions. When you perform songs as strong and touching as these and when your audience is made of people who think like you and share the same love of music, then staying apathetic is mission impossible. However, what is even more valuable is the meet and greet after the concert when I can get to know my audience personally and have a chat with them about music and life in general.
7. After so many concerts, do you still get excited before each new performance? Which concert this year makes you really excited?
Yes, I do. I always do. Every new concert is like the very first one and that is not going to change. In terms of the concerts in the upcoming period, I am really looking forward to the one in Belgrade’s Sava Centre on October 25th. We have already started preparing for it and this time around, it will be completely different from my earlier concerts. We have a couple of surprises up our sleeve and I sincerely hope that the Belgrade audience will like our repertoire.
8. You have recorded numerous albums. Your latest album, “Ascending”, which got great reviews from domestic and foreign critics, came out last year. Are you preparing something new or is it too early to ask that?
I definitely am. I started working on my new album as soon as my last album came out. This is how I have been working for the last ten years. Although I travel a lot and have lived the majority of my life from a suitcase, so to speak, I always find time to think about my next album. This time around it will be something completely different. I have had a certain idea for years now and I think that the time has come for it to materialize. I’ll see how it is all going to come about, but I have no intention of waiting too long, that’s for sure. But, let it be a secret for now because people like surprises, just like I do.