VRELO Biography

VRELO B i o g r a p h y

VRELO was founded by Natasa Tomic at the very beginning of 1999 in Ruma, Serbia. Up to 2003 VRELO explores, studies and works on the Serbian folklore material and of the other Slavonic people and during this period VRELO’s music went several different phases. VRELO performs several solo concerts, records several musical TV shows and appears on music festivals.

The Fall of 2003 brought many changes to the group. Stanko Tomic brought an idea which totally changed the way of work, approach and music concept of VRELO. Namely, the vocal-instrumental ethno ensemble was transformed into a band. The traditional music substance is no longer used as the basic element of their work, but they combine it with other modern music and stage forms. The minimalistic approach, simplificaton and nakedness of the expression through only two instruments (bass guitar and drums) and backing tracks + loops at one side, and several female voices which move between old, inherited patterns and modern expresion on the other side, make VRELO a part of the world music by relying on the identity and authenticity of Slavic music.

After entering BBC`s The Next Big Thing 2007 VRELO was chosen among over 2500 performers from 88 countries to play in London at Maida Vale studio and won 2nd place of this prestigeous competition.

VRELO published their first album “Preko reke”, at the end of August 2008 for the publishing firm PGP-RTS.

In the summer 2010 VRELO made promo / demo mini LP with five songs for French production company PALASS.

VRELO B i o g r a f i j a

VRELO je osnovala Nataša Tomić početkom 1999. godine u Rumi. Do 2003. godine VRELO istražuje, proučava i radi na muzičko-folklornom materijalu Srbije i drugih slovensih naroda i u tom periodu prolazi kroz nekoliko različitih faza. Izvode samostalne koncerte, snimaju nekoliko muzičkih TV emisija i sviraju na muzičkim festivalima.

Jesen 2003. godine je period velikih turbulencija za VRELO. Stanko Tomić donosi ideju koja u potpunosti menja dotadašnji način rada, pristup i muzički koncept grupe. Vokalno-instrumentalni etno ansambl transformiše se u band. Tradicionalnu muzičku građu više ne koriste kao osnovni element u svom radu nego je kombinuju sa modernim muzičko-scenskim formama. Minimalistički pristup, svedenost i ogoljenost izraza kroz samo dva instrumenta (bas i bubanj + backing tracks i loops) sa jedne strane i nekoliko ženskih glasova koji se kreću izmedju starih, nasleđenih obrazaca i modernog izraza sa druge strane čine da VRELO, naslanjajući se na identitet i autentičnost naše muzike postaje deo svetske muzike.

Na konkursu za The Next Big Thing 2007 (BBC World Service) u konkurenciji preko 2500 izvodjača iz 88 zemalja VRELO je nastupalo u Londonu u Maida Vale studiju i plasirali se na drugo mesto ovog prestižnog takmičenja.

Krajem avgusta 2008. godine izdavačka kuća PGP-RTS objavila je prvi album grupe VRELO pod imenom Preko reke.

Sredinom leta 2010. godine VRELO je snimilo promo / demo mini LP sa pet pesama za Francusku producentsku kuću PALASS.

VRELO in Emir Kusturica’s Punk Opera “Time of the Gypsies”

Other than working on their own music, VRELO has great luck and priviledge to cooperate with few top artists. The first place in VRELO’s double life takes work with the director Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra.

At the end of summer 2003. VRELO took part in the recording of the soundtrack for the film “Life is a Miracle” by Emir Kusturica. This cooperation continues in 2007. when VRELO becomes part of the cast in Kusturica’s punk opera “Time of the Gypsies”. Opera was performed for the first time in Paris in the Opera Bastille and played there during the summer.

VRELO and Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra still work together with success. Other than the engagement in the opera, VRELO are occasionally guests and support the concerts of TNSO.

VRELO u Kusturičinoj punk operi »Dom za vešanje«

Pored rada na svojoj muzici VRELO ima sreću i privilegiju da saradjuje i gostuje u delima nekoliko vrhunskih umetnika. U paralelnom životu grupe na prvom mestu je rad sa režiserom Emirom Kusturicom & The No Smoking Orchestra.

Krajem leta 2003. godine VRELO učestvuju na snimanju soundtracka za film "Život je čudo" Emira Kusturice. Ova saradnja se nastavlja 2007. godine kada VRELO postaje deo ekipe Kusturičine punk opere "Dom za vešanje". Opera je premijerno izvedena i igrana u Parizu u Operi Bastille tokom leta 2007. godine.

VRELO i Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra i dalje uspešno saradjuju. Osim stalnog angažmana u operi VRELO povremeno gostuje i na koncertima TNSO.