Vrelo

Vrelo was founded by Nataša Tomić at the very beginning of 1999 in Ruma, Serbia. During that period it was purely female vocal group that performed the traditional music of the Ancient Serbia. Next year was the year when this vocal group became a vocal-instrumental ethno ensemble Vrelo containing 18 female vocals and 7 musicians on traditional instruments. Up to 2003 VIEE Vrelo explores, studies and works on the Serbian folklore material and of the other Slavonic peoples and during this period their music has several phases. Vrelo performs several solo concerts, records several musical TV shows and appears on music festivals. They also recorded a CD (which is not officially published) named Uzde na belo. The Fall of 2003 brought many changes into the group. Stanko Tomić brought up 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 was no longer used as the basis of their work but as the motif. The reduction - minimalistic approach (big semibreves, big blocks …), adjustedness and nakedness of the expression through only two instruments (bass guitar and drums) and backing tracks at one side and six voices which move between old 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, named Preko reke, at the end of August 2008 for the most influential Serbian record label PGP RTS. Vrelo performed at many festivals, and the most important performances so far were the ones at: EXIT05 (Novi Sad), The 5th International Blues & Jazz Fest 2005 (Šabac), IFUS 05 (Novi Sad), Etnofest 2006 (Subotica), EXIT06 (Novi Sad), Balkanfestival (Mi plešemo) 2006 (Dortmund, Germany), BELEF 2007 (Beograd), BBC's The Next Big Thing 2007 (London, UK), Kustendorf Film and Music Festival 2008 (Mećavnik/Mokra Gora), Novi Sad s ljubavlju 2008 (Novi Sad), EXIT08 (Novi Sad), Pohoda Festival 2008 (Trencin, Slovakia), Evropa čeka Srbiju (Budapest, Hungary), Belgrade Beer Fest 2008 (Beograd), North City Jazz & Blues International Festival (Kosovska Mitrovica). 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 movie Life is a Miracle by Emir Kusturica. This cooperation continues in 2007, when Vrelo becomes part of the crew in Kusturica’s punk opera Time of the Gypsies. Opera was performed for the first time in Paris, France 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 on the concerts of TNSO. Vrelo members are: Dragana Stanojević (vocal), Ivana Bizumić (vocal), Marijana Bizumić (vocal), Brankica Ivanković (vocal), Maja Martić (vocal), Nataša Tomić (vocal), Zlatko Sakulski (drums & percussions), and Stanko Tomić (bass guitar). Vrelo's music is composed by Stanko Tomić, Nataša Tomić, and Vojislav Aralica. The arrangements are also done by Vojislav Aralica, Nataša Tomić, and Stanko Tomić. More info can be read at their official website, vrelomusic.com. The band also maintains a MySpace profile. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.