LIRA VEGA
" Its unique vision of post-rock, visionary approach to music and naive, but curious trifling with certain musical classics, makes Lira Vega a true refreshment on the scene." (Izpod Zemlje /Belgrade)
"Total musical perfectionism, outstanding vocal and peculiar stage performance creates an unique atmosphere at the concerts of this group." (Balkanmedia)
"Her stage performance is magical. Like a spaceship navigator she twists the helm in her hands. Sometimes losing control like wild Patti Smith, sometimes resembles Bjork from Sugarcubes phase. One moment she sounds like an angel, the next moment she becomes a screeching Rastafarian witch. She is Zoja Borovčanin and she is leading one of currently the most fascinating bands on the Serbian scene: Lira Vega." (Popboks /Belgrade)
Lira Vega is currently the brightest constellation in Belgrade's music galaxy!
This is backed up not only by the enthusiasm of the most influential Serbian media, but also by the fact that Lira Vega's hit single "Druga nova" was selected as the single of year 2004 on the most influential, legendary Serbian radio B92. Their debut album >Lira Vega<, was also proclaimed as one of the most important albums of 2004 by Serbian music critics.
This is no big surprise, as we are talking about the crew of musicians, which are marking the Belgrade scene since late ninties - as members of influential bands like Pozoriste sesira, Eyesburn, Neocekivana sila koja se pojavlja I iznenada resava stvar (Unexpected Force which Appears Suddenly and Solves the Issue), Jarboli, Darkwood Dub, Partibrejkers and others.
LIRA VEGA are:
Zoja Borovčanin - vocal
Dejan Utvar - drums
Nemanja Aćimović - bass guitar
Vladimir Đorđević - guitar
Boris Mladenović - producer and sound engeneer
They are all also members of other influential Belgrade bands and take part in diverse music projects
genesis:
The bend LIRA VEGA was formed in 1998, under the wings of the theatre company called The Hat Theatre. The crew which makes up the band today gathered while working on a play called Winter, Dreams or Traveling. The fruit of shared endeavors is the music which accompanied the play.
In March 1998, the band made its debut performance, under the name POZORIŠTE ŠEŠIRA (The Hat Theatre), at the Belgrade club Underground, the event being the promotion of hats designed by Ljudmila Stratimirović, founder of the troupe. The hit-single "Alfa Akvari", which accompanied the promotion of the play, was first on the B92 radio singles list for several weeks.
Gigs followed at Belgrade clubs Fili, Underground, as well as being the supporting band for OBOJENI PROGRAM, just before the bombing began in March 1999. In December that same year, together with the troupe POZORIŠTE ŠEŠIRA, the band of the same name at the time performed on tour in Slovenia, as part of Metelkova Cultural Center anniversary celebration. Several concerts were held during the tour - in Ljubljana, Velenje and Prestranek. This phase of the band's work was crowned with a one-band performance at the renowned Belgrade Dom omladine in March 2000.
A two-year break ensued, due to the members' other engagements. Then, in March 2002, the band re-formed and started more intense practice and work on enhancing its technical and aesthetic performance. The band reappeared under a new name - LIRA VEGA, since the musicians, and the entire band-related story went its separate way from the original theater troupe.
From then on, the band has played at the SKC radio birthday concert, at the REFRACT Festival for regional alternative culture in Belgrade, as guests at the major concert of the Belgrade band Jarboli, as well as the SKC radio live show.
In the summer of 2002, material was also recorded which became the 12-song debut album entitled LIRA VEGA, published by PGP- RTS in April 2004.
Ever since they got back together, the band LIRA VEGA has had dynamic concert activities.
2003: Just after the cult club Akademija re-opened in January 2003, LIRA VEGA held their feature concert and the venue was packed. Another concert was held on May 23rd at the same club, supporting the British band BUSHCRAFT.
On July 5th, LIRA VEGA performed on Future Shock Stage at the EXIT 03 Festival. During that same summer, concerts at three more festivals followed: on July 26th - at the first Open fest in Rijeka, Croatia; then July 31st - at the Otokultivator Festival held traditionally on the Croatian island of Vis; as well as August 8th - at the Ljubljana Trnfest in KUD "France Prešern", Slovenia. Renewed cooperation with the band OBOJENI PROGRAM led to the supporting appearance at this band's concert held at the Belgrade Dom omladine in November 2003.
2004: gigs all over the country, as well as at the REFRACT Festival.
The first album came out for the record company PGP RTS, while the promotion was held at the Belgrade Planetarium, on one of the rare sunny days that June. It was accompanied by a charming lecture on the mythological and astronomical aspects of the star and constellation Lira Vega.
October 15th that same year was marked with a concert promotion of the album, the spacious venue - Dom omladine, brimming with those who respect and admire this band's oeuvre.
Carrying on the tradition of quirky occasions, the band played on December 30th 2004, at the ever-lively Plastic club, celebrating the eve of New Year's Eve.
An array of guest-appearances has marked the 2005 year, as well as another appearance at the EXIT 05 Festival - on the Brain Vacation Stage.
Present:
The year 2005 and the beginning of 2006 is marked by preparations to record the follow-up album. Additionally, the band joined the non-governmental organization Podrum je Bezbedan (The Basement is Safe), alongside the bands Jarboli and Neočekivana sila koja se iznenada pojavljuje i rešava stvar. The organization has also equipped a recording studio in the Students' Cultural Centre of Belgrade building basement where these musicians practice, and serves as a music workshop of sorts.
Future: LIRA VEGA !
links:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/travel/
16belgrade.html?emc=eta1&pagewanted=all
http://www.b92.net/music/charts/s/serbian_2004.html
http://www.popboks.com/intervju/liravega.shtml
lira vega - brzi intermeco.mp3 (2,5MB >>
lira vega - you and me.mp3 (2,3 MB) >>
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