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Amira and Merima KljucoZumra (World Village)
Amira: vocals
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More info from the artists: Although the songs on Zumra are beautiful examples of the standard repertoire of Bosnia's highly complex musical culture, Amira and Merima Kljuco's interpretations are far from standard. The title of the CD translates as 'emerald,' but the term can also be used to denote something that deviates from the norm. The music here is simultaneously original and contemporary. Contemporary not merely in its use of techniques, but also in its approach of the songs from a different perspective. Both with arrangement as well as with interpretation, a new dimension to a traditional song is created. Elements that are hidden in underlying layers are brought to the surface. Amira and Kljuco look at these traditional songs in a new light, and in so doing, 'rediscover' them and present them to us as the true gems they are. For Amira (Amira Medunjanin), the sevdalinke she learned from her mother were the most beautiful of songs. Her fascination with the oral tradition of Bosnia & Herzegovina led her to devote herself to creating a unique voice within sevdalinke to explore their expressive capacity to the full. After guesting on Mostar Sevdah Reunion’s album ‘A Secret Gate’ in 2003, Amira recorded her debut album, ‘Rosa’ (Snail Records, 2005), which garnered great reviews in the UK and across Europe, featuring in several ‘Albums of the Year’ lists. Amira has performed throughout Europe and the Balkans, appearing at the Barbican and RNCM in the UK and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Dubbed "Bosnia's Billie Holiday" by music journalist and author Garth Cartwright, the comparison reflects the way in which Amira turns her country’s traditional music inside out, finding new contexts and forms within a tradition that is hundreds of years old. With a background in contemporary music, concert accordionist Merima Kljuco has performed internationally as a soloist with orchestras including the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Holland Symphonia and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, and has worked with many renowned ensembles including the Asko/Schönberg Ensemble and the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble. In addition to her solo career, Kljuc(o composes and arranges works for accordion, collaborates with many composers and has recorded music for film, plays and radio drama. Her performances have been broadcast by the BBC and networks in the Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Hungary and Israel. At the same time, Kljuc(o has pursued her love of traditional music. Her passion for both traditional and contemporary music allows her to explore new artistic dimensions in her work. Her mastery across different musical genres and her capacity to combine them in a compelling way are unique: she is several performers rolled into one.
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