Novi Sad-based glam pop-rock band Gift was known for years for their energetic gigs both in their hometown and in the capital. But now, they made a big step ahead with their debut album, Dreamoscope („a machine that turns dreams into reality“). We interviewed the band’s members.
We have waited so long for the first album. It is obvious that it took quite a while to make it. How long did it take? Is it correct that some songs are from the early 90s, having in mind your long carreer?
Jovan Matić, singer:
Two songs from the album are old, from the period of my growing up, while I was living in England during these 4 years. One of the songs is „Starbucks“, about the café which is the unique pacifist place on the planet, which sees no race nor religion. It has a love thematic, since I see a black girl who reminded me of my old lover who got old. I tend to see people in different forms all around the world. The second one is „Dreamoscope“, written at the terrace of Sommerset House.
You had a band named „Let’s Bowie“ in London. How much did Bowie influence your work?
Jovan:
I wrote a song about Bowie, „Bright Star“, dedicated to him. In just two days. I was under pressure to write a song for Eurosong last spring but they distrusted me that I won’t get half-naked so they did not accept me. I was exactly at the time of his death, a song made out of pain. I had to find a way out. We, the Bowie children, ask him what to do now? We communicate in this song through Tesla’s Ball, since Bowie and Tesla are somehow one and the same, not only because of „Prestige“. the two guys way ahead of their time. The song was a way to handle the death of my idol.
Promotional photos and videos are quite glam in aesthetics. It is quite new in Serbia and the region though fairly common abroad. I like it since it is at the same time underground, glam and mainstream. How many people will get the idea?
Žarko Dunić, bass player:
I don’t expect them to grasp it instantly. But it is fresh and exotic and different and we do it since we love it really. How the people will react is interesting, but not that relevant, sincerely speaking. I don’t believe that any of the bands actually thought about their acceptance, but it went that way and they reached many underground people. And these people made mainstream events.
Dejan Toškov, guitarist:
It is important to show our sincerity, the reaction is secondary. All the band we used to cover, like The Cure, are at the same time „expensive“ and open, both hard to understand and easy to understand. I would however really really like if the people here could like and listen to our music, but if not, it is OK to be just a jumpstart.
Jovan:
We felt a sociological shift, even during the cover gigs, since we are the people who give the audience what the others don’t and it reminds them of some better times. You help us to be great enough to reach more people. Love us enough to reach with out with our lyrics to the people and let our lyrics influence lives like some other songs influenced ours, like Bowie or Suede. We create audience who will love our songs. Somebody has to be the first. If someone forms a band that sounds like Gift it would be great!
David Bowie said that you should never be the first in something. Be second. The first loses much energy and takes much backlash and the others just pass easily after him.
Jovan:
True. I saw Suede like 5 times and you can see that they, as a first britpop band, had a hard time. They had to pave the path to the others. Only the chosen listen to Suede, they are like Mozart. Later on come the bands who just steal the audience and it is easier.
What did you expect about the songs?
Jovan:
Well, the audience surprised us. They chose some other songs to be their favourites, like „Da li si srećna?“, which became cult. We did not expect so.
Do you see Gift as a job or pleasure? How do you feel?
Žarko:
It is craziness to try to do something like this in this region, but it takes a lot of courage and I am happy to be a part of that, since I know I have a lot of energy to push it through. I feel like I am in a family. My life has changed ever since.
Is it true that you have the urge to say something in pop music and you simple have to express it this way?
Žarko:
Exactly. The wish is enormous, but it is even more interesting that we all have come from different musical backgrounds. Some loved blues, some punk, some metal, but we have converged. And everyone can add something new. The band has focused and the members expanded their minds during the process.
Miloš Stojanović, drummer:
We are a bunch of people who love music and who want to express ourselves, that is the most important – to carry the feeling.
How much is the poetry and lyrics important for you. Does words lead music, like with The Doors, or like Oasis, music carries it all. and why the name Gift?
Jovan:
Jovan, Ivan, Yohannan, in Hebrew it is a „gift of God“. In German it is „poison“, but if was not the intention (laugh). „Da li si srećna“ is quite touching, and lyrics is very important. It is all about Weltschmerz, it is all triggered by emotion, and sometimes music comes first, sometimes lyrics come first.
Dejan:
It is all about emotions. Whether it will come out as music, or lyrics or a move or a facial expression, it is secondary.
Olivera Budošan, keyboard player:
We are wedding the things that have been wed in the West for ages. It is however new in Serbia. And if we get dislikes, it could be a good thing. But it all depends on the marketing – you have to invest a lot in it, and in Serbia it is quite hard. The words and music and looks are inextricable. We make a Gesamtkunstwerk, really.