After a seven-year break from the music scene, Hari Mata Hari is back. The band who earned Bosnia and Herzegovina its best-ever Eurovision result has released a new album titled "Cilim" (Rug), as well as an accompanying music video for the title track. And they are on limited tour through Australia, appearing this weekend in Sydney and Perth.
Speaking about their new release lead singer, the eponymous Hajrudin "Hari" Varešanović tells SBS Serbian, "The album brings eleven songs that are of different character and draw upon different elements."
"I have worked five years to bring out this CD and honestly I don't know if so many musicians do that anymore," he says.
"Today everything is fast-consuming and people consume songs that they actually can watch."
"But I don't care for all that. I enjoy the process of making songs from scratch. And I do it.”
The album contains more than a single nod to Hari Mata Hari’s Eurovision past.
One track features Elena Ristevska who represented FYR Macedonia in Eurovision 2006. This single is titled “Jos Me Plasis (I’m Still Afraid).”
Another is a soulful, touching duet with Jelena Tomasevic who represented Serbia in Eurovision 2008. Titled “Nema Ljubavi (No Love),” this is the song Hari and Jelena performed together on one of the most popular talent shows in Serbia last year.
Hari Mata Hari is one of the most popular bands from former Yugoslavia, established in Sarajevo in 1985. Their work has been awarded several times throughout years with over 5 million copies of their albums sold throughout the region and placing third in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006. In total, they have released 10 albums and held more than 1000 concerts worldwide.
It is now eleven years since Hari Mata Hari represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006. They achieved Bosnia and Herzegovina’s best-ever result, finishing in an impressive third place. Hari sang the beautiful Balkan ballad “Lejla” composed by another huge Eurovision master Zeljko Joksimovic, who represented Serbia twice at the Euro song contest (2004 and 2012).
"It was a moment that brought out something nice from Bosnia - something besides all negative news stirring the region for years...Bosnia and Sarajevo were again the place of good music that can unite all people of Former Yougoslavia and the region."
Almost every year, there is a rumor that Hari might sing for Bosnia and Herzegovina again at the Eurovision. So would Hari Mata Hari do it again?
"Why not, if the right song comes around," says Hari.
But the statement comes with a condition - he'd only do it IF "the song has the same charisma as 'Lejla' had."
Hari explains, "Because 'Lejla' didn't just earned the third place in the contest, 'she' united the whole Balkan in the sweetest loving manner."
"It was a moment that brought out something nice from Bosnia - something besides all negative news stirring the region for years."
"With "Lejla", for a moment, Bosnia and Sarajevo were again the place of good music that can unite all people of Former Yougoslavia and the region," says Hari.
Unfortunately Bosnia and Herzegovina is not participating in Eurovision 2017 due to financial reasons.
So Hari Mata Hari has been busy touring Australia promoting the new album, and like every good Eurovision star, he has been keeping his fans up to date on social media. Here is the moment when giving an interview to SBS Serbian posted on his official Facebook profile:
And ex-YU fans in Australia are just crazy about him ....
What do you think of Hari’s comeback ? Do you like the new album? Or you are still waiting for the concerts in Sydney and Perth...
Listen to SBS Serbian's full interview (in Serbian) with Hari Mata Hari and fellow musician Zijo Valentino, who is supporting them on this tour, below:Here's where you can catch Hari Mata Hari live in concert:
Fri April 7 - Metro Theatre, SYDNEY (ALL AGES SHOW)
Sat April 8 - The Rosemount, PERTH
Related:
Australia is a "candy"!
