I leave it to its ego in the interest of music

Interview with Miroslav- Mirko Todorovski, frontman of the group « Cultural Artists », Kung Fu Master and Prigorator of Good Vibration

I have the same zeal every day and for 10 years I see the same enthusiasm if God gives. Finally, I will quote Lemmy from Motorhead: « If you think you're too old for rock and roll, you are probably! » I still don't think so, says Mirko Todorovski

« Cultural Artists » were created a quarter century, as a joke, but they work great to this day. This authentic punk rock band, which celebrates 25 years of existence on the Macedonian music alternative scene this year, is continuously at home, but beyond our borders, and due to their jubilee agenda they are really compacted. On March 1, they had a concert at the « Long Play » in Skopje Aerodrom, before that in the 19.19 salon, and they also played in Prilep. Last year they were also active, we heard them at « Bike Fest » in Avtokomanda, but also at the Doc'n'n'Nitam Festival festival at Dorcol Plot in Belgrade, Serbia.

For the beginnings, the name, the future plans, about what this band makes so special, we talked to the frontman Miroslav-Mirko Todorovski. The man who also stimulates good vibrations on stage, but also in life, as he says « leaves his ego in the interest of music ».

Living performances have always been your trademark, because even after 25 years all members of the group enjoy them. How much to you personally, as the band's frontman mean contacts with the audience, that energy exchange, adrenaline that feels in the air?

– After that we differ from other bands. Our conception is to create an equal sectoral band members. I am only the most exposed, singer, frontman and as such I see the most and follow the reaction of the audience. And she is magical again. Almost always attendees react great and inspiring to the energy we send. They do not inspire even more and more interesting stage performances. Some have already become a trademark such as so -called healing or rock and roll healing. Our musical story to last contribute: Trajce Mitreski – guitar, vocal, Marjan Kitanovski – guitar, vocal, Bozo Vucinic – guitar, vocal, Vladimir Stojcevski – bass, Bojan Jungulov – drums. Of course I will also mention former members, Risto Jankovski – Shac – drums and Zoran Trpkov – aggressor – vocal, guitar, which are also part of the whole story.

Is there a difference in audience reactions when you perform in Macedonia, with reactions abroad?

– Of course there is a difference. However, it is a different audience. For example at the « Bike Fest » in Skopje, last year, we had many of our fans who jointly sang the songs with us. And immediately that « feedback » does not throw us into the stratosphere and creates a zealous exaltation, strongly as a love relationship. In Belgrade, however, there was no presentation in front of people who did not hear our songs mainly. That is why organizer Sandra Ranchic did a ingenious job – not connected as a plugin of the promotion of the book « Come on Bobo Raising Head » (Give Babo Dign in Glavov) – Stories from the film « Like Rock and Roll », whose music is quite close to our approach to rock and roll. A great fusion with the audience happened and something really interesting. A few years ago, the group, which we very close « totally relax », recorded a song in Russian « Everything is going according to plan » (VSO ID in Plano), on the suggestion of their then member of Russia, Maxim. We immediately loved the song. And I do not know how a Russian refugee in Belgrade learned that we are sometimes playing on our performances, so we wrote on our social networking site, whether we can perform the concert for him and his company. We thought a little, so we said, good. And, after the first facts, there was a dilirium, thirty souls, young and older Russians gathered around us, and extremely emotionally sang the song with us. The other present remained in doubt, from where now Russians are singing with a Macedonian band in the middle of Belgrade? It turns out that the song is a symbol of freedom not only by Russian rockers, especially during the period of perestroika and the fall of communism. It is still current because of the current developments in Russia politically.

But let's start from the beginning, when it « overwhelmed » the « jaundice of the Bounty Ship », it quickly twins with colleagues of many bands, and then it is known, a « super brand » is created! What is the formula?

– The unloading and sincerity of the members and the desire to share the good energy to share with people, that is the uniqueness of this group. Although it is created by uniting members of multiple bands (some are no longer active) it can still work great. Here, in the name of some higher goals, I leave my ego in the interest of music. Some members have stem bands (and some more), so here they feel and work unloaded and everything that is done is spontaneous. Perhaps, that is exactly the formula for success. At the same time, this is proof that rock bands in Macedonia can function in this way, which is a practice in the world. But in most cases and alternative music in our country everything is full of egoism. It is somewhat logical because, however, it is common among authors and creatives. But we go against the wind, so we move our selfless approach out of the band, so we help and stimulate young groups. Some we invite them to come to our gigs, and we know at concerts.

One of the most important features of the band is originality, even in the name of the group, and say if you find your style, your own, authentic sound and way of presenting it to a great deal. However, with the mixing of styles, it can sometimes be overdoing, so who in the group says, is it, enough, or do you all have a stake in creation?

– When creating the songs, everyone must give in to the final version. One if she does not agree. Various stylish influences do not interfere with too much, but it is quite difficult to find the right key to sound interesting, provocative, above average, or at least an attempt to do it. But over the years things have been split, the roles of band members have specialized in the process of creating new songs.

Trale and Mac are usually written by draft texts and melodies. Bozo is able to do the rhythmic and melodic part, and Danko also works on the rhythm and length of the song. I mostly participate in the arrangement and the way of singing. Over the years, I have noticed that the arrangement and construction of the songs are dragging me.

Your life film is very strikingly conveyed to the documentary filmed for the band. Nice view, primarily on a quarter -century musical friendship, unpretentious, yet very influential on the whole of the Macedonian scene in the country.

– There are no templates and labels in our country, because they interfere with the process of creating new music, but also in our communication. What we do is our suggestion and an example of how the bands should work. That is why we recorded the documentary « The Day is Joyful ». In it we even slightly emphasized the differences between us to have a more interesting course. The author Ljubica-Buba Popovska, who at that time was very hanging out with us, immediately understood our story and agreed to make a film.

« The Day is Joyful » is also the title of the song that is required to all your performances. However, the lyrics look like a beautiful children's song, with lesson! What is it about?

– « The day to be joyful » is actually a song made to order. One of our acquaintances began to shoot an animated film for children, with a universal message, but they wanted it to look and sound less rocker and unusual. They asked us to make the music theme for the film. Vlade remembered a song from the first grade reading and I immediately recorded it with a rhythm machine and electronic sound. Later we finish it and now it is our trademark. Unfortunately, the film was not realized, but fortunately the song remained and begins like this: « Bee saw a beautiful flower/flower of flower greeting/good morning, good day/day to be joyful … » It would be nice to finish with a musical picture book, we are open to collaboration of any kind.

Texts are a special story, original and realistic, sometimes warning. What would you say « without leaf », more in a punk manner. Who is the author?

– Most often the texts are written by Trale and Mac, although I have a few and even God. Most are ready at the start, but in some I mix with suggestions, which sometimes knows how to argue and anger, are in the context of originality, authenticity, above average…

With seven albums recorded, and you have a vinyl release that is really rare, you have ambitions, what you own, to convey and beyond in the region. The doors for such cooperation with Serbia's Fidboxes have recently been open. What is it about?

– Fidbox is a company dealing with vinyl editions. Boss Goran Covic has had a huge experience in this for 40 years and has produced a number of LP editions for the biggest names of ex-Yugoslavia. I am glad that the time of his promotion in Skopje coincided, with the release of our first plate. Otherwise global vinyl editions are back in fashion, which is great. That way we can give the audience something concrete, material, something that would be a symbol of their dedication to our music. The plaque can see, touch it, share it… Unfortunately, these elements were lost in the digital world.

Mirko, on the scene, are a living fire, an incentive of good vibration, and privately, as a kung-fu master, you are likely to fall for peace and balance, to discover their real opportunities. How do these two, seemingly, do you dig in your life story?

– Nice to say … seemingly. Such are the usual views and prejudices. However, it is to human commitment. Not only is all this contradictory, it is also a complement and my full fulfillment as a person. Quite similar to the recharge in our band, although we all have different backgrounds.

Kung-Fu skill gives me strength, energy, concentration, focus, so I can be free in music creation, and mostly during living performances.

This eastern skill is my profession, as well as the massage and acupressure I work together as a professional therapist. Music, on the other hand, gives me an expression in rock and roll with attitude, opinion, play and first to contribute to our rock scene and culture in general. Something I've been doing for 40 years.

From whom did you inherit the talent of music?

– My mother had a great talent for music and languages. He also played on the violin, so several times with his sister and, who played Mandolin, we were musical together, of course unofficially. Otherwise I have been performing continuously since its 10th year, in theater plays and at music events.

Is your wife always on your side when it comes to music?

– My prettier half introduced me to me as a musician and « Rock and Rocker », so not only did it not interfere with, in many cases she gave me support for my effort. She is one of our biggest fans.

How much in this strange environment do you find time for meetings with friends, for example in the Bravo cafe, where the idea of ​​forming « workers » fell?

-The difference in approach to rock and roll, and yet the sense of community, was mostly reflected in socializing in our favorite café « Bravo ». There, on the idea of ​​Marjan Kitanovski – Mac, and this idea was born for the formation of the group « K. U. Workers.  » Even the name is his. From the beginning I was a skeptic that would be of it, but then I told myself: so let's try, why not. So it happened.

And as a man and as a musician, you undoubtedly leave traces on your life path. Do you still live with the same zeal every new day and where do you see, for example, for ten years?

– I have the same zeal every day and for 10 years I see the same enthusiasm if God gives. Finally, I will quote Lemmy from Motorhead: « If you think you're too old for rock and roll, you are probably! » I still don't think so!