Read our interview below with UK-artist Rizo Balic.
For those who don’t know, how long have you been making music and how would you describe your style?
I am originally from Montenegro (part of a Former Yugoslavia). I arrived in UK, in 1988, seeking a better life due to (then) a volatile political and economical instability with a small knowledge of the English language. First, I’ve learned the English language and as well in the same time, how to write and compose music. At the begin of 2002, I though the best way to archive one of my life ambitions (Songwriter and Composer) it will be to write the lyrics and compose music. During my studies (The Political Science University – Belgrade) in my spare time from my studies, I wrote a quiet a lot of poems in my native language (Serbo-Croatian) and some of those poems, I’ve translated in English language to set me on a road. At the begin of 2002, I’ve decided to join “The Guild Of International Songwriters and Composers”. I wrote my fist song in English language: Living In The City, a song about a loneliness. Also, I bought a software programme: Music Works Professional 2.5 Version and there I learned how to compose music. After I’ve composed the music and printed out “sheet music”, I wanted to have some ideas and advise from The Guild, about “composing the music” process. I forwarded all relevant details for the song, to The Guild Of International Songwriters and Composers. To my huge surprise, a few weeks later, I’ve received a CD, with all details about the song and the rest it is a history. As as Songwriter I would describe my style somewhere between, Pop, Soul and Rock. When I write the lyrics for the song, I would like to express my feelings and try to highlight any particular issues either a social, economical either a current or in the past. Most of the time, when I start writing the lyrics for the song, my main problem is to try to narrow it down. Also, most of my song’s lyrics are based on my own experiences.
Could you briefly describe your music making process?
Making process. Majority of my songs, I wrote during my summer holidays, in different countries: I usually decide what subject to write about, get pen and notebook and write about it. Usually it takes me to write a song, between 20 to 30 minutes. If run of ideas, I would browse newspapers articles and headline. The best example for this is the song: Depressed Recluse, about “lost fame”, I wrote in 2007, based on Garry Barlow story in newspaper. about “Take That” break-up and his feelings about it.
What can you tell us about your latest single?
Song about children suffering in Ukraine.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would you choose?
Elton John, Madonna, and Celine Dion.
What do you have planned creatively for the upcoming year?
Composing new music suitable for movies and TV Programmes.
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