The group's new EP brings introspective reflections of reality and a subtle evolution of sound, without losing the band's recognizable identity
After more than three decades of existence, "Kanda, Kodža and Nebojša" are entering a new chapter of their career. A band that has built a reputation for one of the most authentic voices over the years Belgrade alternative scene published a new edition with a symbolic name As soon as possible. It is also their first EP in their career so far.
This release brings four new songs, with KKN staying true to their recognizable musical core: guitars which create an atmosphere more than impose a direction, the pulse of the bass and drums that carry the song and the authentic voice of Oliver Nektarijević, which as a sonic seal, between the rhythm and the words, leaves the listeners enough room for interpretation. Nevertheless, a subtle shift can be felt in the band's sound - instead of a radical turn, the band chose evolution and expansion of the sound space without giving up the identity they have been building for years.
The guitarist of the group "Kanda, Kodža and Nebojša" Nenad Pejović talks to "Vreme" about the creation of the new "mini-album", changes in the band's creative process and the place of rock and roll in today's music scene.
"In terms of the EP format with four new songs, it was an experiment for us," says guitarist KKN, "but in terms of content, it's a continuation of the band's evolution. Last year, we recorded a few songs, the publisher liked them, he suggested we release it as an EP, and we liked the idea."
The new release, released by the record company Mascom, shows the energy of a band that does not try to follow trends, but maintains its mission and its direction. This is, after all, the logic by which KKN has survived all these years: they never chased the mainstream, but they became one of the reference points of the local alternative scene. Nenad Pejović confirms that the creative process was a "reconfiguration of the way of working on music", due to the change of guitarist and sound engineer last year, but a change that gave "one new note in the image of the band". However, despite the "reconfiguration" and some new effects and instruments that were used during the recording, he states that it is "still a story that has been going on since 1990 and that everyone in the group is behind."
The new songs are characterized by a diverse but connected sound atmosphere: from the playful notes in "Da lelujam", through the ambient slide guitars and the endless "oceans of sleep" in the song "Noć", all the way to the shrill, energetic chords that carry the title track.As soon as possible". These different textures and different moods together create a recognizable combination of poetic introspection and raw rock energy, which mark the band's new material. The track "Tvoj Smeh" stands out on the release, in which it goes from stanza to chorus, through subtle overflows, giving the song an almost hypnotic flow.
At a time when the way music is consumed has changed, and digital platforms, streaming and ready-made pop sound dominate the market, the question arises as to what space remains today for a rock and roll band like "Kande, Kodže and Nebojša". The interlocutor of "Vremena" points out that "rock and roll is a state of mind, no matter how worn out and meaningless as a term it is", and that it "cannot fundamentally be harmed by the pressure of the digital revolution and its 'beauty' - disturbed attention, dominance of superficiality, aesthetic dullness and other regressions that grow under the influence of platforms".
In addition, the musician warns that the circumstances are not favorable for the development of rock and roll because "we live in uncertain times", in which the global industry is "run by musical illiterates who, thanks to their monopoly position on the Internet, seize enormous profits and invest them in the military-industrial complex".
An impoverished and unsustainable artistic environment, the inability to enjoy the fruits of previous work and chaotic social conditions make artistic and creative work extremely complex. Nevertheless, despite all the challenges faced by the local scene, Pejović sees the perspective of KKN optimistically: "When you have a band in which everyone manages to survive on the same frequency for so long and in the spirit of thinking 'where there's a will, there's a way', it seems logical to me that we have a renewed audience and that we receive many invitations for performances from the country and the region."
And indeed, with the EP As soon as possible Kanda, Kodža and Nebojša do not make a sudden cut in their musical journey. It seems more like they just opened another door in an area they have been exploring successfully for a long time.
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