Silk & Stone Amira Medunjanin

• 1 Eleno Kerko 04:28
• 2 Cula Jesam Da Se Dragi Zeni 03:07
• 3 Kradem Ti Se U Veceri 06:57
• 4 Iz Banju Ide Sejtan Devojce 04:24
• 5 Sejdefu Majka Budase 06:09
• 6 Ima Dana 05:46
• 7 Ajde Da Li Znaes, Pametis Milice 05:52
• 8 Sto Te Nema 06:18
• 9 Telal Vice 07:33
• Total Runtime 50:34

Info for Silk & Stone

On her new album, the Sarajevo siren Amira Medunjanin (she now includes her surname...) beguiles us with another selection of traditional Sevdah songs from the Balkan region; her interpretations revealing an unbridled emotional intensity. Silk & Stone is the next stage in Amira Medunjanin’s journey to bring Sevdah, the musical style that is the beating heart of Bosnia, to the world. Silk & Stone is also a continuation of her musical relationships with the Serbian jazz pianist Bojan Z and the South Serbian bass player Nenad Vasilic, but with this new album she again incorporates new instruments into the form: the line-up includes oud and kanun as well as guitar, blurring the borders and demonstrating the versatility and universality of the simple Sevdah formula.

'This new set (Amulette) certainly proves she has the potential to become a global success.' Guardian “One of the great voices of her generation, and almost certainly the finest from eastern Europe” Observer “Suicidal melancholy has rarely sounded as pretty.” (Daily Telegraph)

Amira Medunjanin, vocals
Bojan Z, piano
Hakan Güngör, kanun
Yurdal Tokcan, oud
Nenad Vasilic, bass

Amira Medunjanin
was born in Sarajevo at the time when the popularity of traditional music in the former Yugoslavia was at the high tide, and sevdah held a special place for her. The sevdalinke (sevdah songs) she learned from her mother were the most beautiful of songs. Her fascination with the oral tradition of Bosnia and Herzegovina led her to devote herself to creating a unique voice within sevdah to explore its expressive capacity to the full. She had spent years searching in vain for to find people who shared her ideas about sevdah, and for the best way to present it.

Dubbed "Bosnia's Billie Holiday" by music journalist and author Garth Cartwright, the comparison reflects the way in which Amira turns sevdah inside out, finding new contexts and forms within a tradition that is hundreds of years old.

After guesting on Mostar Sevdah Reunion's album A Secret Gate in 2003, Amira recorded her debut album, Rosa, (Snail Records, 2005), which garnered great reviews in the UK and across Europe, featuring in several "Album of the Year" lists.

In April 2009 Amira released Live album, a recording of a concert held at the Jazz Fest Sarajevo in 2008. At the same time, in April 2009, Amira released the album named Zumra. The album represents the innovative approach to the musical tradition of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Macedonia by fusing contemporary accordion and arrangements to the traditional melody, lyrics and vocal styling. Zumra was released in March 2010 by Harmonia Mundi / World Village. Album Amulette, has also been released by Harmonia Mundi / World Village on October 3rd 2011. Synergy that is achieved there is completely refreshing and it contributed to the development and popularization of two diametrically opposite musical genres. Unique musical style and virtuosity of Bojan Z set new boundaries and provided a unique stamp on the treatment of compositions that are hundreds of years old. Her latest album, Silk and Stone, has been released by Aquarius Records in May 2014.

Booklet for Silk & Stone