“Collage” is different from what I’ve done so far. My albums were usually approximations of live concerts, but since being off stage was a new norm, I shifted the focus towards making the album itself sound richer, broader and fuller. Ideas were born in my studio, accompanied by Christmas lights and fake plants, eventually making its way a few doors down to my producer’s studio, where a lot of all-nighters occurred. It was about openness, curiosity, exploration, and experimentation with new approaches to mix the material.
The guitar takes a supportive role for the first time. My mantra through the process was simple, yet consistent: ‘Will it enrich the music?’ Music as a whole was the guide and I dare to say that with the help of my producer Rengert Eggink, we managed to follow it and deliver our best product to date.
This album gave space to my identity as a music creator and composer, not only a guitar player. These other parts of myself are pushing my limits, enhancing my skills, and expanding my knowledge of other instruments and how to blend them together. Composing and recording choir parts were especially exciting since choirs and folk songs represent a big chunk of Slovenian cultural heritage. Human voice is heavily featured on this album, as an instrument and as a tool for expression of ourselves on a daily basis. The voice further sparked my interest and curiosity, and I wish to explore it deeper in the future.
I feel privileged to have collaborated with so many incredible artists to stitch up ‘Collage’ together. I am deeply grateful for music; that I can write, share, play, and listen. My relationship to music is ever-growing and transforming. It gives, takes, at times it completely overtakes me, drowns, isolates, but also brings joy, purpose, connection with everything around me and opens many doors. I am what I am because of music. Growing as a musical body is growing as a human, and vice versa.
‘I hope the upcoming album Collage, coming from the depths of my heart and soul, can feed yours. ‘