In the pantheon of ex-Yugoslav stereotypes, Montenegro and Montenegrins hold a somewhat unflattering position, relating to their work-life balance. Though given that even in capitalism the focus is more and more on the “life” part of the equation, Montenegrins may simply have been ahead of the curve. Be that as it may, good rock music is also part of the work-live balance. Which is we give you Vrpca, or String.
Vrpca
Vrpca are a four-member alt-rock act from Montenegrin capital Podgorica. They've been around since 2012, and soon landed a gig at a festival in a seaside resort town of Kotor. And they've been fine-tuning their music ever since.
Music of Vrpca is, for the lack of a better word, urban. If it weren’t for the language, you might have well mistaken then from any of the alternative rock bands this side of the language barrier. And while that might make them average in London or Luxembourg, for that matter, the fact that they can do what they do in Montenegro is no small feat.
Truth be said, the alt-rock designation of Vrpca is doing a fair amount of heavy lifting. They have no qualms about reaching out into other genres, be it funk, pop or even rock-hop. Which definitely works in their favour.
Podgorica, the largest city in Montenegro and the nation’s capital is the primary source of inspiriation for Vrpca. Or frustration, depending on the situation. Because while Montenegro may present itself at the unobtrusive little country in south Adriatic, there are conversations to be had. And Vprca are not afraid of starting them.
Vrpca are Braco Subotić, Miloš Pejović, Vladimir Zaputović and Viljen Salmanov. They identify as pacifists, but not passive observers. They believe the world around them can get better and also believe that rock and roll is an integral part of this effort
To date, Vrpca released one album and one EP. Their 2021 full length album is titlel Oko Sfere / Eye of the Globe. With nine tracks to it, it is a bit on the short side, but it still presents a well rounded story of a band communicating with the city and it citizens. And if their 2024 EP release is anything to go by, Vrpcas’s next album will be a blast
And that's all the time we have for today. Check out Vrpca on YouTube, Spotify and wherever you get your music from, and Balkan Express will be back next week.
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Balkan Express brings you the latest and/or the greatest in music from the Balkans. On air every Tuesday at 11am on Ara City Radio, it is hosted by Aljaž aka @pengovsky who once did the world a solid and vowed never to sing again in public. Which is how he ended up doing radio.