Barikada
- World Of Music - Svastara - 2008 |
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EMIR & FROZEN CAMELS
P o r t r a i t
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Emir & Frozen
Camels
P o r t r a i t |
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Emir & Frozen Camels - rock band / USA / Croatia / Bosnia
and Herzegovina.
Emir Bukovica was born in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and from the age of 11 he has
played guitar. Emir's career started in Sarajevo prior to the Balkan's
war. It was in Sarajevo that musically he proved himself by collaborating with,
at the time some of the most popular bands in the very powerful Sarajevo music
scene. Emir also went on to play with and work with many other famous bands
from the former Yugoslavia. Also during this period of his career Emir was
writing music for other musicians and bands.
At the end of 1993, Emir moved to USA. Shortly after Emir
arrived in the Country he met up with several American famous musicians that
encouraged and convinced
him to continue his music career. One of them, Danny Shepard helped him to
record his first English songs. Danny also became Emir's best friend and co-producer.
Emir went on to form his own band Emir & Frozen Camels (E&FC) and
the band started work on their first album. Although he lived in a new country,
Emir retained his contacts with his European roots.
One famous rock critic wrote: "His feelings, his past, his memory, hope
and angriness, as well as his love are reflected in Emir's music. In
fact the music of Emir Bukovica is a well-balanced mixture of alternative rock 'n'
roll and traditional Bosnian ethnic music. Emir's cosmopolitan and unique
blend of music is also further supplemented by his powerful lyrics. Lyrics
that will take you on a journey through love, pain, happiness and hope. Emir
Bukovica decided to "wake the Planet" and write a music that can
inspire many of us. Music full of emotions and truth. Music as one big story,
like one of his songs says: "There is nothing like decision you can have
your own Moon".
While he was working on the album "San", Emir was very honored,
when he was selected to write the Bosnian National Anthem for an International
Competition. In recording studio, he was greatly helped from many of his good
friends and musicians. Among other musicians that played on "San" album
were: Cliff Williams bass player from famous rock band AC-DC and distinguished
musicians
like Danny Shepard, Darrell Nutt and Elliot Randall (Joan Baez, Pavlov's
Dog, Steely Dan Band,..).
After the album "San" was recorded in USA, European recording
label, "Dallas Records", published it for European market. Emir & Frozen
Camels went on to play many concerts and were successful on the local
music charts in Eastern Europe. From the Album "San" three videos
were produced for songs from the album, one of them ("Sarajevo, New York,
Roma") was air played on the Canadian MTV substitute, the
very popular MUCH TV.
Emir has got many offers to write music for the other musicians, as well as
the music for Slovenian movie "Memmenta M". At the end of 2002, for the collaboration
of the band with AC/DC bass player Cliff Williams, on the album "San",
Emir Bukovica along with the fellow members of the band received the BH Music
Award "Davorin 2002" for "The
Best International Music Collaboration".
In November 2002 Emir put together the original American cast of Emir & Frozen
Camels band for the European "The Frozen Camels Project" Tour.
Together with Cliff Williams (AC/DC), Danny Shepard & Darrell Nutt, Emir
appeared in selected clubs in Europe.
In spring 2003 E&FC got their official web-site (www.emir-frozencamels.com),
but more important - Emir with his band started to record his second album,
"Znam".
The album was mostly recorded in the USA with the same "dream-team", members
of the band who played on the first album "San". Some of the songs
were recorded in Europe with the European part of Emir's band. On the
album are featured some local artists such as Rambo Amadeus, El Bahattee and
Elvis J. Kurtovic.
The second album, "Znam", was released at the end of 2003,
and soon the video clips for the songs "Sarajevo, New York, Roma (remix)",
"Brown
Eyed Girl", "Tvoj Svijet", "Uhljup - Glamour Papak" and "Ulica" hit
the music-charts in Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Slovenia. The album "Znam"
was selected by the eminent rock critics among the 10 best albums of the year
2003
in Croatia. The album was nominated for numerous music awards (like "The
best music production", "The best urban or rock album of the Year", "The
best lyrics", etc.) and received the award for "The best
alternative / rock album" from the association of the regional radio-stations.
The year 2004 was marked by numerous performances, concerts and festivals
for the band Emir & Frozen Camels - to point out the largest
festival in the SE Europe "EXIT" in Novi Sad, where Emir & Frozen
Camels were the open act on the main stage for the legendary Iggy Pop.
In 2005 the band E&FC is nominated for the forth time in
a row for the BH music award "Davorin", this time in the category
for "The best rock video" for the song "Ulica". The
video for the song "Fadila od Majamija (Unbelievable)" hit the
video-charts. The video was recorded during E&FC's concert in the "Dom
sportova" concert hall in Zagreb. At the end of 2005 E&FC came
out with new video clip for the song "Ti i Ja (Sevdah blues)".
Danny Shepard and Darrell Nutt along with "frozen camels" recorded
their blues version of "Santa Claus is coming to town" song. Video
clip for this song, directed by famous Croatian director Darko Drinovac, hit
all the video charts in the area. This video clip was also chosen in competition
for "The best short movie" at "Zagreb Film Festival 2006".
After a long pause because of Emir's car accident at the begining of 2007,
Emir & Frozen
Camels released new single - song "Alina (No Pasaran)". This
song features Spanish rocker Alberto Ceballos and Slovenian Pop-Rock star Omar
Naber. "Alina (No Pasaran)" instantly became smashing hit in whole
region. Video clip for this song, directed again by director Darko Drinovac
was in one moment No. 1 on the 26 Top music charts in region. Song was
also played on some of the stations in Spain. Emir & Frozen Camels won
MTV Adria "Catch the Frequency" competition among many very good
bands from the region. It brought them to play in Salzburg, Austria along with
many famous bands like Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Interpol, etc.
Few days after Austria, E&FC played in front of 50000-100000 people at "Belgrade
Beer Fest 2007".
EF&C features: Emir Bukovica - songwriter / vox / guitar; Danny Shepard
- songwriter / vox / guitar; Luka Putica - bass; Juraj Birin - guitar; Matija
Novak
- drums. (2008)
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