The Gordan band combines traditional Serbian songs with the powerful and dense sounds of percussion, bass guitar, and electronic effects.
This unusual setting for tradition is created by Austrian percussionist Andi Stecher and German multi-instrumentalist Guido Möbius. Their contemporary interpretations are intertwined with the rich and powerful voice of Svetlana Spajić, a Serbian artist who has been exploring the secrets of traditional singing for over 30 years.
Although Svetlana has always loved singing, she came closer to traditional music during her studies in Belgrade, where she joined the Paganke group. This was followed by projects such as Moba and Drina, while today one of her main artistic endeavours is the Svetlana Spajić Singing Group. The artist performs songs from various regions of Serbia as well as from places such as Croatian Dalmatia, where a Serbian minority community can be found. However, the repertoire passed down to her by traditional masters is presented not only in its original form, but also through numerous new artistic projects. Among her most frequently mentioned collaborations are those with Marina Abramović and Robert Wilson.
The Gordan band represents one of the more alternative expressions of Svetlana Spajić’s work – here, folklore meets contemporary music, and ancient vocal forms meet experimental musical techniques. This approach creates a highly intense, at times even unsettling soundscape, leaving plenty of space for improvisation – both vocal and instrumental.
Instagram: gordan_band
Photo: Christoph Voy
