In recent years, the Croatian Music Festival “Dora” has started to gain, dynamically, its audience, culminating in 2023, where the participation of the explosive Baby Lasagna literally broke all the counters!
In the same year, on the occasion of the Croatian news coverage, we met the band “Ogenj”, who made their maiden application for the Croatian music festival “Dora”. On this occasion and listening to their music, we decided to contact them, in order to get to know them better!
Check out this Instagram post.
Ogenj started their musical career in 2015 as an ethno-folk band, whose music is based on traditional Croatian music. Originally from Koprivnica, they built a stable audience, which, initially, followed them in live performances, in clubs and festivals in the surrounding area. Little by little their songs began to gain the attention of the Croatian public, mainly for their energetic punk rock outbursts. Thus the band evolved, to release their debut album “Domaj”, which aroused the interest of the country’s music critics.
The way they chose to promote their maiden album made an impression, in a completely successful concert at the legendary Tvornica Kulture (Culture Factory) in Zagreb. From that point on the band is literally unstoppable!
New members joined the band and this change led to the production of better and more mature music, grandiose plans and lives. In December 2018, in a move meant to celebrate and welcome the new members, the band recorded and released the Christmas single “Hej Haj”, which became a hit in neighboring countries as well.
The Awards!
In January 2019, the band was nominated at Rock&Off, the first edition of the music journalists’ awards in the following categories:
- Big Bang of the year
- Artist of the year
In April 2019 they appeared at the Porin Awards (also known as the Croatian Grammys) to win two awards, one for “artist of the year” and one for ethno album of the year.
But what do Ogenj want to say with their music?
Our purpose is simple. We just want to make music. This satisfies our thirst. Passionate music with positive messages. We want to connect with people and make friends in every country and city.
Ogenj
Ogenj’s current lineup and the love for Eurovision!
Today, Ogenj consists of:
- Tomislav Mihac Kovačic, frontman (the heart, mind and engine of Ogenj, he plays acoustic guitar, tambourine, percussion and harp)
- Petar Šimčić, guitar (with a brave heart and a very open mind he wants to grow the music of Ogenj)
- Leonardo Ivačić, bass (he’s the calm force and voice of reason when stress lurks)
- Benjamin Fabić, drummer (he is the youngest member of the band, the strength and precision needed in their demanding lives)
Ogenj’s burning desire is to be on the Eurovision stage, representing their homeland and spreading their music across the globe.
Their proposal for Dora 2023, entitled “RepubliKaj” was, unfortunately, not among the top songs of the croatian jury.
Republikaj was our proposal for Eurovision! Europe needs happy music and so does Ogenj. We started with more folk songs, became more rock along the way, but our sound was always darker. We decided that we should propose something happier, more danceable for Eurovision.
We sing in a Slavic dialect, very specific, which is spoken, almost exclusively, in the northern region of Croatia, and our song is a play on words. In Croatian Republika means country & state. Also KAJ in our dialect means “What?”.
Our RepubliKaj is full of simple people, sometimes naive, but very free and wonderful.
Ogenj
Word is that Ogenj will be submitting their entry again, for Dora 2025, in the hope that they will be able to travel to Basel as Croatia’s representatives.
We already know that their song is going to be subversive and that will arouse the interest of Eurovision fans.
Hopefully next weeks we are finishing recording. It’s in our style, with catchy openning riff and center of the song. It goes like a mantra! After that ya can’t fall asleep!
Ogenj recently released their new album “RepubliKaj” in collaboration with Dallas Records and “Vojna” in collaboration with Vlado Kreslin has already stood out!
Ogenj’s message for their fans!
The frontman of Ogenj, Tomislav Mihac Kovačic, wanted to send the following message to his fans in Greece, but also around the world!
The exclusive news brought to us by Ogenj!
According to Ogenj‘s information, the Croatian music festival Dora 2025 will return to the beautiful coastal town of Opatija! Dora 2025 will run for five days, which means that the two semi-finals rounds, before the night of the Grand Final, seem to be established. As far as we are able to know the Finale Night of Dora 2025 will be aired on the first weekend of March, pending of course the official announcements from HRT!
Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest…
- Participating broadcaster: HRT
- Participations: 29 (20 finals)
- Debut: 1993
- Highest placement: 2nd (2024)
- Lowest placement: 17th in the Semi Final (2018)
Would you like to see Ogenj compete in Dora 2025 to win the ticket to Basel? We await your comments!
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