4 minute read
Ana Popović by Katarina Gradimir Lazarević
How can we describe musical beginnings of Ana Popović? Did you have a lot of wandering? I grew up in Belgrade, Serbia, and was drawn to blues at an early age, thanks to my father and his record collection. Weekly jam sessions with his friends at our home made me fall in love with guitar and I started playing when I was about 12 years old. Right then I was determined to learn to play. I wanted to be able to take part in jam sessions, to have a band and a gig. I wanted to play for the audience and to work on my own recognizable style of blues. How do you find inspiration for composing and writing music? How many songs have you composed? How do you make balance between guitar virtuosity, lyrics, and vocal interpretation? Lots of times, my songs start with a musical part. If I hear a bass line that’s inspiring, I can write to it. If I hear a certain groove that simply excites me, I’ll be putting down some lyrics to fit it. A cool sentence that I hear someplace can initiate a song or a thematic that I feel passionate about. The nice thing about song writing is that there’s no formula. It comes and you need to catch it.
Some songs I write in a day and some songs take a few years to write. I keep coming back to the unfinished songs and keep tweaking them until they’re ready. I almost never give up on a song. If it’s a thought worth singingabout,therearedifferentwaystomakeitwork. Balance is really dictated by a song. Some songs need very few guitar licks, some need to stay open, some need heavy guitar parts, and some songs ask for a guitar show-off. I always put guitar in the service of a song. When we analyse your discography, can we say that each album describes different phases of your musical growth and inspiration? Absolutely! Each album has a strong message and is made as a result of something I was inspired by at the time, aware of, and willing to write and sing about. With every record, I am more present as a songwriter and performer. I ask more from myself and try to outdo my previous performances. Most of all, I want to give my fans a new side of me, musically, lyrically, and as a guitar player. I have a message that might inspire them, or make them think about the subject. Is it hard to stay true to yourself in the commercial musical business? Is it important to be in America if you want to make success? Nowadays, it’s easier to achieve things with a help of social media, especially, if you do live in the USA. However, for certain genres of music like the blues that is an American form of music, it helps being in the USA. You are present for concerts, recordings, and other projects. It is such a competitive scene with plenty of great bands. You need to make yourself available for that particular market. I believe that is it great personal and professional satisfaction when your work is recognised by such legends as BB King, Bruce Springsteen, and Billy Gibbons. You were playing with lots of musical legends. What was the most exciting moment on the stage for you? There were so many, I loved the Experience Hendrix tour, playing alongside legends, such as Buddy Guy, Billy Cox, Eric Johnson, and Zakk Wylde. 20+ guitar players and only one woman on stage!
Playing the music of Jimi Hendrix is as exciting and as inspiring as ever. His music is still vibrant and captivating, and it lives on through generations.
In 2020, you are celebrating 20 years as a touring musician, award-winning guitar player, singer, and songwriter. What award is the most important for you and why? Awards and nominations are important. But most rewarding for me is my fanbase that’s been with me my entire career and still come out, eagerly awaiting new music. That’s my biggest motivation. Are you aware of the challenges woman face in the maledominated music industry? Yes, and luckily guitar is rapidly becoming a ‘female’ instrument, as more and more girls are drawn to it and every each one of them brings something new and refreshing to the table. It’s wonderful to see that change. But, just as any other male-dominated line of work, we’ve got miles to go. It’s about everyone else around us accepting the new change and embracing it, and encouraging their female colleagues, wives, and sisters to pursue their dream job, no matter if it used to be a ‘male job’. What advice do you have for younger women entering the world of music performance? Don’t be afraid to be different and bring something new to the table. There’s an audience for anything that has quality. The more surprising and unusual you are, the better. You will have more chances to leave your print in such a competitive line of work as the music business. (con’t on page 66)
