K2 (Kovac sisters duo)
Encyclopedia
K2 was a Serbia
n pop
, R&B, funk
and dance
duo, formed by sisters Aleksandra
and Kristina Kovač
in 1990. They worked with many producers worldwide and released five albums. After eight years, the band finished its work in 1998. Aleksandra and Kristina started their solo careers.
, a famous composer
, and his wife Spomenka, who is a songwriter. They have younger sister, Anja (1988), who is an actress. Aleksandra and Kristina started playing piano
when they were very young, so they knew that their job will be - music
. Aleksandra decided she would be singer when she "heard music from the movie Grease
for the first time", in 1978.
Aleksandra and Kristina formed their band, named K2. They signed their first contract with a management company from London
, Misamanagement (clients include Supertramp
, Rod Stewart
and Chris de Burgh
). They went to London to support Labi Siffre
on tour and performed in many famous clubs in London, such as "Mean Fiddler
", "The Orange" and "Tea Room des Artistes".
In 1993, Errol Brown
(former singer of Hot Chocolate) booked the sisters as an opening act and as backing vocals on his tour, after hearing them perform in "Mean Fiddler". After the tour, the sisters began a collaboration with "New Underground", a team of young producers from Manchester
, which resulted in several songs that are a mix of pop music
and r&b. With this, K2 generated positive reactions from major record label
s - Sony Music, Polydor and Warner Bros. Records
.
In the following years, Aleksandra and Kristina worked with many important names from the music industry, such as Derek Bramble (a composer and producer
, who worked with Whitney Houston
and Nona Gaye
) and the composing duo Rod Argent
-Peter Van Hook (who composed and produced for Genesis
and Tanita Tikaram
).
and, filled with positive energy and creativity, wrote, arranged, produced and performed their first album K2, which became very popular. They successfully promoted this album in Serbia
and former Yugoslavia
. Their singles were "'Ajmo u život", "Džangl Manija" and "Milo moje".
In 1996, they released their second album, Malo Soula
(A Little Bit of Soul), with singles "Dabadamdam", "Sestre" and "Biću tvoja devojka". At the time, these two albums, as well as the videos for the singles, represented something new, original and fresh in Yugoslavia.
label to record an album for Spain
. In 1997, the girls went to Madrid
, and signed a contract with EMI
to release an album for the Spanish market. The album they eventually released consisted of Spanish-language versions of their previous songs. For example, their #1 hit "Dabadamdam" became "Debedamdam", "Sestre" became "Hermanas", "Ajmo u život" became "Vamos de fiesta" etc. The same year the remix album called "Vamos de fiesta - Remixes" was also released for EMI
. Kristina however, later said that this collaboration was "the worst thing that happened to the group".
After album promotion followed by a modest tour, the group returned to Belgrade
and disbanded.
in Copenhagen
.
Kristina released her solo album U nebranom grožđu in 2007, becoming one of the most popular solo singers in Serbia
. Her album is one of the best selling albums in 2007 and 2008 in Serbia.
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, R&B, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
and dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
duo, formed by sisters Aleksandra
Aleksandra Kovac
Aleksandra Kovač is a Serbian singer-songwriter. She is the eldest daughter of eminent composer Kornelije Kovač and the elder sister of singer Kristina Kovač. Alongside her sister Kristina, Kovač came to media prominence as a part of girl group K2, and then launched a successful solo career in 2001...
and Kristina Kovač
Kristina Kovac
Kristina Kovač is a Serbian singer and composer. She is a major pop star in Serbia. She became famous during the 1990s when she and her sister Aleksandra Kovač were the big attraction in Serbia and surrounding countries - R&B band K2...
in 1990. They worked with many producers worldwide and released five albums. After eight years, the band finished its work in 1998. Aleksandra and Kristina started their solo careers.
The beginning
Aleksandra (born 1972) and Kristina (born 1974) are the daughters of Kornelije KovačKornelije Kovac
Kornelije "Bata" Kovač is a famous Serbian composer. He is a father of Aleksandra Kovač and Kristina Kovač, both successful Serbian singers.-Early life:...
, a famous composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, and his wife Spomenka, who is a songwriter. They have younger sister, Anja (1988), who is an actress. Aleksandra and Kristina started playing piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
when they were very young, so they knew that their job will be - music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. Aleksandra decided she would be singer when she "heard music from the movie Grease
Grease (film)
Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Warren Casey's and Jim Jacobs's 1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and Jeff Conaway...
for the first time", in 1978.
Aleksandra and Kristina formed their band, named K2. They signed their first contract with a management company from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Misamanagement (clients include Supertramp
Supertramp
Supertramp are a British rock band formed in 1969 under the name Daddy before renaming to Supertramp in early 1970. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they have since incorporated a combination of traditional rock and art rock into their music...
, Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
and Chris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh is a British/Irish singer-songwriter. He is most famous for his 1986 love song "The Lady in Red".-Early life:...
). They went to London to support Labi Siffre
Labi Siffre
Labi Siffre is a British poet, songwriter, musician and singer most widely known as the writer and singer of " So Strong", "It Must Be Love" and "I Got The", the sampled rhythm track which provides the basis for a number of well-known hip hop tracks such as Eminem’s breakthrough hit single, "My...
on tour and performed in many famous clubs in London, such as "Mean Fiddler
Mean Fiddler
The Astoria 2, subsequently known as the LA2 then the Mean Fiddler, was a nightclub at 165 Charing Cross Road in London, England.The venue was connected to the London Astoria such that the two venues could function as a single venue where needed...
", "The Orange" and "Tea Room des Artistes".
In 1993, Errol Brown
Errol Brown
Errol Brown MBE is a singer and songwriter, best known as the frontman of Hot Chocolate. He has British citizenship by marriage to Ginette and they live in The Bahamas...
(former singer of Hot Chocolate) booked the sisters as an opening act and as backing vocals on his tour, after hearing them perform in "Mean Fiddler". After the tour, the sisters began a collaboration with "New Underground", a team of young producers from Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, which resulted in several songs that are a mix of pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and r&b. With this, K2 generated positive reactions from major record label
Label
A label is a piece of paper, polymer, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or article, on which is printed a legend, information concerning the product, addresses, etc. A label may also be printed directly on the container or article....
s - Sony Music, Polydor and Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
.
In the following years, Aleksandra and Kristina worked with many important names from the music industry, such as Derek Bramble (a composer and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, who worked with Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
and Nona Gaye
Nona Gaye
Nona Marvisa Gaye is an American singer, former fashion model, and screen actress. The daughter of soul music legend Marvin Gaye and granddaughter of jazz great Slim Gaillard, she began her career as a vocalist in the early 1990s...
) and the composing duo Rod Argent
Rod Argent
Rod Argent is an English rock musician and a founding member of the 1960s English pop group The Zombies and the 1970s band Argent....
-Peter Van Hook (who composed and produced for Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
and Tanita Tikaram
Tanita Tikaram
Tanita Tikaram is a British pop/folk singer-songwriter, best known for the hits "Twist in My Sobriety" and "Good Tradition" from her 1988 debut album, Ancient Heart...
).
Two successful albums in Yugoslavia
In 1995, the girls returned to their hometown BelgradeBelgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
and, filled with positive energy and creativity, wrote, arranged, produced and performed their first album K2, which became very popular. They successfully promoted this album in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. Their singles were "'Ajmo u život", "Džangl Manija" and "Milo moje".
In 1996, they released their second album, Malo Soula
Malo Soula
Malo Soula is a 1996 album by Serbian pop duo K2. It was released in spring 1996.The album contains 10 songs. The producers of all the songs off album were sisters Kovač themselves, with Kristina being the main and Aleksandra, a co-producer. The main single was "Dabadamdam", was released in...
(A Little Bit of Soul), with singles "Dabadamdam", "Sestre" and "Biću tvoja devojka". At the time, these two albums, as well as the videos for the singles, represented something new, original and fresh in Yugoslavia.
Album for Spanish market and break-up
A year later, in 1997, Aleksandra and Kristina took the offer from EMIEMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
label to record an album for Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. In 1997, the girls went to Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, and signed a contract with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
to release an album for the Spanish market. The album they eventually released consisted of Spanish-language versions of their previous songs. For example, their #1 hit "Dabadamdam" became "Debedamdam", "Sestre" became "Hermanas", "Ajmo u život" became "Vamos de fiesta" etc. The same year the remix album called "Vamos de fiesta - Remixes" was also released for EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
. Kristina however, later said that this collaboration was "the worst thing that happened to the group".
After album promotion followed by a modest tour, the group returned to Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
and disbanded.
Solo careers
Aleksandra recorded the song "Better or Worse" in 2002, but her album Med i mleko was released in 2006. It was one of the best selling albums in 2006. For this album, Aleksandra won the Best Adriatic Act award at MTV Europe Music Awards 2006MTV Europe Music Awards 2006
The MTV Europe Music Awards hit Copenhagen at the Bella Center/Rådhuspladsen in 2006. The venue was made to feel like a VIP club with exclusive, intimate performances...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
.
Kristina released her solo album U nebranom grožđu in 2007, becoming one of the most popular solo singers in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. Her album is one of the best selling albums in 2007 and 2008 in Serbia.
External links
- Aleksandra Kovač Official Site
- Aleksandra Kovač at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
. - Kristina Kovač Official Site
- Kristina Kovač at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
.