Melodrom
Encyclopedia
Melodrom are: Mina Špiler (vocals
), Matevž Kolenc (guitar
, programming
), Miha Žargi (bass
), Matej Nolda (drums
) and Polona Janežič (keyboards
). The band create everything by themselves: from music
and lyrics
through videos
to design
.
All members of the band are still students: three study at the Faculty of Arts
, while two study architecture
.
Initially, the band's purpose was to create music for theater performances and shows. They recorded music for the theatre performance Zvitorepka, directed by Aleš Korpič, and various dance performances by Bara Kolenc, including Razobraz (2001), Čečečečebula (2002), Brezdno (2004) and, most recently, Zimska pravljica (2004) by Borut Bučinel. In the autumn of 2002 the band collaborated with the designer Uroš Belantič of the Oktober fashion house to create the music for their spring/summer 2003 collection fashion show. The catalogue representing the collection was accompanied by Melodrom’s promotional first single.
Melodrom’s “proper and independent” band career began in March 2001 with the concert in Gromka club at Metelkova mesto. They started preparing material and recorded their first demos. Some of the recordings found their way to Radio Študent
station, were aired successfully and, consequently, the song Extemporary Ending (called Pet petnajst in the Slovene version) reached fourth place on the International Crossradio chart of best singles of 2001. In 2004 they reached seventh place with the song Duet. After the first recordings and initial radio success, the band had increasingly more concerts. A few concerts in Slovenia
and Croatia
(Močvara) established them as a promising young band and thus they were selected for the second Club Marathon tour organized by Radio Student which enabled them to have concerts all over Slovenia. They also played in Austria
, Germany
and Serbia and Montenegro
.
. It has been chosen for the album of the year 2004 by Polet and Vikend magazines and the Videospotnice TV music show. In 2005 the album was rereleased in English version by Mascom Records.
and the band Rotor, and Mina has worked with Laibach
on their remix of the song Ohne Dich
(Mina Harker's Version) by Rammstein
. She also joined Laibach
on their Volk
tour in 2006 as a replacement for Boris Benko of Silence
.
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
), Matevž Kolenc (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, programming
Programming (music)
Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
), Miha Žargi (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Matej Nolda (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) and Polona Janežič (keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
). The band create everything by themselves: from 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...
and lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
through videos
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
to design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
.
All members of the band are still students: three study at the Faculty of Arts
Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts was one of the four traditional divisions of the teaching bodies of medieval universities, the others being Theology, Law and Medicine...
, while two study architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
.
Biography
Melodrom (originally Marquee) was founded in 1999 in cafe Marilyn at Slovenian Cinematheque, for the purpose of creating a soundtrack for a new film by Jurij Meden. The line-up has remained the same ever since. Following Meden's suggestion, the band started rehearsing immediately and in the beginning of the year 2000 they recorded the film soundtrack in KifKif studio. Nevertheless, the film was never actually shot.Initially, the band's purpose was to create music for theater performances and shows. They recorded music for the theatre performance Zvitorepka, directed by Aleš Korpič, and various dance performances by Bara Kolenc, including Razobraz (2001), Čečečečebula (2002), Brezdno (2004) and, most recently, Zimska pravljica (2004) by Borut Bučinel. In the autumn of 2002 the band collaborated with the designer Uroš Belantič of the Oktober fashion house to create the music for their spring/summer 2003 collection fashion show. The catalogue representing the collection was accompanied by Melodrom’s promotional first single.
Melodrom’s “proper and independent” band career began in March 2001 with the concert in Gromka club at Metelkova mesto. They started preparing material and recorded their first demos. Some of the recordings found their way to Radio Študent
Radio Student
Radio Student is the first student radio station in Croatia, broadcasting since 1996 in Zagreb. The station is non-profit, non-commercial serving as an educational radio for students of Zagreb University...
station, were aired successfully and, consequently, the song Extemporary Ending (called Pet petnajst in the Slovene version) reached fourth place on the International Crossradio chart of best singles of 2001. In 2004 they reached seventh place with the song Duet. After the first recordings and initial radio success, the band had increasingly more concerts. A few concerts in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
(Močvara) established them as a promising young band and thus they were selected for the second Club Marathon tour organized by Radio Student which enabled them to have concerts all over Slovenia. They also played in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
.
Debut album
In July 2003 the recording of the first full-length was completed in studio Hymnos with the producer Jaka Jarc. The group planned to release the album on their own in October 2003. They recorded the first video Prenzlauer Allee which was aired successfully on the national and commercial TV stations. However, due to good reviews and interest from record companies the group postponed the release of the album. After months of negotiating, Melodrom signed to Nika Records in February 2004. After some additional recording sessions and translation of some song lyrics, originally written in English, into Slovene, the album went through the production process again under the careful eye of Iztok Turk. It was finally released in September 2004 under the title MelodromMelodrom (album)
Melodrom is Melodrom's debut album and was released in February 2004 by Nika Records. It was chosen for the album of the year 2004 by Polet and Vikend magazines and the Videospotnice TV music show...
. It has been chosen for the album of the year 2004 by Polet and Vikend magazines and the Videospotnice TV music show. In 2005 the album was rereleased in English version by Mascom Records.
Collaboration
Melodrom have collaborated with DJ UmekDJ Umek
Uroš Umek is an internationally acclaimed DJ and music producer from Slovenia, author of more than 500 releases for world renown record labels such as Renaissance, Armada, Cocoon Records, Audiomatique, Hell Yeah, Tronic, Datapunk amidst many others...
and the band Rotor, and Mina has worked with Laibach
Laibach (band)
Laibach is a Slovenian avant-garde music group associated with industrial, martial, and neo-classical musical styles. Laibach formed June 1, 1980 in Trbovlje, Slovenia . Laibach represents the music wing of the Neue Slowenische Kunst art collective, of which it was a founding member in 1984...
on their remix of the song Ohne Dich
Ohne dich
"Ohne dich" is a power ballad by German band Rammstein from the album Reise, Reise. It is seen as expressing mourning over the loss of a loved person. It was released as the third single from the album on 22 November 2004 in Germany , Switzerland and Austria. Other countries' releases followed up...
(Mina Harker's Version) by Rammstein
Rammstein
Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band from Berlin, formed in 1994. The band consists of members Till Lindemann , Richard Z. Kruspe , Paul H. Landers , Oliver "Ollie" Riedel , Christoph "Doom" Schneider and Christian "Flake" Lorenz...
. She also joined Laibach
Laibach (band)
Laibach is a Slovenian avant-garde music group associated with industrial, martial, and neo-classical musical styles. Laibach formed June 1, 1980 in Trbovlje, Slovenia . Laibach represents the music wing of the Neue Slowenische Kunst art collective, of which it was a founding member in 1984...
on their Volk
Volk (album)
Volk is a concept album by Slovenian industrial group Laibach. Originally, Volk is the German word for "people" or "nation" but also Slovenan for "wolf"...
tour in 2006 as a replacement for Boris Benko of Silence
Silence (band)
Silence is a Slovenian electronic, synth pop and soundtrack music composing duo consisting of Boris Benko and Primož Hladnik . Their fanbase and their tours are currently limited to Slovenia, Germany and parts of Eastern Europe...
.
External links
- Melodrom - official site
- Nika Records - Nika Records Ltd