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| The debut Ep of Sekvoya, Serbian band produced by Zero Nove Nove "Snake Charmer", which is the title of the debut single by the Serbian born band Sekvoya, intertwines eastern melodies with western arrangements and, by mixing traditional sounds with modern rhythms, creates a unique and timeless fusion of Anatolian Rock, Psychedelia, and World Music. Out on Friday, May 30th, "Snake Charmer" is the first single from Gathering of Enchanted Herbs, the debut EP produced by the record label Zero Nove Nove, distributed in digital stores by Believe and set to be released on June 20th, 2025. Sekvoya's artistic adventure is the result of Ivan Krstićs' visionary project, guitarist and producer of the band. In Novi Sad, Serbia, he opened the creative space Soundbubble Studio where he started cultivating ideas and sounds that would have the potential to branch out and grow. The name evokes the majesty of the sequoias, ancient and mighty trees, deeply rooted in the earth but able to touch the sky, extending to heights where the human eye cannot take in the overall image, a place where only our imagination can follow them. Within the sequoia, a silent and immense creature and keeper of time, an ancient memory lives. The project, born out of a desire to use this symbol, bears its name as a spiritual and sound manifesto. The mission of the band is to awaken, through music, a more authentic way of living, as our ancestors did: connected to nature, in harmony with it, and therefore more at peace. Their music does not limit itself to being simply listened to: you move through it as if walking along a mysterious path hidden among the trees, it takes you to another dimension where every sound is a leaf that whispers archaic memories, and every rhythm a beat that recalls the heart of the Earth. Nature is not a backdrop, but a spiritual, living presence, a guide; it is a dimension where the music does not 'decorate silence', but rather fills it with visions. In this kaleidoscope of sounds, you can get anywhere, closing your eyes - even to the other side of Serbia. It is right there, in the village of Stol, that some centuries-old sequoias from the other side of the world grow. These trees, native to California but also rooted here as a sign, become a symbol of an ancestral connection, a silent bridge between distant lands. Similarly, in the original compositions written by Ivan Krstić, the ramifications of his musical influences intertwine: the Afro blues of Tinariwen and Mdou Moctar merges with the psychedelic vibrations of Khruangbin, Karl Hector and Sven Wunder, creating grooves that engage in dialogue with traditional Balkan rhythms. All this without forgetting about having been influenced and nurtured by Serbian rock bands such as Leb i Sol, Vlatko Stefanovski and Radomir Mihajlović Točak, from the legendary band Smak and the modern echoes of Derya Yildirim, Altin Gün, Satellites and Bab L'Bluz. The result is a sound that is a sensorial journey that sinks deep roots into the fertile soil of traditional Eastern melodies while feeding on Western bright light, in which contemporary arrangements and sound contaminations peep out, in a language that celebrates nature and runs through it, soaring to heights that know no limits of expansion. With their debut EP Gathering of Enchanted Herbs, the first of a trilogy, Sekvoya deliver five songs that transcend time and space, using the grandeur elicited by the boundless power of nature. Each song is symbolically associated with a medicinal plant or a strong spice, such as "Mugwort" (Sagebrush), "Firebird Plant" (Agastache plant) or "Black Pepper", and this helps to create a crescendo of hypnotic fusion between very ancient melodies and contemporary acid sounds. This paired with tribal grooves and folk melodies leads you all the way to experiencing a feeling that you have reached the other side of a sensorial gateway that has opened up. The result is an eclectic and captivating auditory experience. The fanciful language of Balkan sounds, in which trills stand out, an essential part of Serbian music that has ancient influences dating back to the ancient Byzantine Empire, creates an immersive and psychedelic experience that transcends conventional boundaries. Their style is like a sound forest: dense, vibrant, and full of chiaroscuro and sudden openings. With hypnotic grooves and folk elements, their music recalls the primordial echo of ancient forests: an invitation to trace the deep connection to things that are wild, to rediscover what lies just one stimulus away from us. It offers the possibility to feel guided by what nature safeguards and is in the music through the visionary idea that does not alter, but rather reveals. Credits: Ivan Krstić: guitars, bass, synths, percussions, drum programming Produced by Zero Nove Nove - (Italy) Recorded & mixed by Ivan Krstić at Soundbubble Studio - Novi Sad (Serbia) Mastered by Uroš Milkić & Ivan Krstić at Down There Studio - Beograd (Serbia) Artwork: Marija Đurđević (Addictive Studio) Photo: Mladen Kekić - Costumes: Marija Kozomora write your comments about the article :: © 2025 Jazz News :: home page |