About Lira Vega

"Its unique vision of post-rock, visionary approach to music and naive, but curious trifling with certain musical classics makes Lira Vega true refreshment on the scene." [ Ispod Zemlje /Belgrade ] "Total musical perfectionism, outstanding vocal and peculiar stage performance creates a unique atmosphere at the concerts of this group." [ Balkanmedia ] Her stage performance is magical. Like a spaceship navigator she twists the helm in her hands. Sometimes losing control like wild Patti Smith, sometimes resembles Bjork from Sugarcubes phase. One moment she sounds like an angel, the next moment she becomes a screeching Rastafarian witch. She is Zoja Borovčanin and she is leading one of currently the most fascinating bands on the Serbian scene: Lira Vega." [ Popboks /Belgrade ] "Lira Vega is currently the brightest constellation in Belgrade's music galaxy! This is backed up not only by the enthusiasm of the most influential Serbian media, but also by the fact that Lira Vega's hit single "Druga nova" was selected as the single of year 2004 on the most influential, legendary Serbian radio B92. Their debut album "Lira Vega", was also proclaimed as one of the most important albums of 2004 by Serbian music critics. This is no big surprise, as we are talking about the crew of musicians, which are marking the Belgrade scene since late ninties - as members of influential bands like Pozoriste sesira, Eyesburn, Neocekivana sila koja se iznenada pojavljuje i resava stvar (Unexpected Force which Appears Suddenly and Solves the Issue), Jarboli, Darkwood Dub, Partibrejkers and others." [ www.Kataman.org / Slovenia ] LIRA VEGA are * Zoja Borovčanin - vocal * Vladimir Đorđević - guitar * Nemanja Aćimović - bass guitar * Dejan Utvar - drums * Boris Mladenović - producer and sound engeneer They are all also members of other influential Belgrade bands and take part in diverse music projects. Genesis The bend LIRA VEGA was formed in 1998, under the wings of the theatre company called The Hat Theatre. The crew which makes up the band today gathered while working on a play called Winter, Dreams or Traveling. The fruit of shared endeavors is the music which accompanied the play. In March 1998, the band made its debut performance, under the name POZORIŠTE ŠEŠIRA (The Hat Theatre), at the Belgrade club Underground, the event being the promotion of hats designed by Ljudmila Stratimirović, founder of the troupe. The hit-single "Alfa Akvari", which accompanied the promotion of the play, was first on the B92 radio singles list for several weeks. Gigs followed at Belgrade clubs Fili, Underground, as well as being the supporting band for Obojeni program, just before the bombing began in March 1999. In December that same year, together with the troupe POZORIŠTE ŠEŠIRA, the band of the same name at the time performed on tour in Slovenia, as part of Metelkova Cultural Center anniversary celebration. Several concerts were held during the tour - in Ljubljana, Velenje and Prestranek. This phase of the band's work was crowned with a one-band performance at the renowned Belgrade Dom omladine in March 2000. A two-year break ensued, due to the members' other engagements. Then, in March 2002, the band re-formed and started more intense practice and work on enhancing its technical and aesthetic performance. The band reappeared under a new name - LIRA VEGA, since the musicians, and the entire band-related story went its separate way from the original theater troupe. From then on, the band has played at the SKC radio birthday concert, at the REFRACT Festival for regional alternative culture in Belgrade, as guests at the major concert of the Belgrade band Jarboli, as well as the SKC radio live show. In the summer of 2002, material was also recorded which became the 12-song debut album entitled LIRA VEGA, published by PGP- RTS in April 2004. Ever since they got back together, the band LIRA VEGA has had dynamic concert activities. 2003. Just after the cult club Akademija re-opened in January 2003, LIRA VEGA held their feature concert and the venue was packed. Another concert was held on May 23rd at the same club, supporting the British band Bushcraft. On July 5th, LIRA VEGA performed on Future Shock Stage at the EXIT 03 Festival. During that same summer, concerts at three more festivals followed: on July 26th - at the first Open fest in Rijeka, Croatia; then July 31st - at the Otokultivator Festival held traditionally on the Croatian island of Vis; as well as August 8th - at the Ljubljana Trnfest in KUD "France Prešern", Slovenia. Renewed cooperation with the band Obojeni program led to the supporting appearance at this band's concert held at the Belgrade Dom omladine in November 2003. 2004. Gigs all over the country, as well as at the REFRACT Festival. The first album came out for the record company PGP RTS, while the promotion was held at the Belgrade Planetarium, on one of the rare sunny days that June. It was accompanied by a charming lecture on the mythological and astronomical aspects of the star and constellation Lira Vega. October 15th that same year was marked with a concert promotion of the album, the spacious venue - Dom omladine, brimming with those who respect and admire this band's oeuvre. Carrying on the tradition of quirky occasions, the band played on December 30th 2004, at the ever-lively Plastic club, celebrating the eve of New Year's Eve. An array of guest-appearances has marked the 2005 year, as well as another appearance at the EXIT 05 Festival - on the Brain Vacation Stage. 2005. The year 2005 and the beginning of 2006 is marked by preparations to record the follow-up album. Additionally, the band joined the non-governmental organization Podrum je Bezbedan (The Basement is Safe), alongside the bands Jarboli and Neočekivana Sila Koja Se Iznenada Pojavljuje I Rešava Stvar. The organization has also equipped a recording studio in the Students' Cultural Centre of Belgrade building basement where these musicians practice, and serves as a music workshop of sorts. 2006. The band carried on with lively concert activities all around Serbia and started with the preparations for the following, second album. Highlights of 2006: LIRA VEGA appeared as a guest band that supported Franch new wave attraction, Nouvelle Vague, in Belgrade Dom Omladine. In June 2006. LIRA VEGA achieved Davorin prize, for the most successful international cooperation, with the band Let 3 from Croatia, on their album "Bombing of Serbia and Cacak", in a song "Zurle trestat". In August 2006. successful performing year continued by the Slovenian mini-tour, where LIRA VEGA checked out the most prominent Slovenian festivals, such as: Trn Fest in Ljubljana, Kamfest in the ancient fort of Kamnik, famous jazz club "Gabriel" in Cerkno, and MKC in Crnomelj. The last day of August and the end of the successful half of the year, LIRA VEGA celebrated by the gig in one of the most authentic places in Belgrade, summer raft- hit called "Povetarac" ("Breeze"). Also, new live radio performance, at Radio Studio B took place in September, when LIRA VEGA played the new music from the upcoming album - "Sreca i ljubav" ("Love and Happiness"). In November 2006. the successful year was crowned by the performance at the Balkan Black Box festival in Berlin, in the Roadrunners Paradise club. Future LIRA VEGA!