The King of Sevdah Although it has its roots in the Arabic word sawda, which means ‘black bile’ or ‘melancholy’, sevdah takes its name from the Turkish word sevda, which simply means ‘love’ – and this city has grown to love sevdah with a passion. That passion is set to be renewed with the eagerly
The King of Sevdah
Although it has its roots in the Arabic word sawda, which means ‘black bile’ or ‘melancholy’, sevdah takes its name from the Turkish word sevda, which simply means ‘love’ – and this city has grown to love sevdah with a passion. That passion is set to be renewed with the eagerly awaited appearance at Kino Šiška of Damir Imamović Sevdah Takht, which follows the release of their latest album, Dvojka, from Ljubljana’s very own Glitterbeat Records.
After appearing at various times as a solo artist and then as part of a three-piece Takht at Druga Godba, Damir will be presenting the latest, slightly augmented line-up as part of the Sogodbe cycle this time round: percussionist Nenad Kovačić, whose West African influences are the perfect gift to sevdah, and bassist Ivan Mihajlović, playful and deadly serious at the same time, are now joined by the superb Sarajevan violinist Ivana Đurić. Of course, Damir would not be Damir if he did not look to move forward himself; therefore, his beautifully maturing voice, which already stood comparison with that of his famous grandfather Zaim, is no longer accompanied by guitar but by tambur – a unique cross between modern guitar and traditional saz, hand-built to his own specifications.
Sevdah Takht, and the new album itself, have raised more than a few eyebrows among those gatekeepers of the genre who appear bent on reducing style, rhythm and repertoire to a narrow set of conventions, and who would make of sevdah a straightforward reflection of national character – for Imamović’s art is nothing less than a quiet, steady insurgency within sevdah and one that emphatically refuses the seductions of nationalism. Damir takes the music beyond his birthplace of Sarajevo, which appears in a completely different light in the album’s wonderful opening track to the way it is portrayed in the numerous tacky paeans with which we are all familiar, and takes it out into the world. Sevdah Takht’s time has arrived.
“The king of Sevdah!” Huffington Post
“The new direction in Bosnian sevdah.” fRoots
“[Dvojka] is a classy, accessible set that could bring sevdah to a wider audience.” The Guardian
“Simultaneously spacious and intimate, melancholy and playful, Dvojka is, in a word, superb.” Anže Zorman, Radio študent
“Not only a new sevdah singer but a new sevdah has been born with Damir Imamović.” Svetlana Slapšak, Peščanik
“Damir Imamović is today’s new and original voice of sevdah.” Dragan Kremer, Vrijeme
