Kal are the hottest Gypsy band from the suburbs of Belgrade, rock’n’roll in attitude, fuelled on urban beats and rooted in the Balkan blues. In their wit, imagination and ability to throw disparate sounds together they mark themselves as both part of Balkan Gypsy tradition and 21st Century lifestyle.
Almost three years on from Kal’s groundbreaking debut album band leader Dragan Ristic appears both weary and excited about the forthcoming release of Ding Deng Dong. Relaxing in the shadows of a downtown Belgrade bar, Ristic admits the last few years have been hectic ones. “We went from being this tiny Belgrade band, not even really known in our home town, to touring Europe and the US, hearing DJs blast our music in clubs, playing festivals, meeting all kinds of people, getting to spread the word and music of the Rom.”
Kal’s success on the world music circuit has been matched by fame in Serbia, something Ristic views as a double edged sword. “Kal’s rise has lead to so many demands: being an educated Rom in Serbia means I get called upon all the time to speak for my people. I don’t shy away from this but when you are asked to represent a minority who are marginalised, persecuted, often denied access to education or employment, then the position carries extra weight.”
Yet Ristic is proud that Kal’s sound – rooted in the lyrical, adventurous style of the late, great Serb Gypsy soul icon Saban Bajramovic – is leading to many young musicians looking back to their roots.
“In Serbia most of the young Gypsy musicians are playing pop-folk trash behind some bimbo or himbo whose entire career is built on looking sexy in a video. They’re losing their culture, what fathers taught sons for generations. With Kal’s success – and in Serbia we’re blowing up, attracting kids who like rock and techno alongside an older generation who appreciate traditional music, selling official CDs in a market overrun by pirates – we’re proving the music of your ancestors is still valid, still lives.”
For Kal’s debut Dragan drew upon a pool of Belgrade Roma musicians and singers, including several striking female vocalists. For this album he mainly relied upon the musicians who now compromise Kal’s touring band. “What you get here is our live sound. We spend a lot of time touring and when we’re back home we’re playing clubs along the Danube, bars that put on live music. This has really shaped our sound, it’s rock’n’roma! I strongly believe this album leads a new wave of Gypsy music. All of my life I have been acting like the bridge between two different cultures, Romani and non-Romani. I strongly feel my Gypsy identity while understanding I live in a world of mass communication, globalization, where everything should be considered as a media message, even emotions.”
As songwriter and activist, Dragan puts his political beliefs into his songs, using the stereotype of the “Gypsy musician” to challenge audiences.
The Roma, Dragan emphasises, are always adapting to different cultures and Kal’s polyglot band leader sings in Romany and Serbian, French and Spanish.
Every summer Dragan Ristic and his brother Dushan lead the Amala Summer School (www.galbeno.co.yu), a two week gathering at their home village in Valjevo where students from across the world come to learn Roma language, music and history.
Discography:
2006 KAL „Kal“ Asphalt Tango Records GmbH 2009 KAL „Radio Romanista“ Asphalt Tango Records GmbH
