Ahead of Dora 2024 kicking off, Jazzi had the chance to speak with Barbara Munjas. Barbara will be taking part in the first semi-final on Thursday 23rd February with the song “Nepobjediva”.
Hi Barbara, I would just like to start things off by asking you to introduce yourself?
I’ve been involved with music for quite some time now. My first public appearance was in 2007 when I participated in the Croatian Eurovision Selection. At that time, I hadn’t started to write my own music yet, so that wasn’t really me competing for Dora, if you get what I mean! Soon after the contest, I joined the well-known Croatian rock group Gustafi as their backing vocal singer, slowly but firmly building my own path and taking a bigger role in the band until 2013 when I made the decision to move forward and start my own band with a few fellow musicians where I could write my own music. We named ourselves “Barbari” (meaning barbarians) and released 2 albums. In 2017, I focused on a different kind of approach in writing, drawn by softer tunes and energies. It’s the time when I started to write in English, and the birth of my first album began. In 2022, I released “Right Place and Right Time,” got some nominations, and the regional AMVA award for the best indie video (song “Gone back”). In 2023, I decided to participate in Dora again with a song “Putem snova.” It was a fun experience with unexpected injuries, and definitely a time to remember, so I decided to participate once again this year.
Before we continue, let’s start with a quick icebreaker by just asking if there is one thing about yourself that not many people know about?
Well, there’s certainly a lot of things people have no idea about me… Let’s see, hm… I used to be quite a sporty type in my childhood and trained gymnastics for 8 years. Besides gymnastics, I also trained in tennis, handball, and volleyball. With all the other activities, my schedule was full.
For international Eurovision fans, this will be the first time they will get to know you, could you please tell us a bit more about yourself?
I make my own music, write my own lyrics, although arrangements are something I like to give to someone else to make. In this era of recording a new album in Croatian, I gave this task to my fellow bandmate and collaborator Zoran Majstorović. Besides music, I’m very much into nature and love to spend time in peace, close to the sea or somewhere in nature with my daughter and friends. I’ve played a lot of concerts in my life so far with all the projects and bands I was involved with. One of my favorite concerts was as a warm-up act for Manu Chao in Pula with the band Gustafi. I am also into theatre, played a few roles, composed music for a few plays. Love to be involved with creative people and work!
Can I start off by asking, what made you want to participate in the Croatian Eurovision selection?
I was part of the contest last year, and everything seemed to be so easy-going, relaxed. I made so many new beautiful connections and friends, but I had this injury on the day before the finals where I burnt my foot, and that made me unable to be all in. So, I decided to apply again and experience these fun times once again, hopefully completely sane and without any injuries this time.
You will be participating with the song “Nepobjediva”, what the song is about and what would you like the audience to feel when listening to it?
It’s basically a love song and an ode to healthy relationships, which have become like an endangered species, something you don’t see that much nowadays. This song is my response to some good times that struck me! Love shouldn’t hurt us; it should make us feel strong, safe, free, empowered, special, and invincible (which is the song title translated in English). When you love someone, you don’t get in the way of their happiness; you encourage them to grow stronger, bigger, and to go for the things that make them happy and complete. It’s beautiful to have someone beside you with whom you can be who you truly are. It can be a struggle to find someone like this, but eventually, if we open our eyes and hearts, they come. Everything and everyone comes into our lives when we’re ready for that and when we finally learn our previous lessons.
When I am sending this, we are only a few weeks away from the first semi-final of Dora 2024. How are the preparations going for that?
I don’t worry a lot; mostly everything is prepared and ready. One thing I learned from last year is that you should have everything planned ahead. You have to have at least the basic idea of your show and performance at the moment you apply for the contest because soon you get the info that you’re accepted you have to give in the sketches and ideas for your performance.
What would it mean for you to win Dora and represent your country at Eurovision?
I would feel very proud and lucky to win this opportunity, and of course, it would be a huge responsibility! I would go into it with all my heart and soul and give my best to achieve the highest possible result!
Moving onto Eurovision, what are your earliest memories of the contest, Do you have any favourite songs? Either from Croatia or from any other country
Eurovision is something that really brings back childhood memories! I loved watching Eurovision, although I don’t remember songs from that time, but I remember the feeling it gave! It was a beautiful feeling of celebrating, unity, joy… It’s a union of diversity and love. I remember the Croatian song “Marija Magdalena” and Doris Dragović giving us chills with her amazing singing… I also remember Ruslana as something different at that time. Fresh one that I really like is Konstrakta’s “In corpore sano.”
You competed in Dora 2023 last year, is the experience different this year compared to last year?
The biggest difference is that this year Dora is not taking place in my hometown but in Zagreb, and the rest of the things are mostly the same. I have a new collaborator, Zoran Majstorović, who I mentioned above. I made some things easier for myself in general. One thing I was sure of from the beginning is that I will call my dear friend Genoveva Matasović to come with me on stage and to do the dance again! The rest of the things unfolded kinda naturally… There’s a lot of amazing close people and friends supporting this whole thing offstage, and I really appreciate them being so dear and loving! Thank you, Family!
You have been releasing music for years, what music should fans of “Nepobjediva” go and listen to?
I have an English album released in 2022 titled “Right Place & Right Time,” which could be the easiest option for non-Croatian language listeners. Additionally, there are some high-energy albums sung in Croatian that were released with my former band Barbari – “Monfiorenzo Underground” from 2013 and “Santa Barbara” from 2014.
What is one thing that you have learnt from taking part in the national final, that you will take with you going forward?
It’s all about having fun! Indeed, it is, but at the same time, it’s a great opportunity to stand your ground and share your ideas with the audience. It can all be very fruitful if you’re a hard worker who knows to keep on going afterward, no matter what!
Thank you for this opportunity, and good luck in Dora 2024, Is there anything you would like to say to the International viewers over at That Eurovision Site?
Thank you for all the fire and engagement during every national contest; you’re making it all shine brighter and bigger!”
About Barbara Munjas
This is not Barbara’s first time competing in Dora 2024. Last year Barbara competed with the song “Putem snova”. At the close of voting the song finished in 8th place in last year’s competition. Barbara has had a career spanning five years and has released several singles in that time. In 2022 Barbara released the album “Right Space & Right Time”.
Croatia’s Eurovision History
Croatia has been a part of the Eurovision family since 1961, as part of Yugoslavia. Ten Croatian artists went on to represent Yugoslavia in the Contest – the most famous of which being Riva, who gave Yugoslavia its only win in 1989. The 1990 Contest was held in Zagreb as a tribute to their Croatian heritage.
Croatia debuted in the Contest as an independent nation in 1993 with the band Put and their song “Don’t Ever Cry”. Since then, Croatia has gone on to score as high as 4th place in 1996 and 1999. For 2023, Croatia chose the well-known band Let 3 to represent the nation in Liverpool with their song “Mama Ĺ ÄŚ!”. Performing in the first semi-final, Croatia qualified for the Grand Final for the first time since 2017. In the Grand Final, the band finished in 13th place, with a total of 123 points – 11 of which coming from juries, whilst another 112 came from the televote.
What did you think of our interview with Barbara Munjas? Could she return Croatia to Eurovision glory? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,Threads, BlueSky and Tiktok as we gear up for Eurovision 2024!
News Source: That Eurovision Site
Photo Credit: Ira & John/HRT
Rory Gannon
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