Lakiko is a cello that strokes, scratches, repeats itself and disappears. Lakiko is also a voice, singing about a nomadic existence, Bosnian nightmares, an archaic past and a dystopian future.
Released tomorrow (14th April), What To Do, How To Live? is the debut album from Lakiko sung almost entirely in Bosnian using a vocal technique from the Sevdalinka tradition. The release is accompanied by an award-winning short film, Lakiko – A Hybrid Idea, directed by German director Manfred Borsch which is premiered below.
Now residing in Lucerne, Switzerland and having trained as a classical cellist in Bremen and the University of Arts in Bern, Lakiko AKA Lana Kostić created her sonic world with the assistance of the neurology department in Biel. Connected to an EEG machine, the cellist experimented with exercising her free will using instruments, simultaneously using her brain waves as a score. The resulting material led to a series of live shows across Europe and it re-framed her musical outlook with a shower of new influences and sounds shaping her musical being. Bosnian folk, off-kilter classical, endless glissandi loops, eerie and fidgeting electronics and the cello, again and again, plucked, scratched, silent and angry.
All Lakiko’s songs are steeped in political sentiment “but in my very non-political way” with topics about the chances, or lack of, of changing social class (Tobogan), gender equality (The Woman Is Stronger Than the Man in Me), and our tendency as a society to repeat the same things over and over again (Junaci). For Lakiko, art and politics are forever present and entwined. “Music is the biggest part of my life. Conversely, my life is the biggest part of my music” she explains. As an artist, as a woman and as of very recently, as a mother, Lakiko’s purpose is one of many questions she constantly ponders. The title of her debut album, What To Do, How To Live? came about years before, overhearing another musician joking around. But for Lakiko, this question repeats over and over and has become a permanent narrative.
What To Do, How To Live? is sung almost entirely in Bosnian using a vocal technique from the Sevdalinka tradition. A piece of experimental performance, the artistic vision was drawn out of a period of deep contemplation, looking backwards, reflecting on the modern Balkan experience, her growing up in Sarajevo, and the scars and hardships that the city and people have had to endure and thinking about how their future will unfold.
The accompanying short film, Lakiko – A Hybrid Idea, directed by German director Manfred Borsch was shot in various locations in and around Sarajevo and provides an audiovisual portrait of Lakiko – born in Sarajevo, the city and its history serve as a metaphor and foundation for her work today.
The film has already been screened at various film festivals in Europe and America and won three awards: Best Direction – Stockholm City Film 2022, WINNER – European Cinematography AWARDS ECA 2022, Winner Best Direction – Experimental Dance & Music Festival 2022.
Pre-Order What To Do, How To Live? via Bandcamp
Director’s Statement – Manfred Borsch
“We were in Sarajevo for a week with a small team. Here, we used the first few days to get a feel for the city and its inhabitants, looked at the locations – which we had scouted online – and worked out plans before spending about four days on the shoot.
With “LAKIKO”, we attempted to find a hybrid short film form that combines documentary elements and artistic, abstract positions on the musician Lana Kostic. In this way, an artist portrait was to be created that cinematically offers a screen equal to the hybrid character of the music.
The locations reflect Lana’s story in and after Sarajevo and thus the story of her emancipation. These include the dreary Alipašino polje and the high-rise settlement that reminds Lana of her early childhood and conveys a very clichéd image of Sarajevo. These visuals, especially filmed in a DV video look, are what we expect from a Sarajevo story and what Lana has since been involuntarily associated with. There are also the structures of the Olympic village, creating a crazy contrast between the concrete-driven futurism of 1984 and nature that has reclaimed its place, representing a part of Lana’s drive for freedom. Another very interesting location is the Sarajevo City Hall (Vijećnica) and its history. During the siege, cellist Vedran Smailović played there for the victims of an attack for 22 days and became a symbol of resistance – resistance through music.
The red chair runs through the entire film and is based on the installation “Sarajevo Red Line”, where 11541 red chairs were set up in memory of the 11541 people who died during the siege in 1992-1996. As in the 2012 work, the red chair was intended to function as a historical image, close to or far from the history that always revolves around Lana. Lana observes this history, relates to it, and makes it her own. She takes the floating chair from the air and sits on it, using it to play her cello and her path of emancipation.
Oscillating between classical music, Balkan style, and avant-garde, it is precisely the contrasts and frictions that make up her music.
All songs are taken from the new album “What to do, how to live?”
Pre-Order What To Do, How To Live? via Bandcamp
Film Credits
Starring
Lana Kostić
A film by
Manfred Borsch
mfred.net
DP – Malte Thuilot, Manfred Borsch
Sound – Matthias Kulow
Music – LAKIKO
lakikomusic.com
AC – Markus Rosenstraeter
fatsnake.de
Best Boy – Julian Boehlendorf
Edit&Color – Manfred Borsch
Special thanks to
Chris Eckman, Miran Kostić, Chrissi Jorch, Mladen Jeličić-Troko and Vijećnica Sarajevo
Supported By
Kulturförderung Konton Luzern – Selektive Förderung des Kanton Luzern
Most: Bridges For Balkan Music,
Stadt Luzern / Fuka-Fonds,
Regionalkonferenz Kultur RKK
Website: https://www.lakikomusic.com/