Today we’d like to introduce you to ROKO
Hi ROKO, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
At the age of 3, I already started what I thought was singing at the time, but my parents preferred calling it “making noise”, haha! When I was 6, my parents found out I’d been playing piano by ear. Despite making noise, they though I was a very musical kid so they got me enrolled in a classical music school in Split, Croatia, where I was born and raised. A few years later, at the age of 11, I dipped my toes into the music industry for the first time by competing in Croatia’s Got Talent 2011, and placing 13th. After taking part in several other talent shows, singing competitions, TV projects, numerous music festivals, and winning a series of awards, I went on to my biggest accomplishment – being elected by both the musical jury & the nation’s audience as Croatia’s representative for “Eurovision Song Contest” 2019. The same year, I was awarded The Best New Artist award in Croatia.
A few years later, in September 2021, I embarked on my American adventure by moving to Los Angeles amid the global pandemic, driven by the excitement of realizing my lifelong dream of building an international music career. Today, I am deeply grateful for the opportunities afforded to me in America. From performing at high-profile events alongside notable figures like Charlie Sheen to studying at the esteemed Los Angeles College of Music, every experience has shaped me into the artist and individual I am today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Per aspera ad astra! I don’t think anyone has it easy. And that’s okay. We grow through the hardships, and not through ease and comfort. Growing up, although we didn’t have a lot of money, I was lucky to have an infinite amount of support from my family and friends, but my transition to life in America wasn’t without its challenges. Loneliness and homesickness became constant companions as I navigated the complexities of studying abroad, but that certainly taught me the importance of mental health and how to take care of myself.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As I previously mentioned, I am a pop singer based in Los Angeles, but originally from a beautiful little town on the coast of Croatia called Split. Although I’m primarily a singer, I have been playing piano for 17 years now, so I often accompany myself on it. Over the years, I’ve released several singles that have resonated with listeners. One notable track, “The Dream”, found its way to the top of several Croatian charts and has been streamed more than 3 million times across various streaming platforms. Recently, I released “Exit Lane”, a song that explores the challenges of my mental health during times of major life transitions.
Reflecting on my career, one standout moment was undoubtedly my participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, back in 2019 when I had the honor of representing Croatia, making history as the youngest ever Croatian representative at Eurovision. At just 19, the responsibility felt immense, knowing I was carrying the hopes of my country on my shoulders.
And what an audience! The Eurovision stage was not just any platform; it was viewed by over 200 million people worldwide. The thought of so many eyes watching added an extra layer of excitement and pressure.
“The Dream” is the name of the song I represented my country with, written and composed by Jacques Houdek, Andrea Cubric, and Charlie Mason. It was a privilege to perform a piece with such talented creators behind it.
During my Eurovision journey, I was supported by the incredible team behind me and the encouragement of my fellow Croatians who voted me as their Eurovision representative. Looking back, it was a valuable experience that has left a lasting impression on my journey in the music industry.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
To be honest, at this point, I hope the AI doesn’t take over our jobs, haha. It’s gotten pretty crazy with how advanced it is now – writing “original” music and lyrics, imitating human voices – who knows what’s next. But it can’t imitate our emotions, and it will probably never be able to, which gives me hope we’ve still got it. Other than that, I do hope there will be more live shows, more organic music performances, and certainly more raw emotions, feelings, and soul in future music. I feel like we’ve lost our ways – the minority of nowadays music moves you or makes you feel anything, so much of it sounds the same. I strongly believe the main purpose of music is to help people, to heal them, to comfort them, and to help them express their repressed feelings, so I hope we reattain that by writing more with our hearts, and less with our heads.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rokoblazevic_official/
- Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/roko.blazevic.1/?_rdc=1&_rdr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@roko_music?si=RsklEUkvv3UsEC_H
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/track/3xc17zjM9LajTeLKMgTFPA?si=7797a70b3c014b63
Image Credits
Flo Chase, Cain Cooper
