Tradition Fast Forward

As in most countries in the world, Croatian popular music in the 21st century covers a wide variety of contemporary genres, including ethnic, rock, pop, hip-hop and rap. While the artists creating in these genres are influenced by international music, particularly from the US, the UK and western Europe, modern Croatian music also looks to its traditional roots. Music forms from Dalmatia, Istria and Slavonia regions, some of which included on the UNESCOs Intangible Cultural Heritage List, all figure prominently in contemporary Croatian music.

In the second half of the 20th century, popular music in Croatia developed mostly as it did in the rest of the Western world. In the 1960s, Croatian musicians experimented with rock and heavy metal music, while the 1970s gave way to disco and punk rock. Then came the Croatian new wave of the 1980s, which is still celebrated as a high point in contemporary Croatian music. In the years following the 1990s war, grunge, post-punk, rap and hip-hop appeared as trendy genres and rode a wave of popularity all the way into the 21st century in Croatia. All of these periods of Croatia’s music history leaned on traditional music in one way or another.

The “Dalmatian sound” is frequently cited as an aspect of Croatian pop, which relies heavily on klapa singing. Klapa, a song form that originated in the streets and taverns of Dalmatia, involves several voices singing the same harmony, or the same lyrics and melody simultaneously. One of the most popular Croatian artists, Oliver Dragojević, who died in 2018 after a 50-year career, looms large as a Mediterranean music figure.

He espoused the klapa tradition of his native Dalmatia, and was one of few Croatian artists of his era to enjoy international fame, with performances at Carnegie Hall in New York, Royal Albert Hall in London, Olympia in Paris and on other prestigious stages. Dragojević was also one of the many Croatian artists who used traditional sound as inspiration.

Another charismatic music figure is Mate "Mišo" Kovač, a bestselling singer in Croatia who is also popular throughout eastern Europe. The blend of his charisma and his catchy pop-folk music inspired by the landscapes, people and traditions of his native Dalmatia have made him a national phenomenon in Croatia.

Among Croatian women singers, Tereza Ana Kesovija is a living legend. Known for her chanson singing and vocal talents, Kesovija has been active since the 1970s.

During her long career, Kesovija has recorded in seven different languages and played to sold-out concert halls around the world.

Another cult music figure of Croatia is Josipa Lisac, a rock, opera and jazz singer similarly famous for her long career launched in the 1960s.

Her offbeat singing style, versatility as a performer and edgy appearance are all Lisac’s signatures that have placed her in the top rungs of Croatia’s performing music scene.

Other Croatian artists have taken it a step further to create an unique crossover style that blends traditional musical forms with contemporary sounds. The world music band Kries is an example of this type of fusion. Another is singer-songwriter Tamara Obrovac, who describes her work as “ethnically inspired contemporary Mediterranean jazz.”

Croatia’s music scene today features a lot of active musicians, artists and bands, who all create different sounds and together represent the country’s cultural diversity. Socially engaged musicians and bands also make an important part of Croatia’s music scene.