BALKAN NIGHT
Naked was founded in Belgrade in 2006. The band immediately attracted the attention of the local audience! They stood out on the Serbian music scene thanks to its multilayered and energetic musical expression, receptive, at the same time intriguing original compositions, and compact, well-coordinated playing. In addition to the above, there are convincing stage performances and the image of the group members, which could most simply be described as "very cool".
The group began as a quintet (two bass guitars, guitar, drums, violin); then they recorded the first two albums in the form of a sextet (with the addition of an accordion) They started to work on their third album as a quartet, which led to a major change in the band's sound and a turning point in their work and career. Since then, their music has become more streamlined, yet full of energy. The unmistakable Naked sound has since become their trademark.
The albums, however, are also adorned with wonderful collaborations with artists such as multi-instrumentalist Amir Gwirtzmann and singer Tal Tulu Ben Ari from Israel.
Why are they called Naked?
Because they love honesty, openness, truth, purity, nakedness, demystification… Because the members of the group carry an emotional spectrum, which germinated in their souls and minds first during a carefree early childhood, and then maturing in ungrateful social circumstances in the former Yugoslavia, in an atmosphere of poverty, hatred, fear, violence, hyperinflation, war, bombing, general social decline… In an atmosphere in which fertile ideas about freedom, hope, good vibes, love, endeavour could develop at the same time...
Naked is one of the most vital representatives of the world music scene of Balkan..
The upward trajectory of their career is supported by the good frequency of the album releases, as well as the gradual expansion of the circle of fans, first across the borders of Serbia, then the region, and finally Europe. The band has performed on four continents so far. In addition to more than 500 separate concerts, club gigs and performances at festivals in Serbia, Hungary, Germany,Switzerland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Israel, South Korea, Nederland, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, Letonia, Estonia, Ukrain,Austria, etc., there are also tours in South America, Italy, Romania, India.
They introduced themselves in the Folk Alliance International ShowCase at New Orleans in 2020!
Just some of the events in the world in which Naked took part (just name a few): WOMEX 2021 Porto , Portugal, EXIT /Serbia, Babel Sound /Hungary, Danube Festival Ulm /Germany, Colors of Ostrava / Cz Republic, Red Sea Jazz Festival /Israel, Belgrade Jazz Festival /Serbia, Seul Music Week /South Korea, Musica Mundo / Brasil, Ulsan Jazz festival /South Korea, Todo Mundo festival / Serbia, Ragastan music festival /Thar desert India, Jazz in Daegu / South Korea, Mundovivo World music festival /Chile, etc.
The style of the band is complex, unaffected, merged. Elements of Balkan traditions, with a touch of Mediterranean, African and Eastern European traditions, in synergy with the features of jazz, funk, rock, free music and a lot of improvisation – all this together creates a recognizable Naked-sound. That sound carries a lot of emotional layers – rebellion, melancholy, joy… A kind of "Happy Sadness", as a "general state" of the group's musical poetics, is especially embodied on the fifth album of the same name (Srećna tuga/Happy Sadness), which is in front of us.
Naked (SRB)
