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Matija Cvek

Matija Cvek
Born (1993-03-09) 9 March 1993 (age 31)
Zagreb, Croatia
GenresPop, pop rock
OccupationSinger
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano, guitar
Years active2014–present
LabelsDancing Bear, Menart

Matija Cvek (born 9 March 1993) is a Croatian singer and songwriter. He rose to fame by participating in HRT's show A strana and as a backing vocalist during Jacques Houdek's Eurovision Song Contest 2017 performance of "My Friend". He first gained public attention in 2018 when he released his song "Visine". Cvek's first studio album, Izbirljivo i namjerno (2021), debuted atop the Croatian Albums Chart. His second studio album Vile se ovdje igraju (2023) also peaked at number one on the chart.

In addition to his solo material, Cvek has collaborated with Croatian singer Jelena Rozga on the rework of "Zar je ljubav spala na to" (2022) and with Serbian singer Marija Šerifović on the song "Pola sunca" (2023). He wants to maintain his private life aside from his career and despite a past relationship with Nika Turković decided not to share details on it.

Life and career

1991-2017: Early life

Matija Cvek is born and raised in Zagreb, Croatia. He has one sister.[1] He is in a close relationship with his grandfather and grandmother, Maja, a renowned Croatian lyricist. It was the latter who inspired him to venture into the music industry. While reading her works in a collection, he recorded a song based on one of her poems, titled, "Potraži me u jeseni" (English: Look for Me in the Autumn).[2] He read the song and quickly turned it into a song on his guitar.[1]

His love towards music and singing was first noticed by his aunt who encouraged him in kindergarten to sing in front of others, initially accompanied and later alone during child's plays.[3][1] He formed his first band when he was 16; he credits this time as the period when he started falling in love towards live performances. At the period he also watched several bands perform, including Živa legenda.[1] At the age of 18, he started singing classes with the professor Denis Vasilj, whom she credits for "raising [him] musically".[1] During the time, he also met Neno Ninčević who became an author for his songs and a collaborator.[1] For two days, he also signed up at the music school where he was taking part of the violoncello classes before switching to sports.[4]

As part of his higher education, he started studying physiotherapy.[2]

2017-2021: Career beginnings and Izbirljivo i slučajno (2021)

Cvek's career started emerging through his live performances at local cafés, terraces and restaurants; initially his plan was not to build a career, though he enjoyed the process of "giving [himself] to people" and conveying his emotions.[2][1] Cvek performed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 as a backing vocalist for Jacques Houdek's song "My Friend".[5] After his appearance at the Eurovisiong Song Contest he started participating regularly at various festivals and gigs.[6] He rose to fame by participating in HRT's show A strana. In the show, he managed to collaborate with several popular Croatian artists, including Nina Badrić.[7][8] He also served as a backing vocal at the Volim Hrvatsku show.[8]

In June 2018, Cvek released his major label debut single "Visine", written by Cvek. The single led to a gain in popularity.[9] He worked on the music for the song together with Mislav Žabarović and initially played it only during his live gigs; as he noticed that people from the audience knew the lyrics more and more with each performance, he decided to record the song.[1] On 11 March 2021, during a live performance at bravo!'s living room acoustic, Matija Cvek sang an acoustic version of Magazin's "Suze Biserne".[10] He later also added it to the set list of his live performances, which is how he caught Jelena Rozga's attention.[11] His version of the song was described as "something completely different" and was well-received by listeners.[12]

Cvek released his debut studio album Izbirljivo i slučajno on 16 April 2021 and debuted atop the Croatian Top of the Shops albums chart.[13][14] In retrospect, Cvek revealed that he saw his first album as more single-based and thus, less of a whole conceptual artistic work.[15] On 26 November 2021, he appeared on then-narodni radio's Christmas living room acoustic where he performed "Last Christmas".[16] On 9 December 2021, he appeared on Antena Zagreb where he performed a mashup of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey and "Sretan Božić" by Dino Dvornik.[17] His first live album Izbirljivo i namjerno, which featured performances of eight of the album's songs, featured Big Band Bjelovar led by conductor Bruno Bišċan and was released on 2 December 2022.[18]

2022-2023: "Trebaš li me", non-album singles and Vile se ovdje igraju

In early 2022, a collaboration with Croatian singer Eni Jurišić titled "Trebaš li me" was released.[19] The track reached number one on the HR Top 40 becoming Cvek's first chart topper.[20] At the 29th Annual Porin Awards, Cvek took home two awards: the award for Best Pop Album and the award for Best Male Vocal Performance.[21] At the 2023 edition of the Cesarica Awards, Cvek won the Song of The Year award with "Trebaš li me".[22] The song received two additional Songs of The Year awards at the 2023 editions of Zlatni Studio and Top.HR Music Awards, respectively.[23][24]

On 3 March 2023, Cvek was a guest on the talk show 5.com s Danielom on HRT together with Mario Mihaljević. In addition to an interview about his two studio albums and career, he performed the songs "Trebaš li me", "Probudi se" and "Visine".[4] On 14 March 2023, Cvek released the song "Kraj Save" together with the Funkensteins.[2][25] The song had been on his and the Funkensteins repertoire for over a year and a music video for it was filmed at the Dom Sportova complex in Zagreb, Croatia.[2] The song was recorded as an hommage to his hometown of Zagreb. Upon its release, it received a very positive review from a writer of Story.hr who called it a "wonderful ballad".[26] On 25 June 2023, Cvek participated at the Melodije Jadrana 2023 with the song "Zalazak" which features the Funkensteins.[27]

On 15 September 2023, he released his second studio album with his band the Funkensteins, titled Vile se ovdje igraju (English: Fairies are playing here). The title was borrowed from a sign Cvek saw during his vacation at the Japanese islands at Bihać which he used to write a song and a chorus. The album was recorded in a "vintage fashion", as described by the singer himself; it included ten days of recording with 15-hour recording sessions per day.[28] During an interview he spoke more in-depth about the album, revealing that it was the creative outcome of his introspection, "digging deeper" into his own thoughts and feelings. He further said that his discussions on love are "more intimate, more personal, maybe even sensual and sexual". The album also makes mention of his lifepath and it finds him singing from a state of limbo, sharing his thoughts on life and death.[2] Sonically, the album is different from his previous work which according to Cvek might have surprised some of his listeners.[28]

At the 2023 Porin Awards, he was nominated in seven categories, including Song of the Year, Best Vocal Collaboration and Best Clip for "Trebaš li me", Best Pop Music Album for Izbirljivo i namjerno together with Big Band Bjelovar, Best Male Vocal Performance for "Visine", Best Group Vocal Performance for "Ne moram ni ja" with the Funkensteins, for which Ivan Pešut was also nominated for Producer of the Year.[29][30]

2023-present: Career in Serbia

On 6 October 2023, he collaborated with Serbian singer Marija Šerifović on the song "Pola sunca" taken from the latter's sixth studio album Dolazi ljubav. They further promoted it through a music video directed by Hamper Digital and released on 6 October 2023 and making a televised appearances on the Serbian show Kec na jedanaest.[31][32] As of April 2024, the music video has over 9.4 million views on the platform, 5 months since its release.[33] The single was very commercially successful, peaking at number three on Billboard's Croatia Songs for the week ending 21 October 2023.[34]

Cvek's debut live performance in Belgrade, Serbia took place during Jelena Rozga's concert, where he served as a guest performer for the song "Zar je ljubav spala na to" on 7 April 2023 as part of the latter's Minut Srca Mog Tour (2022-23).[15][35] As part of a promotion for the concert, he made two guest appearances on the shows Medu nama and Kec na jedanaest on 6 and 7 April 2023, respectively, where he gave interviews. On the latter show, he performed three of his songs, including "Trebaš li me", "Ptice" and a cover of Željko Joksimović's "Leđa o leđa".[36] He later gave a smaller gig, performing together with his band at a café in Belgrade on 7 June 2023.[36] On 25 November 2023, Cvek gave his first solo concert in Belgrade at the Belgrade Youth Center. Serbian pop singer Dušan Svilar served as his opening act.[37]

Personal life

Cvek was in a relationship with Croatian singer-songwriter Nika Turković.[38] During an interview, he revealed that prior to finding his call in music, he briefly ventured in building a career in football.[31] Nevertheless, due to an injury he was obliged to stop at the age of 18.[8] Cvek revealed that he spends most of his free time together with family members and friends as relationships to others are the most important to him.[2][8] He also enjoys spending time in nature and taking walks in forests, buying and collecting sneakers, cooking and seldom playing video games on a PlayStation console.[8][39] During his walks, he often wanders through the mountain of Medvednica.[8]

During a brief interview, Cvek has revealed that he loves other people and enjoys hospitality as he has experienced it in Belgrade. He has also revealed that despite his rise to fame, he can also see himself as a "band singer".[35] During the transitioning towards building a career in music, he experienced heightened stress and anxiety which he tried to counted by spending time in nature and being among other people, including childhood friends.[2] Cvek has a rather casual dressing style with which he tried to emulate his look while onstage; this often includes sneakers and a bomber jacket. He also has two minor tattoos.[1] Cvek is friends with Croatian composer and lyricist Ivan Huljić with whom he often celebrates his birthday. He has a fear of flying with airplanes.[4]

Artistry

Reflecting on his songwriting process, Cvek revealed that he writes songs best while walking and then recording everything he has come up with on his phone; most often he comes up with the lyrics first and then music, although his favorite writing moment is when both come together.[3] He revealed that writing turned into his love as he would write every morning when waking up.[1] In the years of his musical exploration, Cvek realized that he fits in the genres groove and pop-funk.[1] He has performed with his band for longer than 5 years, which has led to them labelling each other as "a small family".[28]

Discussing his artistry and early influences in his career, Cvek revealed how he was influenced by Neno Ninčević, Ante Gelo whom he worked with on the show Volim Hrvatsku and Runjićeve večeri, Jacques Houdek whom he learnt the importance of the first tone and the stance onstage from and Nikša Bratoš who helped him during A Strana.[1] Most of the lyrics in his songs revolve around the topic of love; he revealed that as an aspiring singer, Oliver Dragojević's songs served as the "ABC" of singing for him and other artists as well.[28]

In addition to his career in music, Cvek has expressed his wishes to venture in literature through poem collections, books and novels. He enjoys reading books on music theory and using similes and metaphors.[1]

Discography

Main article: Matija Cvek discography

Studio albums

  • Izbirljivo i namjerno (2021)
  • Vile se ovdje igraju (2023)

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominee / work Result Ref.
2022 Cesarica Song of the Year "Ptice" Nominated [40]
"Zaplesala je s ljetom" Nominated
Porin Best Pop Album Izbirljivo i namjerno Won [41]
Best Male Vocal Performance Matija Cvek Won
2023 Cesarica Song of the Year "Trebaš li me" Won [42]
Zlatni Studio Won [43]
Top.HR Music Awards Won [44]
2024 Porin Best Pop Album Vile se ovdje igraju Won [45]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Ljubanović, Dijana (16 April 2019). "Journal Man: Matija Cvek". Journal.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Šitum, Maja (18 March 2023). "'Kad se ljudi nadju nema lakshe i tezhe veze': Matija Cvek ekskluzivno za Story progovorio o ljubavi i karijeri" ['When People Find Each Other There Are no Easier and More Difficult Relationships': Matija Cvek Exclusively on Story Spoke About Love and Career] (in Croatian). Story.hr. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b Journal Man: Matija Cvek. Journalhr (in Croatian). 16 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b c 5.com s Danielom: Matija Cvek i Mario Mihaljević. Hrvatska radiotelevizija. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2024 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ Granger, Anthony (29 April 2017). "Croatia: Jacques Houdek Reveals His Three Backing Singers". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Matija Cvek – svjetski glazbeni vokal za hrvatske visine!" [Matija Cvek - Worldly Music Vocal for Croatian Heights]. Večernji list (in Croatian). 6 June 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  7. ^ "HRTova A-strana okuplja nove nade hrvatske glazbe" [HRT' s A-strana Gathers New Hopes of Croatian Music]. HRT (in Croatian). 13 December 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Morić, Danijela-Ana (7 August 2021). "Matija Cvek: 'Dokazao sam da od ničega može nastati nešto ako je uložen trud i ako strast ne jenjava, a apetiti sad, naravno, rastu'" [Matija cvek: 'I Proved that Something Can Arise from Nothing If an Effort is Made and the Passion Does not Falter, an the Appetites, Are Of Course, Growing'] (in Croatian). T-portal. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Hit Matije Cveka otišao u visine YouTubea" [The Hit by Matija Cvek Went to the Heights of YouTube]. Narodni Radio (in Croatian). 29 September 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  10. ^ Matija Cvek - Suze biserne [narodni Living room acoustic] (in Croatian). bravo!. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  11. ^ Balde, Goran (23 August 2022). "'Samo sam rekla, ja bih njega': Rozga napokon otkrila što povezuje nju i glazbenika s kojim je spajaju" ["I Only Said, I Would Have Him": Rozga Finally Revealed what Connects Her and the Musician She Is Being Connected with] (in Croatian). Story.hr. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Nešto sasvim drugačije: Matija Cvek obradio Magazinove 'Suze biserne'" [Something Completely Different: Matija Cvek Covered Magazin's 'Suze biserne'] (in Croatian). Hrvatski Radijski Forum. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Ispunio mu se san: Matija Cvek u rukama napokon drži album prvijenac Izbirljivo i slučajno" [His Dream Came True: Matija Cvek Finally Holds the Top-Charting Debut Album Izbirljivo i slučajno]. Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 16 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Matija Cvek: Neopisivo sam sretan zbog naše pozicije na ljestvici najprodavanijih albuma!" [Matija Cvek: I Am Incredibly Happy Because of Our Position on the Best-Selling Albums!]. top-lista (in Croatian). 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  15. ^ a b Regionalna pop senzacija prvi put u Beogradu: Matija Cvek je Među nama [Regional Pop Sensation for First Time in Belgrade: Matija Cvek is Among Us] (in Serbian). NOVA S. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  16. ^ Matija Cvek - Last Christmas [Christmas Living room acoustic]. bravo!. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  17. ^ Matija Cvek - All I Want For Christmas/Sretan Božić (Mariah Carey/Dino Dvornik COVER) / #LIVEsession (in Croatian). Antena Zagreb. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Izbirljivo i namjerno - Matija Cvek". Menart.hr. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Moćna balada u kojoj su snage udružili mladi i talentirani Eni Jurišić i Matija Cvek" [A Power Ballad in Which Young and Talented Eni Jurišić and Matija Cvek Joined Forces]. Večernji list (in Croatian). 25 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Udruženi glasovi Eni Jurišić i Matije Cveka popeli se na vrh liste" [Joined Voices by Eni Jurišić and Matija Cvek Climbed to the Top of the List]. toplista (in Croatian). 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  21. ^ "Tko su najveći dobitnici i gubitnici dodjele Porina" [Who Are the Biggest Winners and Losers at the Handing of the Porins]. Slobodna Dalmacija (in Croatian). 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  22. ^ Parmać, Anđela (28 January 2023). "Hit 2022. je pjesma "Trebaš li me" Eni Jurišić i Matije Cveka" [The Hit of 2022 Is the Song "Trebaš li me" by Eni Jurišić and Matija Cvek]. Novi list. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  23. ^ Rožman, Klara (28 January 2023). "Spektakularna večer: Šprajc dobio petu nagradu, Battifiaca opet slavio" [Spectacular Nigh: Šprajc Received Fifth Award, Battifiaca Celebrated Again.]. Zadarski.hr. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Proglašeni najbolji pjevači godine, dvorana u Lisinskom bila je krcata poznatim glazbenicima" [The Best Singers of the Year Announced, Arena at Lisinski Was Packed with Famous Musicians]. Jutarnji list. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  25. ^ Matija Cvek & The Funkensteins - Kraj Save (Official Video). Matija Cvek. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2024 – via YouTube.
  26. ^ "Matija Cvek predstavio pjesmu 'Kraj Save' koja je hommage Zagrebu: 'Ovo je za sve koji čeznu za skrovištem...'" [Matija Cvek Presented Song 'Kraj Save' Which Is An Hommage to Zagrev: 'This is for Everyone Who Is Yearning for a Haven...]. Story.hr. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  27. ^ "Matija Cvek oduševio publiku pjesmom "Zalazak", najemotivnijom pjesmom dosad" [Matija Cvek Amazed the Audience with the Song "Zalazak", the Most Emotional Song Until Now] (in Croatian). tportal. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  28. ^ a b c d Loud and Clear - Matija Cvek. Loud Digital. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2024 – via YouTube.
  29. ^ "Ovjavljene nominacije za 30. Porin: Parni Valjak i Matija Cvek zajedno sa suradnicima zaradili po sedam nominacija!" [Announced Nominnees for the 30th Porins: Parni Valjak and Matija Cvek Together with Their Collaborators Receive Seven Nominations!]. Story.hr (in Croatian). 9 February 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Nominacije 30. Porin" [Nominations at the 30th Porin] (in Croatian). Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  31. ^ a b Matija Cvek: "Pola sunca", Marija Šerifović, Jelena Rozga, koncert u Beogradu I Kec Na Jedanaest [Matija Cvek: "Pola sunca", Marija Šerifović, Jelena Rozga, Concert in Belgrade I Kec Na Jedanaest] (in Serbian). Kec na jedanaest. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ Marija Šerifović o uspehu albuma "Ljubav je došla" i saradnji sa pevačem Matijom Cvekom I Kec Na 11 [Marija Šerifović on the Success of the Album "Ljubav je došla" and Collaboration with Matija Cvek on Kec na 11]. Kec na 11 (in Serbian). 15 October 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024 – via YouTube.
  33. ^ Marija Serifovic feat. Matija Cvek - POLA SUNCA - (Official Video 2023). Marija Serifovic. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024 – via YouTube.
  34. ^ "Croatia Songs (Week of October 21, 2023)". Billboard. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  35. ^ a b Popadić, Boris (14 April 2023). "Hrvatski pevač Matija Cvek iskreno: Ja sam pevač iz garaže, a Rozga je zvezda" [Croatian Singer Matija Cvek Honestly: I Am a Garage Singer, while Rozga Is a Star]. Una.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  36. ^ a b Regionalna muzička zvezda prvi put nastupa u Beogradu / Matija Cek / KEC NA JEDANAEST. K1 Televizija. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2024 – via YouTube.
  37. ^ Matija Cvek: Očekivanja pred koncert u Domu omladine [Matija Cvek:Expectations Before Concert at Dom Omladine]. Među nama. Nova S. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  38. ^ "Matija Cvek: Njena je zadnja riječ" [Matija Cvek: Her Word is Last]. Story (in Croatian). 8 November 2018.
  39. ^ Matija Cvek: 'Marija Šerifović je dosta zahtjevna' / Veliki intervju [Matija Cvek: 'Marija Šerifović Is Quite Demanding' / Long interview]. 24sata (in Croatian). 12 October 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  40. ^ "Petar Grašo ima Cesaricu za Hit godine" [Petar Grašo Has the Cesarica for Hit of the Year] (in Croatian). cesarica.org. 30 January 2022. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  41. ^ "Nije prestajala plakati: Matija Cvek je trijumfirao na Porinu, a nema koga nisu raznježile suze njegove djevojke Nike Turković" [Matija Cvek Triumphed at the Porin and There Was No One Who Did Not Get Softened by His Girlfriend Nina Turković's Tears] (in Croatian). Tportal.hr. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  42. ^ "Eni Jurišić i Matija Cvek s pjesmom "Trebaš li me" u finalu Cesarice" [Eni Jurišić and Matija Cvek with the Song "Trebaš li me" in the Finals of Cesarica] (in Croatian). Cesarica.org. 1 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  43. ^ "Najveći medijski spektakl godine: Ovo su svi dobitnici nagrade Zlatni studio!" [The Biggest Media Spectacle of the Year: These Are All the Winners of the Zlatni Studio Award!] (in Croatian). Jutarnji list. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  44. ^ "Luka Nižetić, Mia Dimšić, Severina, Matija Cvek, Eni Jurišić i drugi dobitnici su glazbene nagrade Top.HR" [Luka Nižetić, Mia Dimšić, Severina, Matija Cvek, Eni Jurišić And Others Are the Winners of the Music Awards Top.HR] (in Croatian). Glazba.hr. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  45. ^ "Održana dodjela Porina!". porin.org. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
Quelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matija_Cvek