UP THE LADDER OF SUCCESS WITH RISTO VRTEV: “ARCHANGEL” KEPT THE TRUST OF THE AUDIENCE AND REMAINED A RARE, BUT NOTABLE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS WE LIVE
Vrtev, credited as the creator of “Mizar” and the founder of “Archangel,” played a crucial role in advancing Macedonian rock into the wider former Yugoslav territories. He holds vast musical experience, awards, and has performed numerous concerts. His enduring passion for music remains evident as he dreams of recording new songs and hosting concerts. His lyrics, genuine and raw, resonate across generations. His music, timeless and influential, captivates younger audiences born after its inception.
“Planning. That is beyond control. It either happens or doesn’t. As an author, I have a personal connection while creating the work. Once it’s out there, it’s in the hands of the audience. All I can add is that I poured immense love into what I was doing,” stated Vrtev.
Fan of Dimitar Chemkov’s “Pop-album” radio show
During his primary education at the “Brakja Ribar” school in Skopje, his initial musical education began under the guidance of a teacher named Divna. However, what truly embedded music into his daily routine was the radio show “Pop-album” hosted by Dimitar Chemkov, a prominent music journalist and bassist of the renowned group “Bis Bez.” Chemkov’s show exposed him to the extensive work and careers of globally recognized musicians. At the age of 16, when his parents gifted him a guitar, music became his lifelong passion.
He studied journalism, but he holds a belief that sung poetry is more powerful than the written word
“The written word holds its significance, but when it comes to art, sung poetry wields a far greater influence. Music, which I consider a vital necessity without which life seems incomplete, wasn’t expected to provide a livelihood. Hence, I followed the path of least resistance, initially studying at the Faculty of Economics, and later pursuing Interdisciplinary Studies in Journalism. It was around 1981 when I became a regular collaborator and music journalist of the magazine “Studentski Zbor”. It was back then that an initiative took shape to form an informal group of artists named “Makedonska Streljba”. Our primary focus was on modernizing our culture,” reminisced Vrtev.
Creator of the Macedonian musical avant-garde
In ” Makedonska Streljba,” alongside Vrtev as the guitarist and frontman, there were also his school friend Ljubomir Stojsavlevic on bass, who later joined the electropop group “Bastion,” and Dimitar Chochorovski, the original drummer for “Leb i Sol” and a member of the esteemed band “Den za Den”. However, when Dimitar moved to Australia, this lineup dissolved, leading Vrtev to establish the band “Mizar”.
“I compiled a repertoire of ten songs, and we sent recordings, made under extremely primitive conditions, to Zagreb for the “You Rock Moment” festival. Our performance left a favorable impression, spreading the name “Mizar” to other prominent centers across former Yugoslavia. An opportunity to release that repertoire on a sound carrier emerged from Slovenia. However, both Chapovski and I were conscripted into the JNA (Yugoslav People’s Army) one after another, delaying the realization of that idea for future times. Interestingly, during that period, everyone supporting that music scene was called up for military service, leading to the marginalization of the promising new wave movement. Subsequently, with the emergence of Lepa Brena, the direction of things shifted entirely,” recalled Risto.
He gave the inheritance for musical instruments
During that period, he acquired a substantial financial inheritance from his grandfather, which he wisely invested in purchasing musical instruments – a guitar, a synthesizer, and a rhythm machine. Utilizing these, he produced two recordings, one of which was selected among the top ten demo recordings in the former Yugoslavia. This recognition led to an invitation to perform at the international music festival MESAM in Belgrade. Assembling a formidable lineup of musicians, he showcased his talents under the moniker “Inola X.”
“It lasted around six months, but for me, it was a profoundly impactful experience as it provided insight into a composition that, in its essence, encompassed a blend of escapism, decadence, and resilience in the face of adversities. It was simply about looking at the brighter side of life. Upon my return from the JNA, there was an attempt to collaborate with “Mizar” once more, but unfortunately, it didn’t prove successful. Our paths had simply diverged,” added Vrtev.
The forming of “Archangel”, and the first album being one of the top 5 albums in former Yugoslavia
“Being at a crossroad in my life, the idea of leaving music and completing my studies became increasingly prominent. However, influenced by the persuasion of my closest but not overly enthusiastic friends, I decided to embark on a new venture, this time under the name “Archangel,” derived from a song in the “Mizar” repertoire. In essence, I aimed to materialize all my creations from that era onto a sound carrier. As the first album found success, my ambitions expanded. I made a commitment to myself to record two more albums before contemplating the next steps,” shared Vrtev.
In essence, an archangel serves as a conduit between the earthly and the heavenly realms. In Vrtev’s case, it symbolizes maintaining a grounded presence while harboring lofty aspirations and visionary ideas.
“With “Archangel” I participated in the “YU Rock-Moment” festival and “Youth 89” festival in Subotica, which selected the most valuable new musical phenomena in former Yugoslavia. And after two years of work, the initial ambition was realized, the first album of “Archangel” appeared. Organized by the leading music magazine “Rock” in cooperation with 66 editors from all over former Yugoslavia, in the voting for the best album in 1991, Archangel 1 reached the high fifth place. The song “Ladno Oruzhje” was chosen as one of the ten best songs for that year and we were marked as the most anticipated band for the following year. Since then, things have taken a serious turn, the opportunity has opened for “Archangel” to establish itself as one of the leading rock bands in former Yugoslavia, but the wars in the region made that impossible,” said Vrtev.
From solo concerts and musicals to performances with the Philharmonic Orchestra
The release of the first album coincided with the dissolution of former Yugoslavia and the inception of Macedonia’s independence, lending a unique weight and symbolism to “Archangel.” The band primarily operated within the country, occasionally venturing abroad. Among numerous concerts, the frontman highlights the significance of the concert held in the Skopje Fair on December 12, 1998, the joint performance with the Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the musical “Arhangelot nad Skopje,” which enabled a multitude of young and talented actors to craft dramatic scenes based on his poems.
Trash is present at all times, but kitsch is more dangerous
When asked what it means to be a rocker today, when music is suffocated with trash, Risto says:
“I don’t particularly perceive myself as a rocker. Ultimately, I’ve come to understand that rock and roll is essentially urban folklore, so I see myself more as a folk artist in urban surroundings. Trash has always had its influence, to a greater or lesser extent. However, I find kitsch to be far more perilous because of its seductive nature”.
“In earlier eras, rock and roll, alongside film, played a significant role in shaping the world. Presently, turbo-pop and turbo-folk dominate, exerting a malignant influence not just on culture but on society. Despite these conditions, “Archangel” has managed to retain the audience’s trust and stands as a rare yet noteworthy beacon in the darkness that surrounds us,” he emphasizes.
His songs have become enduring classics in the realm of rock music, with around thirty more compositions that he hopes to release on a sound carrier when the opportune conditions arise. Additionally, he is contemplating a solo concert for “Archangel” soon, expressing with a smile, “Let’s tally up our numbers”.
Zhaneta Zdravkovska
