A double LP featuring 23 independent Croatian artists selected by KEXP’s Kevin Cole premiered at SHIP Festival, becoming the first release of its kind by a national music export office.
One of the most tangible results of We Move Music Croatia’s work to promote Croatian music internationally premiered at the House of Art Arsen in Šibenik during SHIP Festival. “Croatia on the Move,” a promotional double LP released by We Move Music Croatia, features 23 independent Croatian artists selected by Kevin Cole, a longtime KEXP tastemaker.
“I had already played several Croatian artists on my show, and this project gave me the opportunity to dive much deeper into Croatia’s vibrant contemporary music scene. It is so rich that it would take at least one or two box sets to include all the great artists and bands, but I did my best to showcase the diversity of its sound on this double album,” said Cole at the presentation in Šibenik.
The double LP features ABOP, Bad Daughter, Chui, Daliborovo Granje, DJECA!, ETHER, freekind., IDEM, Irena Žilić, Jonathan, Kries, LHD, Nemanja, Neon Lies, Nipplepeople, pocket palma, Porto Morto, Sara Renar, Them Moose Rush, Tidal Pull, Trokut, ŽEN and ŽIVA.
“The idea was born ahead of ESNS in Groningen, when we realised that we needed a physical release to introduce Croatian bands to the world – something people would actually want to own and listen to. With this release, we want to share a glimpse of the diversity, creativity and energy of contemporary Croatian music and, hopefully, help someone discover a new artist, a festival favourite or even a future collaborator,” explained Davor Drezga, one of the founders of We Move Music Croatia and Executive Director of SHIP Festival.
With “Croatia on the Move,” We Move Music Croatia became the first national music export office with its own release of this kind, created to introduce its domestic music scene to the international music industry. The first copies left SHIP in the bags of international delegates, heading to radio stations, media outlets, festivals and record labels.