International rock group The Hollowmen has published a studio album called “To Mock a Killingbird”. One of the driving forces behind this music story is Nemanja Milovanović from the company Nordex, a member of the Association Renewable Energy of Serbia. The band, which brings together professionals and musicians from Serbia, South Africa, and France, managed to create 12 songs and record an entire album in an incredible five days, even though some of the members didn’t even know each other before entering the studio. We talked with Nemanja Milovanović about how teamwork from large energy projects translates into musical synergy, what creating at full speed looks like, and where business and art overlap.

1. You recently released the album “To Mock a Killingbird.” How did the process of working on this project go, and in which direction has your musical story been developing since the formation of the band The Hollowmen? Who all are part of the band?

– The process was, to say the least, crazy! Smorgs wrote a few songs and asked friends if they wanted to record an album. Everyone agreed – some with more, some with less hesitation.

Since the studio and sound engineer (Srđan from Delta Studio) are in Smederevo, the three of us traveled there on a cold February day. Some of us had never even met until then, let alone played together.

On Sunday, we gathered at a studio near the Pančevo Bridge in Belgrade to rehearse and went through all 12 songs that would later become the album. At that point, everything just clicked into place.

The very next day we started recording drums, and by Friday we finished recording vocals. Many people told us we were unrealistic and that albums don’t get recorded that way – especially since none of us are professional musicians. But the years have taken their toll; we all have serious jobs and families to look after, so we didn’t have the luxury of dragging things out. That’s why we went all in at full speed… and we made it!

There are two Serbs in the band: Nemanja (electric guitar) and Lazar (vocals). Then there are two South Africans: Smorgs (songwriter and acoustic guitar) and Clive (drums and organ), who have known each other since their school days in the early nineties. On bass guitar is Michael from France, and of course there’s Lydie, an amazing Frenchwoman who recorded her vocal parts later from Montpellier.

You could say we’re quite an interesting bunch!

2. Considering that you share a professional sphere with your bandmates within the renewable energy industry, how does that synergy and teamwork from projects carry over into the music studio?

– In the end, it all comes down to having a clear vision and working to turn it into reality. Coordinating everyone’s schedules wasn’t easy at all, especially because it involved international travel. But it all started with a good plan and a willingness to find time for something we all genuinely love.

As with everything, it took a lot of talking, negotiating, and coordinating to make all the pieces fit. In the end, the story is pretty simple – if you really want something and are ready to commit to it, you can achieve great things.

3. How would you describe the music style and the unique sound your album brings?

– It’s not exactly easy to describe our sound, because our musical influences are very diverse. But, to keep it simple, I would say this is a rock album – maybe alternative rock or, if you prefer, lyrical rock.

What, in my opinion, sets it apart is that it came from the heart. The lyrics have weight and meaning; you could call them poetry turned into music. The sound is raw, passionate, and sincere.

I like to say that we managed to catch lightning in a bottle.

4. At first glance, the business sector and artistic creation seem like two completely different spheres. How do you manage to balance the dynamics of the business world with the creative process that music requires, and where do you find that balance?

– Well, I would say that there is art in the business world, just as there is business in the world of art. 🙂

I think that, whatever you do, you are actually creating. You can do a completely ordinary job and still build great relationships, create a pleasant atmosphere, or simply leave something good behind.

We all do different jobs, where the daily pressure to achieve business results can be quite intense. This album gave us the opportunity to set all of that aside for a moment, spend time with people whose company we truly enjoy, and create something beautiful, something we proudly share with anyone who wants to listen to us.

It was an amazing adventure. We created memories that we’ll remember for a long time, and as a memento of it all, we also have a fantastic album.

And finally – the louder you listen to the album, the better it sounds! Take care! 🙂

To Mock a Killingbird | Deezer: https://link.deezer.com/s/33CY0VOTMaJCZhWlh46BZ

Photo: courtesy of Nemanja Milovanović