From Eurovision to the Bosnian War: A conversation with Dubioza Kolektiv

One of the biggest ska bands in Europe right now are brilliant group based out of Bosnia that meld ska, reggae, hip-hop, alt-rock and fuse it all with Balkan musical elements. They’re called Dubioza Kolektiv and they’re amazing! This week, we talk to them about their music, but also hear their incredible story. 

We cover the full gamut with the group. It includes the time they were almost on Eurovision, what it was like to grow up during the Bosnian War (and how they would sneak off to shows), meeting Bill Gould of Faith No More, their perspective on the rise of far right governments globally (and how we can fight back), and they talk at length about the role being Balkan has on their entire approach to making music. 

We also learn that the group has only been to the US once! We need to change that ASAP! 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.

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