r    e    b    e    l          b     r    a    n                             l o n g e r   b i o

Rebel Bran is a serbian-canadian artist and musician living in Vancouver, BC.

Imagine Leonard Cohen as the ringleader for Cirque De Soleil and you have an idea of Rebel Bran’s sound. Here we have an artist who has been scarred by hunger and war, and saved by the potential to create moments of beauty and meaning with his music. In his own words:

"When I was thirty I moved to Canada from Serbia and I consider being born again. Not because Serbia was a terrible country, with all its imperfections, but because I started from zero in a completely new world. When I was 46 I recorded my first two albums determined to finish my dream I started dreaming when I was 16. When I was 47 I was approached by a world class vibraphone player I met through a newspaper add running for a few weeks and costed me a fortune, but it was all worth it because he really loved my tunes. That's when The Funky Orkestar came to life. We had our first gig the first month after we met and it was great. Than, it turned out the sound was so unique, so weird that it didn't fit in any concept of gigging. We are still looking hard to get to perform live but I guess we are not a good fit. Fuck it! I've learn't long time ago I have to do this weather it pays or not. We continue to work tirelessly on our weird sound and collection of Eastern European songs I was raised with, plus all the tunes I recorded on my CD's, plus the new stuff. It's beyond the point of anybody liking it, although I appreciate the ones that make an effort and actually listen. I must do it anyways because without it I might as well cease to exist."

Bran sees many similarities between designing a beautiful building and writing an uplifting song as a musician. He says, "True architecture is like true music – kind of like cats who have nine lives. As long as the moment and emotion captured are true, they will last no matter when it’s actually printed. I design my music like composing the architecture." It is obvious that Bran has been honing his craft for many years when you talk to him. He says, "I always had a close connection to words, and I believe that every word has a melody to it. My writing is also always connected to the deep emotion I’m trying to express. Often, I write a song around a new interesting chord I just learned, that evokes certain emotions.

Recently I started experimenting with my new instrumentals in a way that explores completely intuitive and accidental ways of creating music exclusively based on the pure emotion.”

“You and I 20 years later” is Rebel Bran's first release, which is available in two versions; one with lyrics in English and the other in Serbian. As the name suggests, some of these songs are over 20 years old, yet they still work today. The title track begins with an ominous violin that suddenly turns almost Flamenco as it is joined by guitar and drums. Bran’s smoky vocals are reminiscent of Tom Waits or Leonard Cohen, but there is a smooth clarity to his voice usually reserved for Jazz singers.

“Bluesers” could be on the soundtrack for a Wim Wender’s indie film. There are layers of lush sound here, everything from guitar to techno bass, to cow bell. The song tells the story of how African-Americans have been oppressed, and got saved by singing their sorrows. It's a song about much needed hope. This is the kind of song that stays with you long after it’s done playing.

The new album is in the working stage, as well as a collection of Eastern European traditional and cover songs that will be a part of Rebel Bran's repertoire.