On the occasion of the release of their new album Komad neba (“A Piece of Sky”) and the upcoming concert on November 7 at Zagreb’s Boogaloo Club, we spoke with the members of Mangroove about their creative process, musical collaborations, concert plans, and everything behind their latest musical story.
ZIYP: The album is titled Komad neba (“A Piece of Sky”) – can you tell us what that phrase means to you in the context of music and creating this album?
Željka: Komad neba is the song that opened the chapter of our new album, and in a way, it sets the direction for the whole story — that we are all part of the same sky and that we belong to each other just as much as we belong to ourselves. Each of us has our own piece of sky that we return to, our safe place, but when we step back and change perspective, we see that it’s all one sky. Music has this wonderful ability to connect people and can definitely make the difference between loneliness and connection.
ZIYP: How did the creative process behind the new album unfold? What inspired you this time, both musically and thematically?
Željka: It seems this is an album of questions and growing up — I might even say a midlife crisis album. Our albums always start from questions and life experiences. Mangroove has always had many questions, and this time they’re questions like: why are we here, are we accidental or is there a plan, and can music or art itself answer those questions? It always starts with a question, and usually between vocals and piano in a small room. Even in those first moments we ask ourselves: can we make something new? Does it even make sense? Life itself is the greatest inspiration, and now that we have more experience behind us, it feels like we’re trying to capture or decode it through music.
Toni: I’d add that this album gathered all of our previous experience, and we managed to translate the energy and emotion from our acoustic concerts at Kontesa into it. I also felt a new kind of ease — a composing approach aimed primarily at relaxing me, making me feel comfortable, almost like a form of self-help.
ZIYP: Is there a song on the album that’s particularly close to you or emotionally significant — and why that one?
Željka: Komad neba is definitely a very emotional composition because it brought together some of our dreams and fears and led to a collaboration with Mayales — especially with Pero Beluhan, who has, unknowingly, been a sort of motivational coach for us since the very beginning. When the song took shape with Toni on piano and my vocals, it felt like comfort — that after everything, we all have our place and purpose. It seemed only natural that Pero would be the perfect person to confirm that message. When we sang it together, some real magic of togetherness happened — not just between the two of us or between Mangroove and Mayales, but something unexplainable. As the song says, “something strange happens when we get a little closer” — and every time that part comes, my voice trembles a bit.
Toni: I’d also highlight two very old songs that waited and finally got their moment to shine in the best light. Those are Moglo je and the instrumental Odjavna špica (“End Credits”) — one of my first instrumentals for Mangroove, written about twenty years ago, which now finally got its final form. Moglo je felt like it wasn’t ready for so long, and then suddenly it said, “Now I like it.” I love that piano, I love that trumpet — that’s what was missing. Now it can finally come to light.
ZIYP: How does Komad neba differ from your previous releases?
Željka: Each album is a new chapter and a story of its own, but it’s always about us. This album has, I’d say, two sides — it starts acoustic, intimate, and quiet, and by the end, it becomes more electronic, louder, and more dance-oriented, which somehow unites our two musical sides. This album was definitely influenced by our collaboration with the HRT Jazz Orchestra on the previous album, as well as a series of acoustic concerts where we opened up our songs and connected with the audience on a more intimate level.
ZIYP: You collaborated with various musicians on the album. Is there one collaboration that particularly surprised or enriched the process?
Željka: All our guests are precious to us and helped make the album sound the way it does — and we’re endlessly grateful for that. But I’d especially highlight the Izvor Choir, who appear on two songs. They lifted the whole atmosphere to a very gospel level and were a huge vocal support both at our Kontesa concerts and especially at the Zagreb Festival — it simply wouldn’t have been the same without them.
ZIYP: What can the audience expect from your upcoming concert at Boogaloo Club — will it be a “classic” performance, or have you prepared something special?
Željka: Every concert is different, which makes each one special. When it’s an album promotion, some things are amplified and special because we’ll be performing some songs live for the very first time — which in itself gives the concert an exclusive feel. All our guest musicians will join us on stage, which takes the show to another level. Normally, we perform as a quartet, but this time there’ll be around 20 of us on stage at one point — definitely something new! We’ll do our best to make sure the audience enjoys it as much as we do, and that we all together become that “piece of sky,” filling ourselves up with energy for the winter — or winters — ahead.
ZIYP: Considering the atmosphere of your songs, how do you build a setlist for a concert? Do you adapt it to the venue, the audience, or the mood of the moment?
Željka: It depends on many things, but this time we’re primarily starting from the perspective of promoting the new album, so we have to coordinate songs and guests. Also, this year marks ten years since the release of Sami, so we’ll include some hits from that album alongside the new songs. We definitely think about tempo and the buildup throughout the concert, leading to a climax in the final songs. It’s not easy — putting together a good setlist takes work.
Toni: A concert is a chance to play, literally — we like to move away from the recorded arrangements and feel the song in a new moment and new circumstances. Our songs live their own concert life, completely free and carried by the moment, the space, and the audience.
ZIYP: What does live performance mean to you in a time when everything is increasingly virtual and digital — how important is that live connection with the audience?
Željka: I think everyone in Mangroove would agree that we love to play live, that concerts are essential for us, and that we actually draw a lot of motivation and inspiration from our wonderful audience. There’s simply nothing like a live concert.
ZIYP: Mangroove has existed for over a decade now – looking back, how do you see your musical journey, and where would you like to be, say, in another five years?
Željka: It’s been a long road, full of joy and sometimes sadness, but all of it led us to where we are now — always heartfelt and sincere, no matter what. In five years, I hope we’ll have made a few more great albums (at least two!) that will push our boundaries further, and that we’ll be playing fantastic concerts to even bigger audiences — but with the same passion and energy.
Toni: Right now, it feels like I’ll never be able to make something as good as this album — but that’s how it always feels when you finish one. You pour everything out creatively and feel empty afterward. It takes time for new things to ripen, but they’ll come. We just have to be ready to catch them in the moment. In five years, I’m sure we’ll have a bunch of new songs.
ZIYP How do you balance your personal musical tastes with the band’s identity? Is there a “secret formula” for harmony within the group?
Željka: I think the most important thing — besides having good musicians — is having good people in the band, and I’d say we have the best! Leo Beslać, Silvio Bočić, and the married couple (us two) who have to cooperate one way or another. We’re together in this configuration because we share the same ideas about music and how we want to present it. Toni and I are the band’s founders and songwriters, so we lead things together and carry that responsibility — but none of this would be possible without the others, who are both fantastic musicians and wonderful people. The secret formula is to work with people who know what they’re doing and who they are — or at least are on the same journey of finding that out together.
ZIYP: What are you listening to privately these days – is there anything that has recently amazed or inspired you?
Toni: A bit of everything, really. For example, the young Danish pianist Rasmus Sørense and his album At the Right Time, then the African “voodoo” pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, whom I recently heard live at Lisinski, and his album Unomkhubulwane — not easy to pronounce! I was also deeply impressed by the Norwegian saxophonist Harald Lassen and his album Balans.
My jazz-rock favorites Krokofant released an excellent sixth album this year. Brad Mehldau put out an album that heals all wounds, Ride into the Sun. I’ve also been listening a bit to the classic Maynard Ferguson album Conquistador, which features the big hit “Gonna Fly Now” from the movie Rocky.
And I’ve gone back again to the brilliant Esbjörn Svensson Trio, listening a lot to From Gagarin’s Point of View.
ZIYP: Finally, your three favorite spots in Zagreb – a restaurant, café, and club?
Željka: There are so many, but if we have to pick three right now, we’ll say Buffet K Vilimu for the best kebabs, Super Hrvoje for coffee, and to start with – Boogaloo, on November 7, 2025!
Toni: There’s always an eternal battle between Super Hrvoje and Šansa — but this time, I’m giving the chance to Šansa.
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