Exclusive Interview With Award-Winning Croatian Composer And Producer Dobie

Award-winning composer and producer, Dobie, born Vjeran, is originally from Zagreb, Croatia. Dobie comes from a family of musicians, and he started playing keyboards during his childhood.  With influences as varied as Phillip Glass, Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, and Johann Sebastian Bach, Dobie was a 2017 Unsigned Only Award Winner.  His first release, “My Everything” dropped on November 13th.  Dobie took time from his busy schedule to give us this exclusive interview!

MTS: Hello Dobie! Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. Please take a moment to introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your first release, “My Everything.”

Dobie: First of all, I would like to thank you for this interview and interest in Dobie music. My name is Vjeran and I was born in Zagreb, Croatia. I am working in IT/marketing industry and since my childhood I love music, more precisely, electronic music. The song “My Everything” is my first official release, and it exceeded all my expectations, which were quite modest, without any ego trips.  I finished it in two days, and then later, with support of Gordan Nia and producer Brad Grobler from BIG Production Studio in Rotterdam, we made a banger. It is trance song, very catchy, great for dancing, real club banger.

MTS: Your given name is Vjeran…how did you come up with the name “Dobie,” and what do your friends call you?

D: LOL, yep, my name is Vjeran, which in Croatian means faithful; my Croatian firends call me by my name, but it is not easy to pronounce it, for those who do not speak Croatian, so they call me VJ. Well, I am a doberman (dobie) lover and proud doberman owner, so it was easy to choose the artist name – Dobie. Also, Dobie music is like a dobreman– friendly, careful, loyal, driving, intelligent and fearless.  The only difference is that “dobie” makes you run, but Dobie music makes you dance 🙂

MTS: How did growing up in Croatia influence your music? Did it help you or hinder you?

D: I was lucky, because my parents did not listen to domestic commercial music, so I did not, either.  Fortunately, domestic commercial music did not have any impact on me. I grew up with classical music, jazz, rhythm and soul and later, electronic music, by my own choice and preferences. I did not pay too much attention to the domestic scene.

MTS: How would you describe the sound of your music, and who were your biggest influences?

D: My sound in 5 words: melodic, powerful, emotional, simple and sound rich. I like to work/produce music that raises adrenaline and emotion. So, in my musical expression melody is very important. Melody should carry the emotion, as well as a selection of sounds to support the emotion.

I grew up listening to electronic music so I have a big list: Jean Michael Jarre, Kraftwerk, Robert Miles, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Ultravox, Trevor Horn, Paul Oakenfold, Paul van Dyk, Tiesto, DeadMau5, Kirill, minimalists like Terry Riley, Philip Glass …

D: Yes, I’m coming from a musical family, but I never had the pressure because of that. I had very open and friendly parents, so there was no pressure, only support from their side, for whatever I choose or decide. Also, I am ego-free guy, so I don’t have those kind of problems.

MTS: Congratulations on your 2017 Unsigned Only Award. Tell us about that. What song(s) was it for?

D: Unsigned Only 2017 Award for EDM category was big confirmation of the world music industry to me, and my music. It is interesting that judges were great names of the world music industry like Rolling Stones Magazine, Warner Music Group, Epic Records, Atlantis Records, RCA Records etc. In the competition of thousands of songs from around the world, my song “My Everything” was among the best songs.

MTS: What is your greatest musical achievement, so far?

D: My biggest achievement is my own pleasure in creating music, after that comes world music industry confirmation by the Unsigned Only Award, then my first official release was number one on Spinnin‘ Records Trance Chart and number one on ReverbNation EDM Global Chart. And I still enjoy in creativity and production 🙂

MTS: What goals do you have for your music in the next year?

D: My main goal is fun and enjoyment, pure hedonism 🙂 No pressure, no ego trips, just enjoying and playing with music. Que sera, sera (whatever will be, will be) 😉

MTS: Any plans to tour? If so, where?

D: There are plans to tour next year, mostly in the EU, still unofficial and in negotiations.

MTS: What is next for Dobie? New releases? Videos? Touring?

D: There are already new projects on the way, new remixes of the existing releases and new bootleg remixes of the greatest hits in trance and techno genres, as well as collaborations with other musicians, on the production of their songs. Be ready!

MTS: If I was to come over for dinner, what would you serve?

D: I also enjoy cooking and I am quite good at it, as well.  For a starter, I would prepare octopus salad; for a main course John Dory fish from the Adriatic sea prepared the so called “sailor’s way;” and for a desert, I would prepare fruit salad in watermelon. For drinks, I would offer a very good Croatian wine; and at the end, sorbetto.

MTS: That sounds amazing, Dobie!  Thanks so much for taking the time…best of luck with the new release!