After months of the band teasing their song on social media and during the ‘See You Soon’ tour earlier this year, loyal Joker Out fans finally did not have to wait any longer. On July 12th, 2024, the Slovenian indie rock band released their latest track ‘Šta Bih Ja’, adding a new song in Serbian to their discography. This song references being alone in an unknown city, and longing for the moment that you can speak to your loved one again.
It starts off strong, with lead singer Bojan Cvjetićanin’s powerful voice singing out the song title: “Šta bih ja u ovoj crnoj noći bez tebe radio?”, which translates to “What would I do in this dark night without you?” Then, the instruments kick in, with strong guitar and bass setting the scene. These instruments and the tone of the vocals give the exact feel of the song’s subject: the listener is transported to a lonely night in a new city, wandering around in search of familiarity.
Up until the chorus, the song is quite intense and fast-paced. However, as the second verse starts, both the instrumentals and the vocals are toned down a little, giving a quieter moment in the song. This matches the lyrics of this verse: “Ovom gradu ko da nigde nema kraja, sedam dana traje ko godina”, translating to “This city seems to have no end, seven days seem to last a year.” The quietness of this verse expresses a certain homesick feeling for one person.
However, this quietness doesn’t last long as the song launches back into the chorus, after which an even more intense instrumental section can be heard. Such instrumental parts of a song are a classic for Joker Out: all of their songs have such a part, giving the listener the opportunity to appreciate the strong instrumentals in their songs.
Bringing the song to a close, the first line is repeated one more time, leaving the listener longing for more. Make sure to check out the music video for ‘Šta Bih Ja’ here. And if you have the chance, be sure to look for Joker Out at a festival near you this summer.
Written by: Nèri Cliteur
Edited by: Molly Day
