My name is Bojan, and this is my official entry for Hive Music Festival Week No 169, Round 1.
The song I’m performing today is “Dok palme njišu grane” (While the Palm Trees Sway).
This song carries a very special atmosphere for me, one filled with calm, gentle nostalgia, and the quiet beauty of a slower, more meaningful time. It reminds me of moments when life felt simpler, when emotions were clearer, and when music had the power to slow everything down and bring us back to ourselves.
I chose this song because it allows space for feeling. It doesn’t rush, it doesn’t demand perfection, it invites listening, breathing, and presence. Every time I sing it, I feel as if the song itself is gently guiding me, asking me to let go and trust the emotion rather than the technique.
This performance is sung and played live, honestly and without additional processing or effects. I wanted to keep it as natural and sincere as possible, so that every note and every lyric could come directly from the heart. For me, music is not about being flawless or impressive, it’s about truth, vulnerability, and connection.
Music has always been a way for me to express what words alone cannot. Through songs like this one, I find a quiet place where emotions are allowed to exist without explanation. I believe that music becomes most powerful when it creates a shared moment, when the listener feels seen, understood, or simply comforted.
I hope that through this song you’ll be able to reconnect with your own memories, inner peace, or perhaps find a brief moment of stillness in your day. If this performance brings even a small sense of calm, warmth, or a gentle smile, then it has already fulfilled its purpose.
Thank you to the Hive Music Festival and the entire Hive community for creating a space where artists can share their voices freely and authentically.
Thank you to everyone who listens, supports, comments, and keeps music alive here on Hive.
Your support truly means a lot to me and encourages me to continue creating and sharing music 🎶 🎸

A December cover inspired by silence, reflection, and the timeless emotion of Kemal Monteno’s music.

Although guitar is my main instrument, in our classroom we have a keyboard that the children sometimes use. I don’t really consider myself skilled on the keyboard; I only know the basics. Still, I decided to give it a try and play one of the most beautiful Starogradska songs: “Kraj jezera jedna kuć mala” by Zvonko Bogdan. With the help of the accompaniment chords, I slowly found the melody, and soon enough the song began to take shape.

As I was playing, Ana joined in with singing, and very naturally the two of us turned the moment into a warm, spontaneous duet. The atmosphere in the room suddenly felt like an old tavern by the river calm, nostalgic, and full of that gentle charm typical of Starogradska music. It’s amazing how just a few chords and familiar lyrics can completely shift the energy of the day.

Even though it wasn’t a performance on a big stage or with perfect technique, it was honest, simple, and full of positive emotion. And sometimes those are the moments that matter the most. Playing this song on an instrument that isn’t “mine” made the experience even more special, as if the music itself guided my fingers and allowed the emotion to shine through.

I wanted to share this experience in the Music Zone Community because it reminded me that music doesn’t need to be perfect or professional to be meaningful. Sometimes a short break at work, a colleague who loves music, and an old song from our tradition are more than enough to create a memory worth sharing.

Greetings to everyone in the Music Zone Community and all participants of the Hive Music Festival! For this week, I decided to go back a little, to the time when rock and roll in this area carried a special energy and when the songs had a strong message that is still felt today. That's why I chose the song "When I was young" by the legendary band Riblja chorba for my performance. This song is especially important to me because it always reminds me of that feeling of youth and carefreeness, craziness, first guitars, first gigs and that feeling that the whole world is in front of you. Anyone who has ever held a guitar probably knows what it was like to learn the first riffs, play the same chords all day, and feel the music become a part of one's identity. That's exactly why I wanted to give her my personal touch and record this cover. I shot the video at home, just me and the guitar, simple and honest, just the way this song sounds to me. I didn't want to overdo the sound processing or effects, but to keep the song as close as possible to its original energy and spirit of rock and roll. I hope you will like the way I performed it and that at least someone will get the same feeling of nostalgia that I have when I play it.
Thanks to all of you who will watch the video, leave a comment or support my work. I am glad to be a part of this musical community and to share the love of playing and creating together. Enjoy. See you in the next round of the festival! 🎶🎸