Ivan Huljić (born 17 January 1988) is a Croatian composer and songwriter. He first emerged as a songwriter in 2006 with the song "Zadnja epizoda" for the popular Croatian band Magazin. He has since written songs for Croatian pop singers, including Doris Dragović, Domenica, Damir Kedžo, Joško Čagalj Jole and Lorena. In addition to the lyrics, Ivan Huljić has also served as the composer and producer for several songs. Huljić has received numerous awards for his music and songwriting work, including Best Song at the Split Festival for "Mi protiv nas". In addition to his songwriting work, Huljić also served as a keyboard player for the band Magazin. In 2022, he served as the creative director for the Fusion World Music Festival held for the first time in Split.
Ivan Huljić | |
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Born | |
Alma mater | University of Split |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2006–present |
Parents |
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Awards | Best Song (Split Festival) |
Early years
editIvan Huljić was born on 17 January 1988 in Split, Croatia, to father Tonči Huljić, a musician, producer and composer and Vjekoslava Huljić, a lyricist, songwriter and writer. He has an older sister, pop singer and performer Hana Huljić.[1] Huljić first started playing keyboards, when he was 9 years old. He finished high school at the private gymnasium Kraljica Jelena where he finalized all the exams related to music school.[1] Already in high school, Huljić was convinced to serve as the keyboard player with Magazin by his father, although he was initially reluctant to take on such a role.[1] Huljić finished law studies at the University of Split.[2]
Career
edit2006–2010: Keyboardist and songwriting for Magazin
editHe first played keyboards for the song "Piši mi" in 2008 when he joined the band at the restaurant Kokolo. He has since played in the group for several years.[1] Huljić first emerged as a songwriter in 2006 when he wrote the song "Zadnja epizoda" for the popular Croatian band Magazin.[1] He continued writing the lyrics and music of several of the band's songs while Ivana Kovač served as the main singer. In addition to that, since 2008, he also served as the keyboard player for the band.[1] In 2011, Huljić was credited as one of the keyboardists for the album Bižuterija by Jelena Rozga.[3]
2015–present: songwriting, composing and creative director debut
editIn 2015, Huljić together with Vjekoslava, served as the producer and songwriter of several songs on Doris Dragović's album Ja vjerujem, including "Ni riči", "Svit ne more znat", "Zvir".[4] In 2018, Huljić received the award for Best Song at the Split Festival for the song "Mi protiv nas" for which he served as the main songwriter and was performed by Domenica and Damir Kedžo.[5] In 2021, Huljić wrote the music to "Sna'ću se ja" by Doris Dragović.[6]
In the summer of 2022, Huljić served as the creative director of the World Music Fusion Festival in Split which marked his first musical project on such a scale. He invented the festival's concept which featured performances by international as well as Croatian artists. He commented that with the festival, he wanted to fight against the 2022 economic crisis in Europe.[7] After the success of the show, Huljić also announced his plans to work on a 3-day festival the following year.[8]
In the summer of 2022, he wrote the music and lyrics for the song "Shakespeare" by Joško Čagalj Jole which was released on 7 June 2022. He also wrote the music and collaborated on the lyrics with Vjekoslava of the song "Sve smo mogli imat" by Doris Dragović released on 23 June 2022.[9][10] In March 2023, Huljić wrote the song "Igračka", which was recorded by Antonia Dora and presented at the Zagreb Festival. For the song, Huljić, who first wrote the music and then the lyrics, drew inspiration for the solo from Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do with It" (1984).[11]
In 2024, two songs written and arranged by Huljić see the light of day. The song „Od čega sam ja“ English: What Am I of written for Rozga was released on 21 March 2024. Huljić workes independently on the music and lyrics while he collaborated with Leo Škaro and Darko Dimitrov on the arrangement.[12] On 11 April 2024, Marino Jakobikj released „Lučija“ as his debut single; both the lyrics and the music are written independently by Ivan Huljić, while the arrangement was finalized by Huljić in collaboration with Hrvoje Domazet.[13][14]
Creative process
editIn 2022, Ivan Huljić stated during an interview, that he finds it important to work on several fronts in the music-making process simultaneously, including creative, lyrical and musical direction, to "break the monotony". He has revealed that the biggest musical inspiration comes when he performs on the guitar or the piano. He has also worked on librettos and lyrics for musicals together with Vjekoslava Huljić, which have not managed to come to fruition due to restrictions and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] In 2022, Huljić stated that he prefers to refrain from giving interviews and only do it a few times long term.[10]
Private life
editHuljić is friends with Croatian singer-songwriter Matija Cvek with whom he often celebrates his birthday.[15]
Discography
editThe full discography of writing or composing credits is taken from Ivan Huljić's profile on the Croatian Copyright Collection Society for the Music Sector.[16]
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References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Morić, Danijela-Ana (16 August 2018). "Krv nije voda: Ova djeca slavnih roditelja i sama su na putu slave" [Blood is thicker than water: These children of famous parents are themselves on the road of fame] (in Croatian). T-portal. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ Kod nas doma: Ivana Kovač (in Croatian). Hrvatska Radiotelevizija. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Jelena Rozga – Bižuterija (2011, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ Morić, Danijela-Ana (12 June 2015). "'Kad je poezija u pitanju, Vjekoslava Huljić me zna najbolje!'" ['When it Comes to Poetry, Vjekoslava Huljić Knows Me Best!'] (in Croatian). T-portal. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ "Slavi se u obitelji Huljić: Veliko priznanje za sina Ivana" [Celebration in the Huljić Family: A Big Recognition for the Son Ivan] (in Croatian). Gloria. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ "Doris Dragović pjesmom "Sna'ću se ja" osvaja srca publike" [Doris Dragović Wins the Hearts of the Audience with the Song "Sna'ću se ja"] (in Croatian). Croatian Music Channel. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ Ivan Huljić: Glazbom želim pridonijeti izlasku iz ekonomske krize [Ivan Huljić: I Want to Contribute with Music to the Exit of the Economic Crisis]. Večernji list. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ Mila, Samir; Vuka, Petra (24 July 2022). "Ivan Huljić: 'Najviše mi znači pozitivna reakcija publike, ona je gurala sve izvođače'" [Ivan Huljić: 'The Positive Reaction of the Audience Means the Most to Me, It Was Pushing All Performers']. Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ "Jole ima novi ljetni hit, a jedna od najljepših Hrvatica zvijezda je spota" [Jole Has a New Summer Hit and One of the Most Beautiful Croatians is a Star of the Video] (in Croatian). Gloria. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ a b c Kruhak, Maja (19 August 2022). "Ivan Huljić: 'U Splitu nitko nije zvijezda. Ili si čovjek, ili nisi i tako treba biti'" [Ivan Huljić: 'In Split Nobody is a Star. You Are Either a Person or You Are Not and That Is How It Should Be']. Jutarnji list. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ "Antonia Dora i Ivan Huljić o pjesmi "Igračka"" [Antonia Dora and Ivan Huljić about the Song "Igračka"] (in Croatian). Glazba.hr. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Jelena Rozga i Ivan Huljić ruku podruku! Stigla pesma "Od čega sam ja" - i hrabra i ranjiva" [Jelena Rozga and Ivan Huljić Hand in Hand! The song "Od čega sam ja" is here - both brave and fragile]. 24sedam (in Serbian). 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ G., L. (11 April 2024). "Marino Jakobić ima pjesmu koja miriše na hit: Prvijenac mu potpisuje Ivan Huljić" [Marino Jakobikj has a song which smells of hit: His first one is signed by Ivan Huljić]. Jutarnji list. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ Marino - Lučija (official video 2024). Marino via YouTube. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ 5.com s Danielom: Matija Cvek i Mario Mihaljević. Hrvatska radiotelevizija. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Baza autora: HDS ZAMP – Glas autora" (in Croatian). Zamp.hr. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
External links
edit- Ivan Huljić on Discogs
- Ivan Huljić at Zamp.hr, the Croatian Copyright Collection Society for the Music Sector