Interview – Klapa Berulia: Brand of the Makarska Riviera

“All members of 'Klapa Berulia' are from Brela. Brela is the place of my youth, my ancestors, my children, and I hope, their future. Brela is unique, a paradise on Earth. Whoever comes to Brela once always returns.”

On the 18th of October 2023, the "Berulia" klapa (traditional vocal group) from Brela released a music video for the song "More" which they perform together with a famous Croatian singer Tedi Spalato. The song is featured on the album "Ime mi je nevažno" which won the Porin award (the top Croatian music award). It is about unique klapa from central Dalmatia that sings with special pride about the homeland, love and the sea. In a brief conversation, the artistic director and author of the Berulia klapa's compositions, Mr. Antonio Šošić, described the klapa and its work.


Photo: Klapa Berulia

The vocal group has been founded in 2007 in Brela, can you remember whose initiative it was and how it happened?

'Klapa Berulia' was founded on my initiative back in 2007 as a group of friends and people with extensive klapa experience, starting from our unfortunately prematurely deceased leader Jovo Jejina, with the first tenor Nino Filipović, the second tenor Joško Klarić, to the basses Zvonko Gilić and Milo Žamić.

Who are the members of the klapa today? Has the line-up changed over the years?

Throughout past 16 years of work, the klapa has had only two leaders - the late Jovo Jejina and the current leader Josip (Joe) Tomasović. Of course, the line-ups have changed over the years, but each one has been successful and has contributed to the further development and preservation of our vocal group. The current line-up consists of people who have been with the klapa from the very beginning. The first tenor is Nino Filipović, a professor of English and German. The second tenor is Joško Klarić, an academic sculptor/painter and freelance artist. I am the baritone of the klapa and I am self-employed, and the bass is professional fisherman Mili Žamić. The leader of the klapa is Josip (Joe) Tomasović, a music teacher, a lover of traditional klapa singing, as well as the preservation of cultural heritage and tradition.


Photo: Klapa Berulia

Vocal group members say “Klapa Berulia” is the "brand of the Makarska Riviera" - what does that mean?

It means that we are recognizable across the entire Makarska Riviera, precisely because of our original works, and unfortunately, we are one of the few male “klapas” (if not the only one) from the area of the Makarska Riviera that can independently perform evening concerts or compete at the festivals of traditional klapa singing and win awards too.

Are most members from Brela? What does Brela mean to you personally, and how would you describe it to a stranger?

All members of 'Klapa Berulia' are from Brela. Brela is the place of my youth, my ancestors, my children, and I hope, their future. Brela is unique, a paradise on Earth. Whoever comes to Brela once, always returns.”


Photo: Klapa Berulia

On which awards and achievements are you proud the most?

We are proud of all the awards, starting from the “Klapa Festival with Mandolins and Guitars” in Makarska, where we were absolute winners twice, awarded by both the jury and the audience. Then, there is the “Chanson Festival in Šibenik in 2023”, where our original song received ‘the best song award’. Of course, there is the institution of the Klapa Singing Festival in Omiš, where we won the first prize (for new song) at the 50th jubilee of the Omiš Festival.

What was the first released song by Klapa Berulia? How many original songs do you have now?

The first released original song by our klapa is "Ti si moja tajna" (You Are My Secret), which has left a quality mark to this day. Besides that, we have five more singles: "Bez Anđela" (Without an Angel), "Kad bi moga vratit vrime" (If I Could Turn Back Time), "Niti tila niti duše" (Neither Body nor Soul), "Nikad više" (Never Again), and the latest one "More" (The Sea), which we are especially proud of because it is a duet with Tedi Spalato, a legend of Dalmatian music.


Photo: Klapa Berulia

Except on the Makarska Riviera, where else one can hear and see the Klapa Berulia?

We perform exclusively during the summer season, and we are mostly connected to Brela due to private engagements. Traditionally, we also perform on the island of Brač (Selca), in Imotski, and across the Makarska Riviera...

What are the future plans for the klapa? Will you continue as usual or do you have some other plans, new collaborations?

We plan to finish our first independent album and continue to perform and enjoy klapa gatherings. Our biggest plan is to find young and talented individuals who think similarly to us, so that this klapa can have a bright future and so the others can sing someday, individuals who will have their own goals and desires, but who will also find it important to keep the tradition of Klapa Berulia alive. Will we succeed in that? Time will tell.

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