feel I have a lot more to give to theworld of music.DC: Is it hard making a living frommusic? Is it one of the more diffi cultways of making money?I guess we can say that it gets diffi -cult from time to time. Every line ofwork has its upsides and downsides.It’s true that people generally thinkthat the music business is easy living,but that may actually be true. Musicis magic, art, or whatever youwant to call it. I feel privileged to bespending my life exactly the way Iwant to, and that is making musicand enjoying everything about it.That doesn’t necessarily imply perfection,but I wouldn’t have it anyother way.DC: You once said that your wifeIvana e-mails your schedule on adaily basis. Does that make you atad spoiled or just bohemian?Both, I guess. On one side, my levelof comfort is my creation, but I amalso not very talented when it comesto organizing myself, exceptin the studio during the recordingprocess. That is our little way of functioning– it works and it makes usboth happy. That is the most importantthing.DC: You’ve once again signedup to the “Croatia Is Looking for aSuperstar” reality show. What areyour criteria when it comes to youngpeople wanting to break intothe music business?The convincing amount of singingtalent comes fi rst, but the winneralso must possess the so-called “xfactor”.DC: Do you feel that these typesof reality shows are what Croatianyouth really needs? Don’t we alreadyhave a large number of unemployedmusicians?Why not? It is a chance to demonstrateyour talents, and some mayeven break into show-business thisway. Some see it as entertainment,others as a sure bet. Everybody deservesa chance, and the marketwill fi lter and select the best.DC: You are one of the rare Croatianstars, if we may call you that, whohave never been criticized for yourstyle. How much importance do youplace on aesthetics in your life?It is defi nitely not essential or a priority,but it is important. There are22
usually no complaints when people carrythemselves true to who they are. That iswhat I try to do and that is why I feel comfortable.DC: I had the opportunity to see your home,and it is decorated in very tasteful and functionalmanner. In fact, it is primarily designedto serve your needs, instead of theother way around. How involved were youin the decorating process?Ivana and I decorated everything to the tiniestlittle detail, which is only logical, but it’sfortunate that we both place a great dealof importance on functionality. Everythingwe have serves our purposes, not the otherway around. We want comfort in our home,vacation house, boat, restaurant, clothesetc.DC: Where do you set boundaries of goodtaste in terms of home decoration?I don’t like boundaries, especially those thatare set by others. Everybody has the right toset their own boundaries. I prefer simplicity,comfort, practicality, but also warmth.DC: You’ve travelled half the world. If youhad to point out a single building that fascinatedyou, what would it be and why?I can’t answer that question. When I arrivein a town I’ve never visited before, I alwaysvisit all sights like any other tourist, and I usuallyremember cities for their architecturethat provides them with a certain personality.There are fascinating buildings in London,Paris, Istanbul, but also Croatia. Everytime, or should I say every day, I walk by theCroatian National Theatre building, I thinkabout how beautiful it is.Of course not, there must be more than onelove. How can you compare your fi rst kindergartenor school crush to your fi rst teenageromance, let alone to meeting a womanyou want to propose, marry or havekids with? Which is the strongest or biggestlove? The one that takes place at that verymoment. That is why love is so inspiring andbeautiful. There is only one permanent,deep and grown love, which connects youon several different levels.DC: How much time do you have for yourlittle daughter Pia? Does she communicatewith you in her own childish way?Like any parent, I would love to spend moretime with my child, and I’m trying very hardto be the best I can be. We have a fabulousway of communicating: we listen to a lotof music, sing, dance and play the drumstogether, which seems to be her new favouritething.DC: What is your favourite way of spendingfree time?Cooking up a barbecue with friends andfamily in my garden, or spending time in ouroasis of peace in a small Istrian village, whereeverything we do is relaxing and fun.DC: How do you picture yourself whenyou’re older, and where would you like tofi nd yourself in thirty years?I still want to be active in thirty years, althoughI see you’ve already labelled me as oldwhen I’m seventy and have put me out topasture. When I decide it’s time to be old, Iwill go back to Istria and enjoy a life in harmonywith nature.DC: What are the most important valuesin your life, and do you live by them?I try to respect everything I care aboutand consider valuable. That primarilyrelates to honesty and true love. That isthe starting point for everything else.DC: If you could change somethingabout your life, what would that be?If I try to be objective, there are plentyof things that are even crucial, butsubjectively... I wouldn’t change anything,because that would change anentire line of events that led me whereI am now. Every person must encounterbad situations in order to appreciatethe good times. If there are no stumblesand struggles, a person isn’t makingprogress or fi ghting for something that’sbetter. I am forty years old, and I am ahappy man.DC: As a man, would you agree thatthere is only one true love when it comesto women in a lifetime?23