Boban Marković is in good spirits. He and his band have just played Bratislava the night before, and the location for this session of promotional interviews is one is he very familiar with indeed. Back in the late 1990s, Budapest’s Fonó Club had not long opened and world music was booming, partly thanks to the success of the soundtrack to hit Emir Kusturica film Underground, playing in every bar across Europe.
Fast-forward two decades, and the man behind the sound from Underground has chosen Budapest as the setting for the video to promote his new single, Mrak.
“For me, the city is the main star in this video,” beams Marković, obviously pleased to be back in a place he considers his second home. “We wanted to show the beauty of this amazing city. But it was so hot the day we were shooting, I was worried about the dancers. I didn’t want them to flake out as they were jumping around.”
The video follows Boban Marković and his band as they sail down the Danube, past Parliament and passing under the bridges. Then the sun sets in achingly beautiful fashion, Marković sings ‘Mrak! Mrak!’, and the real party starts. “Mrak means ‘darkness’ in our language,” says the trumpeter from Vladičin Han in deepest Serbia, “but we also use it for ‘Great!’ or ‘Cool!’” (‘Király!’ offers the Serbian-Hungarian translator.)
Due to return to Budapest to prepare for his major concert here with the 100 Feet Brass Band at the BOK Csarnok on 28 November, Marković seems unperturbed by the busy agenda ahead of him. “We’ve yet to finish the whole album for Mrak,” he admits. “It should have been ready by now but there’s still tiny improvements we can make. Each album we’ve released so far, people have said, ‘that’s the best one yet!’. That’s what we want for this one too. But it should be this year.”
Though his new album may not be out, and with 50 musicians to knock into shape for the November show, Marković does confess to one particular worry, at least. “I’m hoping that none of the performers fall ill at the last minute.”
One particular performer Marković obviously reveres is his son, Marko. A member of the band from 2002, Marko can be seen in action in Guča, the documentary of the trumpet festival of the same name, where his father first came to prominence.
With Marko now in his thirties, can Marković senior see yet another generation coming through? “Well, Marko’s two children are both musicians,” he says, proudly. “Bratislav plays the trumpet, Veljko the piano, and they both go to music school…”
As for his own career, Boban, now 53, recognises the important roles played by filmmaker Kusturica and composer Goran Bregović, who created the score for Underground back in 1995. “Before it all started, we didn’t know each other,” he says. “We only knew about each other, and we had friends in common. When we began working, what struck me was their complete professionalism. It knocked me out. These days, of course, whenever we meet, we party like maniacs.”
Boban Marković & the 100 Feet Brass Band BOK Csarnok District XIV. Dózsa György út 1 28 November, 8pm Ticket details
