White City

by Karl Jorssen
Editor-In-Chief

It must seem like an incredible journey since 2004, your first season on the Tour. Tell us a little bit about it.

So much has happened. It’s been an amazing adventure really. I have experienced and learnt so much. There have been some great highs and some lows too. Many exciting matches, beautiful places I have visited, and interesting people I have met. I’m still very young and I am sure there will be many more exciting experiences in my career.

 

And how are you able to keep yourself grounded, maintaining a normal life?

I think I have good balance. I have a great amount of passion for tennis. I love it. But I have other interests too, and a life away from the court. For example I’m studying Finance at the Singidunum-FEFA University in Belgrade. I’ve have also been learning Spanish. And when I meet with my friends, we don’t talk about tennis, we just talk about the same things as everyone else. Also, I have a great team around me. They are all very nice, humble people.

 

You’re very busy on the Tour and now residing in Switzerland, but you always have time for Belgrade and are here regularly.  What keeps you coming back here so often?

It’s my hometown! I grew up there and it influenced the person I am today. Visiting my family in Belgrade is one of my favorite things to do. There are a few things I always try to do when I visit, like going to my cousin’s apartment, or having pancakes at one of my favorite cafes.

 

And of course you’re not the only Serb playing professional tennis.  Showing up at an event in New York, or Australia, does it make it easier to have others around who are also from Serbia?  There are other players from much larger countries who are only represented by themselves.

It’s nice to be able to speak in my native tongue when I’m at tournaments. I always enjoy talking to the other Serbian players, especially Novak and Janko, who are friends of mine.

 

Of course there are now Serbian communities in almost every major city in the world, this must result a lot of support from fans wherever you’re playing?

Yes, it’s quite surprising actually just how many Serbs there are around the world. Everywhere I play there are many Serbs supporting us, which is so great to see. In Zurich last year I never saw so many Serbian flags in a stadium, and even in Tokyo I heard some Serbian supporters. They give us great support and I’m grateful for that.

 

And outside of the Tour, outside of tennis, what are your interests?

I love reading. Two of my favorite books are The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and A Thousand Splendid Suns. I used to read about psychology for fun, but not so much these days. I watch a lot of DVDs, either movies or TV shows like Prison Break, Lost or 24. I like to go to the cinema too. And then there are my studies and learning languages. But what I like to do most is just have a nice dinner with my family.

 

Music preferences?

I like all kinds, including Hip Hop, R & B and Serbian. I like Leona Lewis and Nelly Furtado especially.

 

Tennis idols?

Monica Seles was always my hero when I was growing up. It was amazing to meet her for the first time, and we are in touch now and then. She’s not just a great player but a great person too. These days I admire Roger Federer a lot. I like to watch him. I can learn a lot from him. I also admire him as a person.

 

What about life after tennis, I would image it goes by very quickly?

I haven’t thought too much about this. I still have many years left as a professional tennis player. Maybe I will do something in the business world. It would be great to use multiple languages too.

 

What do you miss most about Belgrade?

My family.

 

Tell us about your UNICEF work.

It’s a great honour for me to serve as a National Ambassador for Serbia. I am concerned mainly with the Schools Without Violence programme, which is about making sure that our children are safe in their schools. It was very surprising to find out how much conflict there is in schools these days. I always had such a happy time at my school, so I want to do what I can to help. We should all talk to kids and find out more about their experiences at school.

Interview by Karl Jorssen Editor-In-Chief

 

1. Tell us about having a musical career in this market.

 

I enjoy it, it’s my childhood dream and I’m still a bit of a child still, so I have this little dream world that I live in. My experiences through the lyrics and me singing, it is important. This market is hard for the music that I make, my [audience] are people that are of the minority and at the same time there is not a good platform in the media. If I had some magnificent conditions, maybe I wouldn’t be so popular, it’s always a struggle, sometimes the result is a joyful thing.

 

2. Latest project?

 

The new album, Sudar, was released in March, continuing in 2009, so continuing with promoting the album.

 

3. Musical influences?

 

When I was little I listened to 80’s music, I was born in 1975 so the music of the 80’s influenced me most; U2, Duran Duran, Simple Minds, George Michael, the Eurythmics, Cindy Lauper. Those were the years I started listening to music, I was very young, I preferred the melodies and harmonies of English. Now when I make my songs the melodies are always the same. New songs are all about the production of recognizable melodies but I prefer 80’s melodies that I try to put into modern music, beats.

 

4. Any return to film in the cards?

 

I just received my diploma this year after so many years, but I don’t think I have any will or interest to do that again. But I am interested in TV production, maybe travel or music – I would like to produce something. But my first love is music. I’ve managed my own career for so many years, in a way it’s the same for film and TV.

 

5. Europe or America?

 

Europe, although I really like New York.

 

6. Me too, capital of the world. Obama or Sarkozy?

 

Obama

 

7. Abba or Fleetwood Mac

 

Fleetwood Mac

 

8. What’s playing on your iPod right now?

 

I don’t have an iPod, it’s stupid I know; a singer without an iPod but I’m not much of a technical person

 

9. So what’s in your CD player then?

 

It’s Pussycat Dolls, Duffy, Alicia Keys John Legend.

 

10. Are things improving in Belgrade?

 

The talent is improving. I’m always optimistic, I think yes, there is a lot of improvement. A lot of cool shops, restaurants, cool clubs, you have more concerts than before – ‘A’ list acts are coming to Belgrade, now things are really improving. The more things you have musically in this town the more it will develop.

Back in Belgrade after spending several years abroad, Milos Loncarević recently made a splash at the Free Zone Film Festival by winning the Audience Choice award for his film Ghosts of Cité Soleil.  His film is about the struggles and violence of Cité Soliel, the dangerous gang-invested slums of Haiti.  The young director sits down with White City and talks about Haiti, working with Wyclef Jean and being back in Belgrade.

Interview by Karl Jorssen

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Interview with Đorđe Jovanović, CEO of XAOC Creative Advertising agency.

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