Biography

Vlada Divljan is one of the most prominent and most influential rock musicians from former Yugoslavia. He gained popular recognition during the early 80s, as the leader of new wave band Idoli (The Idols). Their seminal masterpiece "Odbrana i poslednji dani" (1982) was repeatedly voted the best rock album in ex-Yugoslavia and still stands as a landmark in the history of Yu-rock. In 1983, editors and critics from eight leading European magazines (Actuel, The Face, Wiener...) selected them among the most promising bands in Europe. After the break-up of Idoli, Divljan launched a successful career as a solo artist, spending even more time in his new studio, increasingly using samplers and computers. In 1991, on the brink of war in Yugoslavia, he emigrated to Sydney, Australia, and spent next six years composing music for short films and documentaries. In 1997, he specialized in sound design at Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and was nominated for prestigious AFI Award - Australian equivalent for Academy Award - in Best achievements in sound design in short film category (The Drip by Nick Tantaro). After return from Australia, Divljan settled in Vienna, Austria where he still resides, working as a screen composer and occasionally performing with his band.