Perija

Perija was formed in 2015 as a street performance band. Members changed during the years, and the band stays open for new connections, collaborations and friendships. The current members are Lea Milinovikj, Dea Plevnesh, Filis Sinanoska, Katerina Dimitrovska and Ognen Zlatanov. Perija is a Turkish root word denoting fairy, and it is this mythological connection with the darkness of the Balkan forests, a feeling that they try to convey in their music. The idea is mixing all of their musical influences and making a fusion, creating their own original music that plays around old, almost forgotten folk songs (some of them collected by friends who travel to villages and record them, some of them found in very old recordings), or poems from these areas (often touching social issues). The band aims on using different languages from the Balkans and beyond, as they believe in the equality of cultures. Their music influences vary, from middle-eastern maqam music, blues, post-punk, atonal, jazz, to fellow world and traditional music. Even though they are now more focused on festivals and concerts, and have numbers of smaller gigs, they still play on the street, as a way to keep that culture of availability alive.

The band has two studio albums :

• Loc (self-released), 2017
• Falan Filan (Sharla Records), 2021

and two EP-s:

• Kokalo (Sharla Records), 2020
• Live at E.S.N.S. 2021

Falan Filan was voted No. 5 in the Balkan World Music Chart (the first quarter), and their EP Kokalo was placed among the best world records of 2020 by world music podcast platform Izvorishta. Their performance on ESNS was chosen as one of the most impressive acts by Czech music platform AlterEcho.

Some of their songs are part of compilations:

• Sharla ist Keine Kultur (label sampler 2020)
• The Zeroth International, by Brotherhood of Dada, 2020
• Further, by Meeting Tent Records, 2020
• My eyes have seen you, by Meeting Tent Records, 2018

They performed at some festivals:

• OFFest, Skopje, Macedonia, 2022
• PIN Conference, Skopje, Macedonia, 2021
• Metno, Makarska , Croatia, 2021
• Prespaland, Ljubojno, Macedonia 2021
• Zemjotres, Skopje, Macedonia, 2021
• Eurosonic festival, Netherlands, 2021
• PIN TV, as part of the Taksirat Festival, Macedonia, 2020
• MKC for Skopje, Macedonia, 2020
• Makedox Film Festival, Macedonia, 2019
• Kamicak Etno Festival, Croatia, 2019
• Lokum Fest, Macedonia, 2019
• Konop Fest, Macedonia, 2019
• Zin Zan Festival, Arles, France, 2017
• Vegefest, Macedonia, 2016
• Festival Merci Bonsoir!, Grenoble, France, 2016
• Buskerfest, Macedonia, 2016
• Nibetfest, Grncare, Kosovo, 2016

TV and Radio shows/gigs:

• Macedonian alternative radio 103, 2021
• Macedonian alternative radio 103, 2020
• Featured in American WFMU show Sophisticated boom boom with Sheila B., 2020
• Yorumluyorum TV, Turkey, 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPwF5dAGfak
• RDWA radio, Die, France, 2017
• Uskup Radyosu, Macedonia, 2016
• Anadoly Agency interview, Macedonia, 2016

They have two original videos recorded by Turkish music platform Elif’in Hecesi:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oechuj3Mt7M
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUoqi6C8qkw

A documentary was made for the band directed by Vencislav Ristov in 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG7YkX5M400

Gigs:

• 30 years anniversary of channel 103, Skopje, Macedonia 2021
• 100 thousand poets for change vol.XI , Strumica, Macedonia 2021
• BKC, Skopje, Macedonia, 2020
• Tünel Çay Evi, Istanbul, Turkey, 2020 and 2019
• L’abrix Bar, Vallabrix, France, 2019 and 2016
• Come Chez Mémé, Foix, France, 2017
• Le Manding’ Art, Toulouse, France, 2017
• Astal Projections, Menada, Skopje, 2016
• Le Ness, Grenoble, 2016
• Kula, Skopje, Macedonia, 2016
• Club Tunnel, Kicevo, Macedonia, 2016
• Preband for Pin Project concert, Macedonia, 2016
• Bar Carsija, Bitola, Macedonia, 2016
• Urban Garage, Skopje, Macedonia, 2016
• Decata od nasata ulica, Skopje, Macedonia, 2016
• Cliff of Moher, M.Kamenica, Macedonia, 2016

The band is also a part of a collective label based in Skopje, Macedonia, Meeting Tent Records

Lea Milinovikj – Oud, Tambura, Cumbuş sas, Percussion
Dea Delina Plevnesh – Percussion, Vocals
Filis Sinanoska – Tambura, Oud, Daf, Vocals
Katerina Dimitrovska –  Vocals, Tambura, Kemane, Percussion, Yaylı Tambur
Ognen Zlatanov – Cumbuş sas, Oud, Tambura, Vocals