Subotian singer-songwriter Larisa Ivanković has released the new music video for “Bluz ispod bluze”, a warm and intimate song that also carries a message of solidarity, drawing attention to the work of “Pruži mi ruku”, an association supporting families of children and young people with developmental disabilities in Subotica.
Larisa Ivanković is already a familiar and respected name on the Subotica music scene. A vocalist and singer-songwriter with a strong affinity for blues, soul, jazz, pop and alternative sounds, she has performed and collaborated with acts including Chick Norris, Mouse Trap and The Soul Nomads. Her solo work includes songs such as “Hunting”, “Sue Me” and “Rusty Feelin'”, while her creativity extends beyond music as well: Larisa is also an illustrator and the author of the children's poetry book “Stihovnica bez granica”.
“Bluz ispod bluze” once again puts her songwriting at the center. Larisa wrote the music and lyrics and performs the vocals, while the arrangement was created by Larisa and Viktor Kesler. Miodrag Miša Marjanov plays electric guitar, with recording, mixing and mastering handled by Viktor Kesler at Kesler Studio. The video was filmed and edited by Nemanja Adamović, who also co-directed it with Larisa.
What makes the release particularly meaningful is the connection to “Pruži mi ruku”, a Subotica-based association founded in May 2024. Established by Sanja Mihajlović, a mother of a child with developmental disabilities, together with Čila Vuković and Biserka Vučković, the association was created to offer families something they often struggle to find: understanding, practical information, professional support and a community in which they do not have to face everyday challenges alone.
Larisa, Bluz ispod bluze, foto: YT printscreen
“Pruži mi ruku” now brings together families from Subotica and surrounding areas. Its work focuses not only on children, but also on parents and other family members, providing psychological support, educational activities, workshops and programmes aimed at strengthening families and helping children remain within their homes and communities whenever possible.
The association also organizes psychological support groups for parents, workshops for children and families, and projects designed to improve the everyday quality of life of its members.
For Larisa, using music as a way of supporting others is not entirely new. In 2022, she and her fellow musicians took part in a humanitarian street concert in Subotica to raise funds for local resident Melinda Sabo, and her name later appeared among the individual donors supporting Melinda's treatment. Music, in other words, has long been more than a profession or a form of artistic expression for Larisa – it can also be a way of reaching out.
That is what gives “Bluz ispod bluze” an additional layer. It is first and foremost a beautiful new song, but it also invites listeners to look beyond the music itself. In the video's description, Larisa calls on her audience to support the work of “Pruži mi ruku” – an association whose name says exactly what its mission is about: offering a helping hand.
Watch and listen to “Bluz ispod bluze” below, and learn more about the work of “Pruži mi ruku” here
Music / lyrics / vocals: Larisa
Arrangement: Larisa, Viktor Kesler
Electric guitar: Miodrag Miša Marjanov
Recording / mix & master: Viktor Kesler, Kesler Studio
Video filming & editing: Nemanja Adamović
Scenario / direction: Larisa, Nemanja Adamović
Location: Sve i svašta, Subotica
BTS & cover photo: Dragana Stojanović
