Following the single "Manevar," Elena Stella and the Ante Jeličić Sextet present "Ti," the second single from the album "Mačak u vreći." This is Elena’s debut vocal-instrumental album, featuring eight original songs in Croatian that blend poetry with contemporary jazz.
"The song 'Ti' explores a somewhat more nuanced, intimate theme compared to the rest of our album, 'Mačak u vreći.' It touches upon the very core of our existence—the things that shape us. At its heart lies the idea of the importance of consciously choosing one’s life values, as well as the people with whom we surround ourselves. I believe that our choices, the values we nurture, and the people we select play a major role in shaping our lives and who we become. While I wrote the other lyrics myself, the initial spark for this track came from Ante Jeličić; he set the idea in motion, and I then brought it to completion." "The song is also interesting in terms of its rhythm, as it is written in a 10/4 time signature, which gives it a unique, shifted pulse and dynamic," commented Elena.
The music video was filmed with the musicians who contributed to the album and was directed by Radislav and Anita Jovanov. It captures the atmosphere of the group making music together and the strong connection between the members of the sextet.
The album *Mačak u vreći* ("A Cat in a Bag") is the result of a long-standing collaboration between Elena Stella and pianist, composer, and arranger Ante Jeličić. While Ante composed the music, Elena wrote the lyrics and provided the vocals. Jeličić is well-known to the local jazz audience for his albums *Common Language* and *DA-DU*, while Elena is known to the broader public as a semi-finalist from the show *The Voice Hrvatska*.
Released by Dallas Records, the album features Jeličić on piano, alongside Adriano Bernobić on drums, Bojan Skočilić on double bass, Darko Sedak-Benčić on trumpet, Miro Kadoić on saxophone, and Hrvoje Štefanić on trombone.
*Mačak u vreći* has already drawn the attention of local music critics, primarily for its blend of contemporary jazz and poetic Croatian-language lyrics, which lend the album a distinct, original artistic voice.
The new single, "Ti" ("You"), continues to showcase an album that combines original Croatian lyrics with jazz, while leaving ample space for every listener to find something personal within the songs. The album "Mačak u vreći" was released by Dallas Records, and the new single "Ti" continues to showcase his world as a songwriter and performer, music that creates space for listening, reflection, and personal experience.
