“Nowadays blues is leaning on more modern expression. Guitar solos tend to be faster, almost shredd, which I don't really like, but we have to accept it.“

Boris Zamba: The Blues Man & His Blues

Voodoo Ramble is a Croatian blues rock band founded in 2010 by Boris Dugi-Novački aka Boris Zamba. Throughout the years a repertoar was movin' from blues to rock and back to blues. With a considering amount of live gigs on a biker parties, blues festivals  and other events band has earned a status of a reliable, quality band. After years of playing covers, and songs of other songwriters band now has a materials of it's own written entirely by Zamba. In 2023 album "Home Again" was a launching point for the band. First place on a 5th Croatian Blues Challenge was a reward for a years of dedication to music. Band played on 30th International Blues Challenge in 2014. in Memphis and European Blues Challenge in Tuscany, Italy in 2016. We enjoy in our performance and we try to transfer that to our audience.                        (Boris Zamba / Photo by John Bull/Rockrpix)

‘I’m A Blues Man Baby’ (2024) is a brand new single from Voodoo Ramble featuring British blues guitarist Mick Pini. It's a taste of the band's forthcoming 5th album and marks a return to the blues basics. Following the well received previous album, band leader Boris Zamba hooked up with guitarist Mick Pini at his House of Happiness studio in Germany. The two guitarists immediately connected with their love of the blues. They plugged in, jammed and the sparks flew on a sparkling shuffle blues. The single features Boris Zamba on guitar and vocal, Mick Pini on guitar, groove drummer Damir Somen, and Neven Resnik on Hammond. It was mixed and produced by Dragutin Smokrovic-Smokva.

Interview by Michael Limnios                           Special Thanks: Mick Pini

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you? 

Well first of all one has to live through blues in life. I'm not saying that you can't feel or play the blues without that, but it surely makes things different for you. You change your perspective, and the music you write becomes more mature. There is an anecdote. We were playing at International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and I met really inspiring older bluesman, and he said: “There ain't no blues there (among players). Their biggest trouble is when they forget a charger for their phone“. Well that was so funny, and it was also a mind opener for me. Maybe modern life took some of that traditional values in the Blues, but for me it's still there. I started with the blues, and probably gonna end with one.

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? Where does your creative drive come from?

First „serious“ song I've learned on my old guitar was Allman Brothers „Southbound“. I was around 12. After that everything changed. I was hooked on that southern blues rock sound, and that was my „basis“ for creating of my own sound. After that I played a lot of British blues, to learn how to „feel“ more of it. When I write I don't think about the market, the publishers etc. I only want to tell what I feel through my music, that's my only goal. If it makes less „income“, I'm not worried about it, cause I would never sacrifice my music for the sake of money. I want it to be honest, and the listeners to feel that it is honest. You can't fool people, it's been like that for centuries and it will go on forever.                    (Photo: Boris Zamba & Mick Pini, House of Happiness Studio, Germany 2023)

"Croatia is still performing on International Blues Challenges, and many of such events. Young musicians are exploring the blues, and are starting to realise the importance of it. I think we can sleep with ease, cause we have youngsters who will continue the legacy."

What moment changed your music life the most? What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far?

It's hard for me to speak about it, but my life changing situation was when my son had an accident, which turned our lives upside down. I'm sorry for putting it that way, but it really changed it. In personal and off course in professional way much more. When you go through such things, you sort out your priorities. My sense for my music was intensified, and I could tell when I'm on the right path in writing it. And that somehow became my creative drive. It's full of blues, and it's the place where I can express my emotions, and also ease my mind. Much more intense for creating music, than a lost phone charger.

Why do you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following in Croatia?

Things about the blues started to change in Croatia, when the Blues Challenge Competition has been introduced. It was incredible to see so many blues performers emerging from the “underground“ scene. And that scene is evolving all the time. Croatia is still performing on International Blues Challenges, and many of such events. Young musicians are exploring the blues, and are starting to realise the importance of it. I think we can sleep with ease, cause we have youngsters who will continue the legacy.

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

It is so „normal“ for things to evolve, and develop. Nowadays blues is leaning on more modern expression. Guitar solos tend to be faster, almost shred, which I don't really like, but we have to accept it. Technically, you see so many equipment available today, which is good, but it also tends to move the focus from the song itself. I mean about writing the song. In the past players had the guitar-cord-amp situation, and everything else was about the creativity. Maybe that's why we love those old songs. But every generation has its way, and I respect that.                   (Photo: Croatian blues rock musician, Boris Zamba)

"My sense for my music was intensified, and I could tell when I'm on the right path in writing it. And that somehow became my creative drive. It's full of blues, and it's the place where I can express my emotions, and also ease my mind. Much more intense for creating music, than a lost phone charger."

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

I have learned to adapt to things on the go. Cause, when you're in the music business, nothing stays the same for long. You need to find your place in the sun, sort of speaking. Todays music production is hyperactive, there are so many new songs released every day, and so many ways to reach out to the audience. Technology is making it available for everybody, which is good and bad, cause it makes it bigger in numbers but not necessarily in quality. If we want to have the music which we can listen to even 100 years from now, it needs to be „created“, and not factory pressed.

What's the balance in blues music between technique and soul? What is the role of Blues Music in today’s society?

As I mentioned before, the Blues is much more about the technique than soul today. The players are less a working man who grab their instruments in their free time, and are much more experienced musicians with lot of gigs, and practicing hours. But one thing you can't practice is feeling The Blues. And I would say that today we need the blues even more then in the past, cause the times we live in are hard as much as before, if not harder, but in a different way, of course. But don't forget there are some other genres people can relate to. The Blues needs more exposure.

Do you think there is an audience for blues music in its current state? or at least a potential for young people to become future audiences and fans?

The only way The Blues is gonna reach younger audience is through younger performers. And I think the situation is developing in a right way, cause there are new performers who gather new fan base, and that is wonderful to see. And those younger performers tend to play on more traditional instruments which is amazing. The Blues started it all, and doesn't need some kind of a „special“ place for itself. It's like you would erase number one from the number list. It's been here from the beginning, it started it all, and it will last for a LONG time, that's for sure.

Voodoo Ramble - Home

(Boris Zamba / Photo by Aigars Lapsa)