"I thing love and passion for music, and blues especially, is before any race, language and age differences. For me it is especially worth in male-female matter. Blues is above every difference."

Sunnysiders: 27 Stitches of Blues Creative

Sunnysiders started in June 2010 as a duo by the singer, guitar, ukulele, harmonica player and a songwriter Boris Hrepić Hrepa, a long time Croatian professional musician who was a member in one of the Croatian most famous bands Daleka Obala during the 80’s and 90’s, and the singer, percussion and guitar player Antonija Vrgoč Rola. After the blues world praised their 4th album The Bridges (2020), which received many great reviews from magazines and portals from all over the world, Croatian band Sunnysiders are proud to represent their fifth album "27 Stitches" (2023). The winners of the 2011 Croatian Blues Challenge and semifinals of the 27th International Blues Challenge in Memphis recorded 12 new songs inspired by Covid impact on human souls and hearts, and showed again their unique style of songwriting. Boris says: "When our latest album The Bridges was sent out to the world, out of Croatia and exposed to the  blues world, first observation was that we played more eclectic blues than the „pure“ one. It sounds interesting to us, to be an eclectic blues band. We put our emotions into songs and follow the musical path that every song needs. This album has got the same approach – same, but also so different than the last one. Mixing of The Bridges was finished in Memphis, just few days before Corona came to town. Hmm, not just in town, but in all this great and wide world that we live in. And it shooked it like the Godzilla shooks a skyscraper in Japan. Two and a half years we were shaken and we are still shivering."

(Sunnysiders: Boris Hrepa, Antonija Rola, Luka Banić, Miha Vlah, Tomi Novak / Photo by Robert Pongrac)

Rola says: "27 Stitches, is mostly about Corona and Earth aftermath. World has been changed, and as well as the people. Songs are not about virus, illness, hospitals, vaccine, conspiracy and all of that. They are about us, survivors, and the most vulnerable part of us, our heart and soul. We have wounds, and we have stitches, and we will have scars. Stitches on the heart and stitches on the soul hurt. Lots of people have changed without knowing it. They look the same, talk the same, walk the same but don't act the same. And then sometimes some of them hurt each others, even the closest ones, their brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, close friends...so songs are about us, and them." Rola continues: "During our work on new songs we met some great musicians. First of them is Luka Banić, a sensitive and powerful guitar player, who immediately joined us with all his heart and soul, and even wrote two songs with us. There is interesting story about the three of us. During our work on songs we found that we have roots from the same small village called Donji Dolac, in Dalmatia. One of the best Croatian jazz and blues drummers, Miha Vlah joined us just couple of days before our studio time started. Hearing the songs just two days before the studio, he recorded drums, just as he was with us from very start. Tomi Novak, a multitalented musician, joined us somewhere in middle of recording. He recorded a great upright and fretless bass and National Dobro. First time we met Miha and Tomi was at the best place to meet some blues musician – it was in Memphis, 12 years ago, during International Blues Challenge. We played as Sunnysiders duo, and they played with another Croatian band. We have a band! After we finished all recording and track editing, we left for Paris, with our friend and producer Miki Nopling. Arnaud Bascunana, a French sound engineer, did a great job with mixing and mastering."

Interview by Michael Limnios         Archive: Interviews 2020 & 2023 (Sunnysiders)

Special Thanks: Frank Roszak Promotion, Boris Hrepa, Antonija Rola, Ante & Eta

What is the story behind band’s name: Sunnysiders?

Boris: Rola and me started our blues journey with a offered gig, it was at spring of 2010, and we did it under name Easy Bluesy Band. It sounds bit of corny so we called our friend Hari (Klarica) who is good with names, and he said “Sunnysiders”. We checked on internet and we found that there was a short time folk banjo band in the 1950s called “The Sunnysiders”, so… we are without "The". Hari was one of guests on "27 Stitches", he recorded Irish frame drum bodhran on two songs.

Why do you think that the Sunnysiders continues to generate such a devoted following, since 2010?

Rola: When we started, as a duo, we did it strictly with original songs. We signed up application for 2nd Croatian Blues Challenge, wrote 5 original songs, each one with different approach to blues, and we won at Croatian Blues Challenge, and passed to semifinals of International Blues Challenge in Memphis. I think our songs and our style were different and unexpected and we got our first fans at best place in world The Beale Street. So, 13 years later we are, with our fifth album, still doing the same thing.

"For me in blues soul is definitely on first position, with soul you can play two notes on two string cigar box guitar and still be able to send a music massage, I never like too much technique when is matter of blues, that is more for heavy metal or jazz. Blues are ancestress of all modern west music, and we must respect tradition and pass it to next generations." (Sunnysiders / Photo by Robert Pongrac)

Is there a message you are trying to convey with your songs?

Boris: We don't want to preach anybody, we just putted our feelings in our songs, and this time feelings were hurt and album is little darker then previous. If there is a message it will be be yourself and stay on foot no matter how hard it is.

Currently you’ve one more release with Sunnysiders. How did the idea of band come about?

Rola: During corona time we got bonded with Luka (Banić), and we recognized the similar creative energy and passion. Miha (Vlah) and Tomi (Novak) came to band during recording process but we knew each other well, we first met in Memphis during 2011 IBC. Three of them are passionate and experienced musicians, totally devoted to music.

Are there any specific memories or highlights of new album “”27 Stitches” that you would like to tell us about?!

Boris: We recorded 12 very different songs, each one have own story and own sound, and it was a task to mix it and blend it together to become as one, an album. Highlight was our trip to Paris (France), where Arnaud Boscuana, a French sound engineer, did a great job mixing the songs in his Studio 180, he mixed it so perfectly. Thank you Arnaud.

Rola: When we were in our producer's Miki (Nopling) studio in Split, we started with recording of electric guitar, played by Luka. We had unexpected and mysterious electrical problem with guitar amp. Marshall was simply dead, everybody tried to do something to solve the problem, but nothing. Then Boris drove 15 miles to next town to borrow another amp from our friend Charlie, but situation was the same, no sign of life. During  that situation I was sitting aside because I don' know anything about amps and I didn't want to distract them. After hours of hopeless trying everybody gave up. Then I slowly approached to amp, for the first time, and just put my finger on it, the amp just revived, electricity came and guitar's sound risen. Hallelujah! It was really supernatural moment. But supernatural moments are deep in story of blues.

When did the idea of the new album's “27 Stitches” photo cover with an old Mercedes Benz, come about?

Boris: Last summer we visited Dolac with our blues friends Michael Limnios, a Greek blues ambassador and journalist; and Mike Vernon, legendary British blues producer. Michael took a photo of Mercedes, and we have a best visual feel for 27 Stitches.

"Love for blues and rock is definitely a foundation of mine views of the world. The world around us is filled with numerous of different way of living, but the world of music, and blues and rock especially is one of the best and purest." (27 Stitches album's cover & Antonija Vrgoč Rola / Photo by Robert Pongrac)

What does to be a female artist in a Man’s World as James Brown says? What is the status of women in music?

Rola: I thing love and passion for music, and blues especially, is before any race, language and age differences. For me, it is especially worth in male-female matter. Blues is above every difference.

What's the balance in music between technique and soul? Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues?

Boris: For me in blues soul is definitely on first position, with soul you can play two notes on two string cigar box guitar and still be able to send a music massage, I never like too much technique when is matter of blues, that is more for heavy metal or jazz. Blues are ancestress of all modern west music, and we must respect tradition and pass it to next generations.

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

Rola: I wish I'd lived in the 50s or 60s. I love that period, I enjoy watching blues documentaries from that time, but right now I am missing everything not that long ago, I miss time before corona came, concerts, festivals, traveling, hanging around with our blues friends. 

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

Boris: Mmm, a hard question. There is a lot of things in musical world that can be better, but I am doing my best to share a good vibe with my music and everything, and that is all I can do. I would like to bring back many great people and musicians who passed away but this is beyond my abilities.

"There is a lot of things in musical world that can be better, but I am doing my best to share a good vibe with my music and everything, and that is all I can do."(Sunnysiders / Photo by Robert Pongrac)

How has the Blues and Rock influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

Rola: Love for blues and rock is definitely a foundation of mine views of the world. The world around us is filled with numerous of different way of living, but the world of music, and blues and rock especially is one of the best and purest. That love defines me. Singing has been a great love of mine since early childhood. I was a member of several children's choirs, and at home I sang along with the radio turned on all day long. The radio also played all night long so I probably sang in my sleep too. I learned a lot about rock from my elder brother who was a big fan of ZZ Top and other hard blues rock bands, but I started to listen more classic blues when I met Boris. I can't imagine even a day without music, the music that connects people all over the world.

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

Boris: Mmm, a hard question. There is a lot of things in musical world that can be better, but I am doing my best to share a good vibe with my music and everything, and that is all I can do. I would like to bring back many great people and musicians who passed away but this is beyond my abilities.

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

Boris: When we were first time in Memphis, at the 2011 IBC, I joined one big jam at the Tin Roof Blues Club. It was a dream coming true, playing on Beale Street (Memphis) with Afro-American blues musicians. I'd waited my whole life for that moment, to grab a guitar and play. When my turn came I immediately started to play licks throughout the whole song. One guy from brass section, a trumpet player, leaned forward to me and told me quietly to slow down, not to rush, and that I have to wait for a signal from singer who was always the master of ceremony. I stopped, and I follow the singer. It doesn't seem like a big lesson, but for me it was. 

Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really want to go for a whole day?

Rola: There is a one special moment in history of blues where I would like to be. I would set up clock in Delorian on June 26 (also the date of our son Tibon birthday), 1933, around midnight, in one special Chicago nightclub. I would lean on the bar, drinking whiskey, chilling and watching cutting contest, a guitar battle, between Big Bill Broonzy and Memphis Minnie. Sure, before that I would pay a bet on Minnie.

Sunnysiders - Home

(Sunnysiders: Boris Hrepa, Antonija Rola, Luka Banić, Miha Vlah, Tomi Novak / Photo by Robert Pongrac)