"Blues is not necessarily music only, it can be any kind of expression, and since it is the root of today’s music, it touches the soul and heart of a person. Kids nowadays are less connected with the older generations and their way of life, and it is unlikely for them to discover the blues on their own."

Odin S: In The Circle of Sunrise Blues

Croatian guitarist and singer Odin was born in 2008 in Zagreb, Croatia. He started playing guitar at eleven, and within’ two years he had already written 26 songs. He has traveled & played all over Europe and the USA. Significant was his participation to the Little Steven’s Blues Camp in Notodden, Norway in 2023, thanks to a scholarship by the European Blues Union, and to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2024. In June 2024, thanks to another EBU scholarship, he joined other young musicians at the Pinetop Perkins Foundation Workshop in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the place where, according to the legend, the Blues was born! His new single ‘Diona’s Help’ (Sept 2024) release, comes after few months from the acclaimed ‘Mannerist Blues’. For the release of Odin Sokac (aka Odin S.) upcoming new album, “In The Circle”, Odin has been collaborating with producer Fabrizio “Fab” Grossi and singer/guitar wiz Matt Pascale.                       (Croatian Blues-Rock musician Odin S / Photo by Robert Novak)

With this song he confirms his love for the blues, a music full of emotion and feelings, that can reach everyone’s soul, no matter the age. In spite of his really young age, his original attitude and prolific songwriting skills brought him already all around Europe and the US to play & sing the Blues. THE NEW SINGLE ‘DIONA’S HELP’: The song was inspired by the Greek goddess of rain, Diona. The song carries a positive allegorical message: people need to be optimistic and view rain as a positive thing, because is Diona's help “washing away the dirty things and feeding the soil for the grass, trees and flowers”. Every moment and fact of our life always carries two sides, but through his music Odin S is suggesting to be optimistic and focused the future.

Interview by Michael Limnios  

How has the Blues influenced your views of the world? Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues?

I did not find the blues, the blues found me – and that happened even before I started playing. Without the blues, I would not have the perspective I have today. Blues should be protected because it is the foundation of todays music. Sadly, nowadays we have to fight for the blues to live on. Everything in life has its ups and downs, and I hope that young musicians like me will contribute to the new rise of blues music on the world stage.

How do you describe your sound and music philosophy? What is the balance in music between technique and soul?

The more musical knowledge and experience I gain, the richer my sound will be. When I compose I try to release my inner sound. My musical philosophy is to compose simple music that reflects my originality. Since music is not a competition, but a transfer of emotion, I believe in a fine balance between the music performance technique and the soul of a musician, when a performer successfully transfers their emotion to the audience.

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

Through blues and the world of music, I consciously shape myself into the person I want to be. I've learned a lot through blues; honestly, I can't single out the most important thing. Through many small things, I've gotten to know myself. There are so many things that I don't even have time to process them all, although I've realized that I've unconsciously started applying some things in my life. Blues is my remedy for a happy life. Playing or listening to blues eases my mind and my life. Sometimes I apply blues in photography or other forms of expression besides music. It's important to me to put my emotion into what I do, and when I successfully do that, I feel very happy.

"If I could use a time machine, I wouldn't go one day into the future within my lifetime. Because, when I say I'll achieve something, I do it, so I wouldn't waste that opportunity on something I'll see anyway. I'd love to go back to the time when my musical idols were young like me, to see what inspired them to write songs, how they lived, and to have a nice lunch with them. As for the future, I like to keep that to myself." (Croatian guitarist and singer Odin Sokac, aka Odin S / Photo by Robert Novak)

Currently you’ve one release with Fabrisio Grossi and Matt Pascale. How did that relationship come about?

I met Matt Pascale at Little Steven’s Blues School in Notodden, Norway, in 2023. We hit it off right away and stayed in touch. Matt later offered to be my producer. He sent my demo recordings to his producer, Fabricio Grossi, who immediately expressed interest in producing my music. We then came up with a plan where Fab would be the producer, and Matt would assist and feature as a guest artist.

Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album "In The Circle"?

Regarding the album "In The Circle," I'd like to highlight that I recorded it with a fever of 38.5°C. This album is so important to me that I didn't want to cancel the recording, even though I'll have to redo some songs because my voice sounded a bit sick. I decided to name the album "In The Circle" because it reminds me of the circle of life. I've entered a life circle, a social circle as a young musician with great experienced names. The circle is a symbol of movement and turning. It's not that I want to stay on that album, but that I want to keep moving.

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

The most important thing for me is to be satisfied with my own music, so I don't decide to modernize it for the listeners. In my musical creation, I always give a part of myself. If I start changing that for others, I won't be myself anymore; I'll become like everyone else, turning my emotion into a frequency everyone understands. My goal is for my listeners to touch them with my art. So far, this approach has worked well for me. My entire school listens to my music not because it's tailored to them, but because they know me, and by listening to my music, they feel different from other young people.

"I did not find the blues, the blues found me – and that happened even before I started playing. Without the blues, I would not have the perspective I have today. Blues should be protected because it is the foundation of todays music. Sadly, nowadays we have to fight for the blues to live on. Everything in life has its ups and downs, and I hope that young musicians like me will contribute to the new rise of blues music on the world stage." (Photo: Odin S & Boris Hrepić Hrepa)

Which meetings have been the most important experiences for you? What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Each meeting is important to me because I can always learn something from others. The most important experience for me has been playing at the Thrill Blues Festival, thanks to Boris Hrepić Hrepa, who is the artistic director of that festival. Another memorable experience was attending Little Stevens Blues School and doing four gigs at the Notodden Blues Festival, thanks to the invitation of Davide Grandi, the president of the European Blues Union. I would also like to point out performing as a special guest with Creedence Clearwater Revival in United Blues & Rock Explosion, under the leadership of Ray Frick, and thanks to Krešo Sonnyboy Oremuš. Many people have given me excellent advice that I try to follow as much as possible. The latest piece of advice I got was from Boris Hrepić Hrepa. He told me that I should control my ambition and set a short-term and long-term goal. By doing so, I will always be satisfied with achieving the short-term goal, whereas achieving the long-term goal will be an added value. This is something that pushes me forward.

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

In Croatia we have blues enthusiasts, who enjoy sharing the joy of listening and creating good music with others, and when a person does something from the heart, the audience recognizes it.

What moment changed your music life the most? Are there any memories from gigs and jams which you’d like to share with us?

The turning point in my musical development came when I was discovered by Krešo Sonnyboy Oremuš, who then recommended me to Boris Hrepić Hrepa, the then director of the Croatian Blues Force. These two men opened doors for me in the music industry and introduced me to a whole different world. Every gig is an opportunity to learn something new, and to learn from my mistakes. I remember a situation when Krešo Sonnyboy Oremuš was my special guest on stage, and I forgot to give him a chance for a solo. Ever since that blunder, I always try to pay attention to the communication with the band and the audience. 

"Croatia does not have a big blues community, but however small it may be, we all live the blues. If we want to have a bigger and younger audience, I think it would be better that more young blues performers gets on the scene because the audience often gets attached to the performers. I can personally attest to this because my classmates have started coming to my concerts. However, for the time being, the audience mostly comprises of blues aficionados and older generations." (Odin S / Photo by Robert Novak)

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

It is hard for me to say that I miss something because I am a child of another time period, but I feel connected with former times and that is why I like the sounds of the past, old stories and movies that help me get into the spirit. Due to digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, I sometimes fear that the creation of music will be taken over by AI and that the soul and human touch in creation will be lost. But I always like to look at the bright side of life, so I hope it won't happen and that the young blues musicians as me will safe the music creation as it always has been.

What could that be the impact of Blues music on the new generation? How do you want the music to affect people?

Blues is not necessarily music only, it can be any kind of expression, and since it is the root of today’s music, it touches the soul and heart of a person. Kids nowadays are less connected with the older generations and their way of life, and it is unlikely for them to discover the blues on their own. However, once they discover it, they might find themselves in it. I would like that the blues teaches people how simple things are important in life and how to walk in someone else’s shoes because that is the best way we can understand each other.

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?

Croatia does not have a big blues community, but however small it may be, we all live the blues. If we want to have a bigger and younger audience, I think it would be better that more young blues performers gets on the scene because the audience often gets attached to the performers. I can personally attest to this because my classmates have started coming to my concerts. However, for the time being, the audience mostly comprises of blues aficionados and older generations.

"My goal is for my listeners to touch them with my art. So far, this approach has worked well for me. My entire school listens to my music not because it's tailored to them, but because they know me, and by listening to my music, they feel different from other young people."

(Odin S is suggesting to be optimistic and focused the future / Photo by Robert Novak)

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

If I could use a time machine, I wouldn't go one day into the future within my lifetime. Because, when I say I'll achieve something, I do it, so I wouldn't waste that opportunity on something I'll see anyway. I'd love to go back to the time when my musical idols were young like me, to see what inspired them to write songs, how they lived, and to have a nice lunch with them. As for the future, I like to keep that to myself.

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