Out Now Magazine Spotlight series featuring ENDRITI for an exclusive interview
Where are you from?
I come from Kosovo. I and my family fled from the war in Kosovo: so we’ve been living in Italy for about 21 years, since 1999.
At the moment I live in Rome, because I’m attending the last year of the National Academy of Dance: of course, I’m a dancer, too!
When did you start making music?
Basically, music and singing have always fascinated and thrilled me, but there was a clear moment in my life when I told myself that I wanted to make music seriously and professionally. I remember that moment very well: it was a night in October 2020. I could not sleep. I turned the light on, took a piece of paper and a pencil, and began to write down everything that came to my mind. That day I woke up in the morning and thought: “this lyrics may be the lyrics of my first song: INATI. So yes, I decided to take things a lot more seriously: I had the lyrics and now I needed a musical base and a recording studio. I have been looking trustworthy for someone for a long time to work with on my project, until I met Lo-Ed, an Italian boy who became the producer of the song. The song was ready and now I also needed the videoclip. I already knew that I would have fallen in love with this project, with this kind of work: in fact TAMAN, my second song, came out very soon.
How do you describe your music?
First of all, I think my music is different: an interesting combination of rap and pop; a gripping fusion of western and balcanic music. My music is extravagant, strong, exciting, emotional and unique: this is why I came unexpectedly to albanian people: many of them still offend me with homophobic jokes, just because I look different from all of them and because I tried to make something that could break down so many clichés. My music simply reflects my personality: creative, slightly eccentric, whimsical, sunny and funny. My songs are the result of many of my skills, like the particular lyrics I write or the melody I want to create: the union of these abilities of mine creates a new and distinct kind of art.
Favorite moment from your career?
When I uploaded my music videos to my YouTube channel and I saw so many people watching and sharing what I was creating for the first time was unbelievable. I felt so satisfied; I thought: “this is what I absolutely wanna do in my life”.
It was less nice to see the negative comments. I was very sorry to perceive the coldness and the way some people attacked and offended me. I forced myself therefore, and I kept being Endriti: rediscovering myself was a revelation for me, as well as my favourite moment ever.
Who is your biggest musical inspiration?
I just dream of being a full-fledged Artist: an example and an inspiration for people. I wanna be that one who guides the others towards novelty, towards change.
What other things do you do besides making music?
As I mentioned before, I’am also a dancer: it means I love dancing and developing my own choreographies.
What is your favorite track of all time?
Really don’t know. I like many tracks. I usually listening to everything. I appreciate the variety.
What is your best-producing tip?
Be funny. Be engaging. Make people feel good, entertain them.
Why did you start making music?
I started making music because I had to offer people something new; on the other hand I had to externalize my feelings. All I truly wanted was to feel happy, fulfilled and complete: music turned out to be the suitable way I need to achieve myself, my completeness.
What are your goals for the future?
As I always use to tell everyone, my greatest desire is to eventually go back to my native country and make a name for myself in the music industry in Kosovo; my biggest goal is to spread my art worldwide.
What advice can you give for young music producers/DJs?
Please, never give up: always try to be innovative, interesting and to give vent to your creativity. Above all, don’t be who you don’t wanna be just to please others because it wouldn’t work for long. Be always yourselves: your business will be rewarded.
Please write a message to your fans.
I just wanna thank all of you for always supporting me. I promise you to always give my best and never disappoint you. Thanks also to those who don’t believe in me, because thanks to your criticisms, I have the opportunity to improve and develop my qualities: it’s just part of artist’s work, indeed. For me this is just the beginning, but I sincerely hope to be able to enrich you with my music, with my art. I know it’s a long road, but here I am. Love you.
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