She Loves Pablo is almost a phenomenon of the Croatian alternative music scene. For a full two decades, they’ve stayed true to their recognizable groove rock sound, as well as to a unique community of fans who have grown up with them and followed them from the very beginning until today. This year, they celebrate their first 20 years, and it seems they’re far from tired of creating and performing. Armed with material from their new album and enthusiasm at full strength, they’re arriving at the Rojc Open Air Festival, making it the perfect occasion for a short conversation.
Interestingly, at the very, very beginning you were briefly called She Lives in Texas, before renaming yourselves She Loves Pablo. We won’t get into the meaning, but I will ask: if Pablo were a person, who would he be and what qualities would he have?
Domagoj: He’d be something between the four of us: a mentally unstable, raspy, low-tone audio producer who recently had a child and doesn’t sleep, but spends weekends working with cameras and filming Dinamo vs. Hajduk.
Dimitrije: Pablo would definitely be a real fun guy, a good friend, and a bit of an idiot. That would fit perfectly into this band. I’m not sure exactly what he’d do, but he’d probably be doing something he loves. At least I hope so, for his sake.
This year you’re celebrating a full two decades as a band. What has changed from your first rehearsal until today, and what hasn’t?
Domagoj: Apart from the members and our personalities, we haven’t changed that much. We still love what we do and look forward to rehearsals and gigs. We’re much more organized than before – that’s for sure – since we’re also more grown-up than we were 20 years ago.
Dimitrije: The biggest change is the number of members and the level of fatigue we bring to rehearsals, but the work habits around the band and frequent rehearsals are something we’ve managed to maintain.
What does a small collective like yours need in order to survive and stay together? What advice would you give to young bands just starting out?
Domagoj: There’s no formula for that, and times are completely different now compared to when we started. First and foremost, we’re best friends—Arijan, Leo, and I went to elementary school together, so we’ve known each other almost our whole lives. That’s the one constant, and it’s why the band has lasted this long. Everything else comes down to adaptation and understanding.
Dimitrije: I think the most important thing is that everyone is good friends and loves what they do. And not to compromise when it comes to the band and the music—unless there’s some serious money on the table.
An anniversary year, an anniversary album simply titled “She Loves Pablo.” The eleven songs offer quite a broad spectrum of variety—is that a reflection of musical maturity, relaxation, or something else?
Domagoj: It reflects our current mental state. We feel strong and healthy, and we’ve never listened to more music than we do now, so we just did whatever sounded good to us at the moment. Over the last two or three albums, we’ve been exploring three-part vocals, so we’re playing around with that as well.
Dimitrije: Probably a combination of the two. After 20 years, we must be more musically mature, and we definitely don’t lack a sense of ease.
If you had to introduce someone who’s never heard She Loves Pablo to your music using just one song, which would you recommend?
Domagoj: It has to be from the latest album, so I’d say “Natural.”
Dimitrije: Great question, everyone in the band would probably give a different answer. Mine is “Next of Kin.”
You’ve mentioned that you have songs that never made it onto an album and are just sitting “in a drawer.” What do you do with them—do they gather dust forever, or do you revisit them at some point?
Domagoj: Those songs end up on the next album or in our other projects and bands. Nothing stays “in the drawer” for long.
Dimitrije: When we start working on new material, we often revisit riffs and songs from the bench. Sometimes we manage to incorporate an old part into something new or rearrange older songs to make them sound good.
You’re coming to the Rojc Open Air Festival; usually the question is what the audience can expect from you, but let’s flip it, what do you expect from the audience?
Domagoj: Honestly, we’re really looking forward to it. Right now, it’s just important that all the bands and the audience are a great crowd and that we all have fun, and I have no doubt about that! It’s been a while since we last played in Pula, so it’s going to be pretty intense.
Dimitrije: That they have a good time. Let everyone enjoy themselves—with us or without us. And world peace.
What will you be listening to on the way to Pula?
Domagoj: Leo snoring. And in those few seconds when he’s not asleep, probably Them Moose Rush, who are also performing!
Dimitrije: Šimek yelling to show that his voice is in great shape.
Interviewer: Sara Jerman
Photos: She Loves Pablo, Marina Uzelac