Manja Ristic, born in Belgrade in 1979, is a violinist, sound artist, published poet, curator, and researcher. She graduated from the Belgrade Academy of Music (2001) and gained a post-graduate diploma at the Royal College of Music, London (2004).
Manja’s sound-related research besides contemporary performance in the field of instrumental electroñacoustics, is focused on interdisciplinary approaches to sound and field recording as well as experimental radio arts.
She is the winner of several distinctive awards for solo and chamber classical music, laureate of the Academy Charles Cros SÈlection Musiques ExpÈrimentales 2024, holds an honorable mention from the Phonurgia Nova Awards, and a Golden Award for the extended media from the Association of Fine Artists of Serbia. She is also a founding member of CENSE ñ Central European Network for Sonic Ecologies. Ristic has created commissions for major broadcasting companies across Europe, and many independent media platforms. She co-curated sonoAdriatic Tales at Ars Electronica 2020, and in the last 20 years curated and developed a distinctive number of cultural events across the Balkan region, including international projects, cultural conferences, and educational
platforms in the fields of experimental sound-related arts, scene, and multimedia arts.
FACTS
1. Time is a social construct.
2. All matter is energy.
3. Death defines us.
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
The music I make comes from my ability to attune and channel energies around me, and within me. I don’t need to be inspired to make music.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
6 years old, music school, wanted to play piano but it was too expensive to get one, so I took violin because we had my great grandmotherís violin in the house.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
– Gustav Mahler – Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam, Conducted By Bernard Haitink ñ Symphony No. 5 (1971)
– Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – J·nos Ferencsik, Hungarian State Orchestra, Hungarian Radio And Television Chorus ñ Requiem (1997)
– Silent Songs, Valentin Silvestrov (recorded in Moscow 1986, released by ECM in 2004)
– Marylin Mazur, Future Song (1992)
– Sinead O’Connor, Am I Not Your Girl? (1992)
– Dhafer Youssef ñ Divine Shadows (2006)
that’s six, sorry! I’m not a fan of no. 5 :))
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
The Third Reich, unfortunately.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
Rocks behind The Dominican Monastery of St. Nicholas, built in the 15th century
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
Architecture, science, literature, philosophy
7. What was the last record/music you bought or listen?
Youmna Saba, Wishah
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Laurie Anderson
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
its impossible to say
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
not very important
11. What can we expect from your concert at the Dara String festival in Berlin?
if you come with an open heart the bond will be made :))
