I am constantly amazed that Vlada has retained so much of the beautiful nuances of American Soul music as well as the awesome creative beauty of his native land, Switzerland, into a musical package that appeals to people in any culture! –Kirk Whalum

Vlada is one artist whose musical writing and vocal talent and love for Christ all meet in
a wonderful way. –Mark Kibble (Take 6)

Take a virtually unknown Swiss-Serbian singer, songwriter and pianist, an all-star cast of musicians and singers and a fusion of soul, funk, gospel and pop and the result is a debut album packed with top quality tracks and a retro 70s vibe.

‘All About You’ has been a labour of love for Vlada. More than five years in the making and completed without the backing of a major record label, Vlada’s debut album features an astonishing line-up of world class performers, such as drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting, Herbie Hancock, Frank Zappa), bassist Abraham Laboriel (Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles) and guitarist Paul Jackson Jr. (Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Destiny’s Child). And that’s before factoring in ten-times Grammy Award-winning vocal group Take 6 and renowned saxophonist Kirk Whalum!

All the songs on Vlada’s impressive debut album ‘All About You’ (release date: October 2009) are original compositions – a powerful and highly unique blend of soul, funk, pop and gospel. The sessions with the US all-star band took place in Switzerland in 2003, while the musicians had a couple days off their busy schedule. Vlada remembers, "I had the chance to work with some phenomenal players, some of the best on the planet and to see their work ethic, attitude and their servanthood and humility was quite amazing. We recorded 13 tracks live in the studio within two days, with a maximum of three takes, and I sang live with the band as well." Given the band’s top class performance pedigree – and Vlada’s own musical influences – it’s not surprising that Vlada’s debut is reminiscent of Motown and the classic soul/funk records of the 1970s.
Further sessions followed in Nashville, after Mark Kibble, lead singer, producer and arranger of legendary vocal group Take 6, suggested to Vlada that he co-produce and finish the album in Tennessee. Most of the album was then mixed by five-times Grammy Award winner F. Reid Shippen (India Arie, Jonny Lang, Third Day).

Multi-cultural Vlada has the potential to make music that will reach the whole world. Raised in Switzerland to a Serbian family, he later lived in England and Germany and is currently based in Nashville. Vlada speaks five languages fluently, reinforcing the international and wide appeal of the ‘Vlada sound.’

So how did Vlada get into the music scene? Music has been his passion through the years. He started singing aged three and impersonated Elvis at the age of five. He then began writing his first original songs in his early teens, when he discovered jazz, funk and soul music. After graduating at the University of Zurich with a Masters degree in English and Economics, he worked as a promotion manager for renowned Swiss concert promoter AllBlues. During his studies, Vlada also attended Jazz School Zurich, where he was taught in jazz vocals and theory. For over 10 years, Vlada was musical director and lead singer of the successful funk-gospel-group “awake”, performing on numerous tours and producing three albums (one with Sony Music). After years on the scene, he has gained a reputation as a singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, and promoter in his own right.

But how did an obscure Swiss-Serbian singer and songwriter manage to gather such an all-star cast for his debut? Vlada believes that it was simply God’s favour. While he was working for AllBlues, promoting artists such as Bobby McFerrin, Herbie Hancock, John Legend, and Norah Jones, things fell into place. "A promoter friend and I decided to promote the Abraham Laboriel Quartet in Zurich, and I was the promotion manager for the show in June 2003. Someone else heard about the concert and decided to book the group for three days of session recording.” Vlada got the shock of his life when he asked whose album they’d be working on and was told, "We can start off with your solo album.”

The album’s title track sums up a great deal of Vlada’s journey so far. "I got ‘All About You’ in the middle of the night. I tried to catch some sleep when I suddenly got the lyrics, the groove, and the bass line! I had to get up, go to the piano and write the song. It sums up that in the past I’ve been striving for fame and recognition, but this would inevitably leave me empty and unfulfilled. Life ultimately is about God, following him and doing what he called me to do. Sometimes I still struggle with trying to get approval from people because I’m an artist and I’m on stage and we just seek recognition. But deep down I know that what I’m doing here is about and for Christ. This song sums it all up."

With over 20 years’ stage experience and hundreds of performances as a lead singer with various projects in Europe as well as the United States, Vlada is ready to embark on a highly promising solo career.