BOSANSKI/HRVATSKI::: ENGLISH ::: GERMAN ::: BULGARIEN

ARTIST PROFILE ( first musical experiences and beginning of  successfully career)

Amir Kazic was born October 17, 1965 in Tomina, Sanski Most, Bosnia-Herzegovina. As a youngster he joined the folklore ensemble “Grmec” and began to be seriously involved in music during his high school days.  In 1989, he made his first contacts with musicians from Croatia. In 1995, he was introduced to Djordje Novkovic, famous Croatian songwriter and composer. This acquaintance proves to be a turning point in Leo’s career.  After only a year of successful cooperation, Leo first appeared at the Croatian Eurosong Festival “Dora”, held in Opatija (1996). His performance of song “Do posljednjeg daha” left neither audience, nor musical critics indifferent.

AWARDS

In the same year, 1996,  Amir Kazic collected the third Audience Award at “Osijekfest” festival. In 1997, he released his first studio album “Leo”, by “Croatia Records” record company. The album featured several hits. Once more he appeared at the Croatian Eurosong Festival “Dora” (1997), and was voted as one of the top five performers by 99 Croatian radio stations. He collected the second Audience Award and Interpretation Award at yet another festival, “Osijekfest” (1997). In August 1997, Leo picked up  “the Best Debut Performers” award at “the Croatian Coast Music Festival”, for the duet song of typical Dalmatian ambiance.

Year 1997 was also the year of his major exposure to Bosnian audience; he was voted the “Singer of the Year” by “Vecernje novine” newspapers. In January 1998, Leo won an international award “Golden Rose of Peace” for best audio material and collected three awards at Bihac Music Festival 98’: first Audience Award (for the most awarded singer), first Jury Award and Award for the Best Stage Performance. In October 1999, Leo issued his new studio album “Kreni”, with extracted singles “Ljubi Ljubice”, “Ostala si uvijek ista”, and duet with Croatian pop star Severina, “Kreni”. The song quickly topped all music charts.

In December 2000, Leo performed “Ti mozes sve” at the international festival “Forte 2000” in Sarajevo, BH, and won a KM10.000 award, half of which he donated to the orphans scholarship trust. He also won  the performance category award at the same festival.

Numerous successful concerts and more awards followed:  Valentine’s Day 2001, Leo picked up the Best Song Award at the Podgorica International Festival, performing his hit single “Sram te bilo”. This was followed by yet another music acknowledgment; "Golden CD"  (Nimpha Sound) for the best selling album "Ljubav zivota" (Love of my life). In 2003, Leo won the award for best singer from the ex-Yugoslavia territory. In March 2003, Leo collected “Zlatni Mikrofon” award in Banja Luka and won the best BH Pop Artist of the Year category, awarded by TV Pink in Belgrade. In July 2003, at the international festival in Zrenjanin, Leo  won the award "Best male singer of the year" .

ALBUMS AND TOURS

In May 2001, Leo set off to his first Australian Tour where he performed in several major Australian cities. His first compilation album, “Best of 17”, was on the market in January 2002, released by “InTakt” record company. In summer 2002,  Leo released his third and the latest studio album “Samo Svoj”, which proved to be an instant success. Singles such as “Fatma”, “Gore Dolje”, “Dzaba Zivim” soon topped all major music charts, while “Fatma” was rated hit-song of Summer 2002. Numerous performances and concerts followed and the year 2002 closed with Leo’s big Scandinavian Tour.

Leo currently lives in Croatia. His dwelling place is, in his own words, a charming Istrian town of BRTONIGLA, where he seeks seclusion from his stressful career in the comfort of his own home.
 

Janet Komić (Dzeni), 2003/2004
Vox Magazin

Translation:
Tatjana Radjenovic,2004
Vox Magazin