For the second year running the melodic voice of Ines Trickovic will echo over the island of Lokrum. On the eve of a concert by the talented Dubrovnik born jazz singer Ines Trickovic we caught up with her for a blitz interview.

Last year’s event was a huge success and Trickovic is back with an imaginative new show for this year – its cabaret time. On the 30th of August at 9.00 pm, tickets are available and transport with ferries to the island is included, a concert, well more a performance, entitled Lilibelle will bring a 1940’s style cabaret to Dubrovnik. “This show I have been performing since 2011 but this is the first time I am doing it in Croatia. So the audience will see me in a different light, more theatrical and very different from last year,” commented Dubrovnik’s jazz star.

Trickovic, who spends her time between three bases Dubrovnik, New York and Macau caused a sensation in the musical world last year when she performed in the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York. And this year’s performance on Lokrum will have a real international feel as the multi-talented Trickovic will sing in various languages - including Chinese!

This will be the second year that you have held a concert on the island of Lokrum, clearly an island close to your heart. What can the audience expect from this year’s concert?

This year it is going to be a very different show, with elements of drama, comedy and a love story that is connected to the music that will be performed. An old style Cabaret, situated at the end of 1940's. This show I have been performing since 2011 but this is the first time I am doing it in Croatia. So the audience will see me in a different light, more theatrical and very different from last year.

We understand that you are going in a cabaret direction with the concert this year. Tell us more about Lilibelle.

She is a traveller, adventurer, poet of love and life. It's one side of my personality that I decided to give life to through this artistic expression.

Trickovic on Lokrum - Photo Vedran Levi  

Is the life story of “Lilibelle” a reflection of your own story? And if so who is your Johnny?

Haha haha, well not really, it's a story I wrote years ago when I started travelling and performing more so there is, of course, some truth in it but there is also a lot of fiction. But to answer your question "who is your Johnny"- it's more that Johnny is not actually a person but a personification of all deep desires we all humans have, the quest for true love. That's why wherever I performed it the audience has always reacted to this show extremely well, because that's a universal question we all carry in ourselves.

After playing Carnegie Hall last year has this year been just as busy for you?

The last couple of years have been extremely busy in general, and this year I decided to take my time producing more music, writing and developing new collaborations and some very interesting projects I will tell you more about in the future. I can say that my performance in Carnegie definitely gave me more opportunities and space to develop further. But yes, I am still two to three times per year in Hong Kong and Macau doing my tours and teachings and usually one month per year in New York performing and recording new materials.

Right now my wish is to bring more of these projects, educations and concert to Dubrovnik.

How challenging is it to hold a concert on Lokrum?

It's always more tricky to do a show on an island but the whole crew from Lokrum island and director Mario Tevsic were a great help for making this happen, so I can say yes it is challenging but also very rewarding at the end. And I am also very fortunate to have Angela and Ksenija Matic from Event Lab, who are doing an amazing job in organizing the whole thing.

We believe that the evening will be an international multi-language affair with you singing even in Chinese?

Yes, indeed, I will be singing one song in Chinese :))) an old song from the golden Shanghai jazz age.

What message do you have for the audience ahead of the concert and performance on the 30th of August on Lokrum?

Let me take you on a journey through time and space and the depths of the human heart. And one more would be to just come and enjoy!

Second year on Trickovic on Lokrum - Photo Vedran Levi