At the age of two, Bosnian-Slovenian vocalist Mirna Bogdanović had already faced more hardship than most, forced to flee her country with her parents at the hand of war. Now firmly established on the Berlin scene, she’s made a name for herself as an emotive songwriter, Downbeat award-winning vocalist and performer.
Combining instrumental music with vocals, as well as jazz with electronics and pop, her 2021 debut "Confrontation" won the Deutscher Jazzpreis for "Debut Album of The Year".
Her introspective sophomore album ‘Awake’, was released in May 2023 on Berthold Records and has just won “Album of the year” by the Deutscher Jazzpreis. Produced by celebrated London multi-instrumentalist/producer Chris Hyson (Snowpoet), it showcases a sound which is rich, varied and modern. Layers of vocal harmonies, synth textures, and effects are woven into the already-complex sound of her expanded ensemble. The album is nominated for “Album of the year” by the Deutscher Jazzpreis and was nominated for the German Record Critics’ Award 2023 (Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik), has been selected as NDR and SWR album of the week and has received numerous reviews in established magazines and plays on radio stations in Germany and abroad.
Mirna Bogdanovic Group formed in 2019, comprising of critically acclaimed musicians Povel Widestrand on piano, Peter Meyer on guitar, Phil Donkin on bass, Philip Dornbusch on drums and Mirna on voice and ukulele. Through years of performing the group has developed a unique sound and language, bringing the best out of Mirna’s compositions.
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"...Bogdanovic offers an astounding vocal range and technique, which is completely innovative and combined with her marvelous compositions offers a deeply moving sonic experience, which stands out high above the standard recorded output..." – Adam Baruch
“Mirna Bogdanović ranks with her second album Awake among the most flexible and original Slovenian vocalists at the moment in terms of performance and composition.” - Nina Novak for Sigic
“A different, curious album, which demands our attention in its complexity but lets our mind escape in its luminous passages…” – Jazz Mania about “Awake”
“Awake” is quite a statement from artist who defiantly has something to say and is not afraid to open her soul to those who dare to listen. Highly recommended. – Jazz in Europe
„Confrontation is a drug...a potent one, but one safe for frequent consumption.“ -All about jazz ****
It almost goes without saying that it is precisely this confrontational album that receives the German Jazz Prize for “Debut Album of the Year”. Because there really isn't a better debut than this, at least from a critic's perspective. – Musikreviews.de
"Not too many singers have the strength to make themselves independent from the vocal point of view in their own music. Mirna Bogdanović succeeds in squaring the circle by thinking like a pianist, guitarist, saxophonist or producer". - Wolf Kampmann