Croatian musician Mladen Burnać reflects on career, personal tragedy

Croatian musician Mladen Burnać, a fixture on the music scene for decades, recently made a public appearance, drawing attention with his current appearance of long hair and a beard. This look marks a significant departure from the image he cultivated when he first rose to prominence in the Croatian music industry.

Burnać, known for his work with the punk band Brze banane in the late 1980s, has spoken about a pivotal tragedy that altered his life and career path. In 1989, a car accident claimed the lives of his brother, Ante (also known as Zdravko), who served as the band's manager and lyricist, and a friend named Mišo. Burnać was the sole survivor of the crash.

Following his recovery, Burnać released an album titled 'Brze banane' in memory of his late brother and friend. He also released the single 'Oglasi,' featuring early career collaborations with notable artists like Severina and Ivana Banfić. Burnać recalled Severina's dedication to the project, even donning a blonde wig for the music video.

Beyond his musical endeavors, Burnać, who once considered studying fine arts, maintains drawing as a hobby. He has also been noted as a pioneer among Croatian artists for recording a duet with a Chinese singer and for producing a documentary about the creation of one of his albums. His recent musical output includes three new singles released simultaneously with accompanying music videos, though Burnać himself does not appear in these visual works.