Afion

(1) Afion is an acoustic band whose members are drawn together by their love for playing traditional songs. Although they dont like to be put in the generally accepted niches of the existing musical genres, because of the diverse styles brewed into their repertoire performed with use of traditional and classical instruments in a way that resembles traditional sounds, they can be described as a band whose musical starting point emerges from the wide and free waters of world music. The foundations of their whole musical expression are traditional Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian and Bosnian songs with individual journeys to Armenia and Kosovo. The widest range of human experiences, from sadness and longing to happiness and exhilaration is expressed through ritual songs, cheerful dances, hilarious mocking songs and love songs. The main attributes of Afion are their lack of pretentiousness and their naturalness. When they are on stage, their goal is to have fun and relax. During the period of little more than two years of active performing they had around ninety concerts in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia where they, on every occasion, have been able to make audience dance or to touch their feelings. (2) Afion is an alias behind which we find the author, macedonian electronic music composer and producer Branislav Nastoski, who entered a musical realm with classical guitar studies in his early years, and creates electronic music autonomously since 1995. which was preceded by a period in which he took part in several bands with different stylistic determination - alternative, fusion jazz... As a part of the project "Hierophant" composed music for a theatrical performance “The Balkan Orpheus”. In 2001., had an ambiental project for Macedonian national TV “The fields of dreams”. In 2003., publishes the album “Aeolian” for “Kukuzel music”, Macedonia. Also, the video clip for his "Aeolian" track "Distance doesn`t matter" was produced for presentation on the canadian music television "B:PM". His engagement in music also includes numerous works composed for a special purpose, for example, a movie which took part in the 2004. Italian MTV`s competition for short forms, the presentation of a factory complex “Fusina” in northern Italy, presentation of a solar based electrical plant in Sicilly, etc... The main characteristic of his music is the ambiental thread that binds the musical weaving of all tracks. Carefully chosen textures and instruments define the outlines and depict author`s inner world landscapes, who reveals his sensibility with sincerity and devotion through his compositions characterised by freedom and spontaneity. Formed during a longer period of time, the basic ideas evolved, freed from the limitations of strict genre definitions, being gradually enriched with elements which found their own place naturally. The arrangements posses the same quality. Eluding any form of strict defining, both by his nature and his work, the author nevertheless finds himself in the widest area of ambiental music, exploring its unlimited potentials and undiscovered beauties pervaded with mystery and spirituality.