Marko Tomasović (composer)


Marko Tomasović is a Croatian composer and songwriter. He was born in Zagreb, Croatia, where he has been living all of his life. So far he composed more than 300 songs for some of the best Croatian singers, such as Zdenka Kovačiček, Tereza Kesovija, Oliver Dragojević, Emilija Kokić, Jasna Zlokić, Tomislav Bralić, Danijela Martinović, Alen Vitasović, Emina Arapović, Ibrica Jusić, Lidija Bačić, Maja Šuput, Alen Nižetić, Marina Tomašević...
He discovered many young talents and wrote three Band-aid songs.
His work has covered various genres.
Marko is full member of Croatian Composers' Society, and according to them he was listed as one of the 10 most performed authors in Croatia in 2004.

Musical career and personal life

Early life and career

He grew up listening to his idols Roxette, Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, Scorpions and Cher. Critics say that even today you can hear their influence in Marko's songs, while he cherishes power pop-rock style.
In 1994 Ladislav Račić first gave him a chance to teach music on Rock Academia in Zagreb. Two years later he had additional training with Professor Vanja Lisak.
Lisak recommended Marko to his colleague Zdenka Kovačiček and shortly after that they initiate collaboration.
He worked on three Zdenka's CDs, on about 40 songs. Together they won Zagrebfest in 2000 and his favourite award to Zdenka's interpretation on Zadarfest 2001 for song "Možda ni ne osjećam kraj".
Audience best attached with song "Žena za sva vremena" and it became hymn of all women.
Marko points out song "To nisam bila ja" which reminds him the most of his musical idols.
For vocal performance for the album "Ja živim svoj san" on which all music is written by Marko, with production and arrangements of Duško Mandić, Zdenka wins the highest Croatian award - PORIN for the best singer in Croatia in 2001.
Another key figure in Marko's career was an entertainment manager Boris Šuput. He discovered a talent for writing commercial songs in Marko. 6 years old collaboration resulted with hits "Uzmi me", "Hello", "Baby", "Ljubila sam kao mala", "Jedna noć" and others, all performed by Šuput's daughter Maja and group called Enjoy. Šuput sent young and anonymous Marko to many singers from Croatian and Slovenian music scene.
First major opportunity was given by Marina Tomašević with the song "Ja sam tvoja žena" on Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1999. Later, whole Marina's album was named after that successful song.
With the help of Vladimir Mihaljek - Miha, on Croatian Radio Festival in 2001, he was present with 13 different songs. That experience earned him a nomination for Guinness.

Working with...

…Jasna Zlokić – composer and executive producer on 3 her albums; including songs "Zime, ljeta, jeseni", "Putevima vjetra", "Soba 210" and others.
…Ibrica Jusić – songs for Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest
…Ivana Radovniković – Dora 2007, songs "Samo probaj", which is loved by teenagers, and "Cafe".
…Claudia Beni – he discovered her talent as she was 14 years old on her live-performance with group "Teens"; Marko wrote her first songs and with song "Tako hrabar da me ostaviš" she won Debut Award in 2001. Two years after she wins Dora with song "Više nisam tvoja" by Andrej Babić
…Vanda Winter – they met in 1998 in Rock Academia, while Vanda was only 14 years old; Marko connected her with Marina Tomašević, and soon she was rising star. Marko wrote song "Ni srcu ne dam te ja" and "Nema te"
…Emilija Kokić – they started to work together in 2002. Since then, they wrote many broadcast songs, not just for Emilija, but also for other performers. After Emilija's show on 50th anniversary of Eurosong contest in Copenhagen, Marko's and Emilija's songs appeared on top-lists all over the world: in Netherlands, Sweden, German, Denmark, Italia, England, Scotland, Greece… Emilija's single "I'll never fall in love again" was number 1 on Aruba's Top 20 in November 2006 for three weeks, ahead of Shakira and Marc Anthony. Later, that news was announced on all major web portals with worldwide music charts.
…Angels - they had success as debut performance on Dora with song "Party djevojka", group members were only 16
…Emina Arapović – in 2007 they started working together with song "Vučica" ; song gained success and got Emina a contract with Austrian label "Room 66"; They released album "Cura od akcije" on which Marko composed 8 songs
…Lidija Bačić – at the end of 2008 Marko starts working with Lidija, whom he met in 2001 on Dora; after she was runner-up for Croatian Idol, Lidija became triple winner on Zagrebfest in 2008; together they received more than 17 awards on all kinds of festivals in Croatia and abroad
He worked with some foreign singers like Simona Weiss and Maja Tatić. Encouraged by successes, Marko has given his chance to many young artists. That way, Jelena Stipković, Vedrana Vukojević, Tanja Marić and Ana Vargek achieved performances on prominent Croatian festivals with Marko's compositions.

Band-aid

While he was serving civil service in Home for children in Zagreb, he dedicated to do humanitarian activities. He wrote songs "Još ima dobrih ljudi" and "Samo se srcem dobro vidi" on which participated all Croatian singers: ENI, Vanna, Tony Cetinski, Vesna Pisarović, Aki Rahimovski, Mladen Bodalec, Massimo, Gabi Novak, Tereza Kesovija, Kićo Slabinac, Jacques Houdek, Ivana Kindl, Tina i Nikša, Ivana Brkić, Ivana Banfić, Vladimir Kočiš-Zec, etc...

Nowadays

For his achievements he always referrers to contribution of his arrangers and lyricists. He also mentions and big part of other associates: sound technicians, back up vocals and other musicians.
He works the most with Duško Mandić, Aleksandar Valenčić, Željko Pavičić and Robert Pilepić. Especially is proud that most of his "guitar work" has been done by Croatian rock musicians Vedran Božić and Damir Lipošek-Kex.

Personal life

Marko finished elementary school and music school in Zagreb, and enrolled in XV. Gymnasium in Zagreb, known as . During his high school, he had had a band and he was captain of school's basketball team.
He skipped one class so he graduated at the top of his class at the young age of 16.
First, he studied Chemistry on , but after two years, his love for Croatian and literature was stronger. Eventually he finished Croatology on .
His father, Mirko, who is member of Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, influenced Marko's profession. Later, Marko was a Croatian teacher in few Zagreb schools.

Awards

To Marko

2000 Grand Prix :hr:Zagrebfest|Zagrebfest
2006 Grand Prix :hr:Zagrebfest|Zagrebfest
2009 Grand Prix :hr:Zagrebfest|Zagrebfest

To Marko's songs

1999 Zadarfest 1st Debut Award
2000 Zadarfest 1st Debut Award
2000 Zagrebfest 1st Audience Award
2000 WSF 1st Award
2001 Zl.ž.Slavonije Požega 1st Award
2001 Splitski festival 1st Debut Award
2001 Zadarfest Best Interpretation Award
2002 Banja Luka 1st Audience Award
2002 Knin 1st Prize of Jury
2002 Knin 1st Prize of Radio Stations
2002 Knin 2nd Audience Award
2002 Marco Polo fest, Korčula 3rd Audience Award
2002 Zl.ž.Slavonije, Požega 3rd Award
2002 Zl.ž.Slavonije, Požega 2nd Award
2002 Spring hit song, Zadar 1st Prize of Radio Stations
2002 Summer hit song, Čakovec 1st Award
2002 Banja Luka, 2nd Prize of Jury
2002 Splitski festival 1st Stage Performance Award
2002 Porin for the best Croatian singer of the year 2001 for Zdenka Kovačiček
2003 Knin 1st Prize of Jury
2003 HRvatski radijski festival za mlade "Oni dolaze" 1st Award
2003 Melodije Mostara Best Interpretation Award
2003 Krapina, Krijesnica 2nd Prize of Radio Stations
2004 Mef Čakovec 1st Prize of Jury
2004 Knin 1st Prize of Jury
2004 Požega 2nd Award
2004 Knin, 3rd Prize of Jury
2004 Zl.ž.Slavonije,Požega 3rd Award
2005 Melodije Istre i Kvarnera Best Interpretation Award
2006 Zl.ž.Slavonije,Požega 3rd Award
2006 Zagrebfest 1st Prize of Jury
2007 Pjesmom do srca 3rd Prize of Radio Stations
2008 ZadarTeenfest 1st Award
2008 Croatian Radio Festival 1st Prize of Radio Stations -
2008 Zagrebfest 1st Prize of Jury
2008 Zagrebfest 1st Audience Award
2008 Zagrebfest 1st Prize for the best Composition
2009 Melodije Mostara 1st Debut Award
2009 Melodije Istre i Kvarnera, 1st Debut Award
2009 Melod. Istre i Kvar. Best Interpretation Award
2009 Sunčane skale 2nd Prize of Jury
2009 Darfest, 2nd Prize of Jury
2009 Pjesmom do srca 3rd Prize of Jury
2009 Zagrebfest Best Interpretation Award
2009 Zagrebfest 3rd Prize of Jury
2009 MEF 1st Prize of Jury
2009 MEF Best Interpretation Award
2010 Uskrsfest 1st Performance Award
2010 Uskrsfest 2nd Prize of Jury
2010 Melodije Mostara 3rd Prize of Jury
2010 Darfest Best Interpretation Award
2010 Darfest 1st Award for the most Emotional Performance
2010 Mediafest 1st Debut Award
2010 Opuzen 1st Award
2010 Zadarfest 1st Prize of Jury
2011 Melodije Mostara Best Interpretation Award
2011 Darfest 1st Award
2011 Darfest 1st Audience Award
2011 Darfest Best Interpretation Award
2011 Melodije Istre i Kvarnera- Umag 1st Award
2011 Melodije Istre i Kvarnera- Pag 3rd Award
2011 Melodije Istre i Kvarnera- Gračišće 2nd Award
2011 Melodije Istre i Kvarnera- 1st Prize Listeners' Choice
2011 Mel. Istre i Kvar- Award Croatian Radio Rijeka for 100 weeks on top-list
2011 Melodije Istre i Kvarnera- Best Interpretation Award
2011 Splitski festival Best Interpretation Award
2012. Darfest Best Interpretation Award
2012. Festival Dalmatinske šansone Šibenik Best Interpretation Award
2013. Darfest Grand Prix
2013. Darfest 2nd Prize of Jury
2013. Darfest 1st Audience Award
2013. Zlatna ruža 1st Prize of Jury
2013. MEF 1st Prize for the best Composition
2013. MEF 1st Prize of Radio Stations
2013. Zlatne Note 1st Prize of Jury
2013. Zlatne Note 3rd Prize of Jury
2013. Zlatne Note 1st Prize for the best Composition
2014. Darfest Best Interpretation Award
2014. Darfest 1st Audience Award
2014. Marco Polo Fest 1st Prize of Radio Stations
2014. Zlatna ruža Best Interpretation Award
2014. MEF Best Interpretation Award
2014. MEF 1st Debut Award
2014. MEF 1st Stage Performance Award
2014. Zlatne Note Best Interpretation Award
2014. Zlatne Note Best Interpretation Award