Toni Starešinić, keyboards
Vojkan Jocic, saxophone
Ivan Levačić, drums
Konrad Lovrenčić, bass guitar
Mihael Gyorek, baritone-saxophone
Luka Žužić, trombone
Borna Šercar, percussion

At this performance, the Zagreb band Chui presents their new album “Prošireni svemir – Live @ Peti kupe”, their first release with a concert recording. In addition to the current line-up of the band, they will be joined on stage by saxophonist Mihael Gyorek, trombonist Luka Žužić and percussionist Borna Šercar. On this occasion, they are also presenting a special triple CD edition, which, in addition to the new live album, also includes the albums “Do zvijezda” and “Zagreb – Berlin” on CD for the first time, thus uniting one creative period of the band.

For more than a decade, the band Chui has been one of the most original and vital phenomena on the Croatian music scene. Their expression, shaped by a combination of jazz, rock, soul, electronics and contemporary dance music, is characterized by openness, curiosity and a willingness to explore music. It is precisely this unique combination of styles that has enabled Chui to successfully approach a very diverse audience – jazz lovers, fans of the progressive and alternative scene, as well as listeners who do not belong to any clearly defined musical group. Their music is at the same time ambient and explosive, both gentle and rhythmically strong, and the performances are shaped through continuous mutual communication between the band members, improvisation and emphasized collective energy.

Their compositions develop gradually, from intimate, almost meditative beginnings, layering electronic structures, to powerful euphoric outbursts of extraordinary intensity. Such a dramaturgy of performance creates a sense of musical journey, and allows the audience to fully immerse themselves in their soundscapes. Repetitive motifs, electronic samples and a rich sound palette create a cinematic, almost visual character of their music, which gradually releases tension and leads the listener into a carefree and weightless state.

A large part of Chui's identity stems from the creative vision of keyboardist Toni Starešinić, whose imagination is shaped by a wide range of influences – from progressive rock, psychedelic jazz-rock, 1970s funk and roots blues, to folk-jazz, avant-garde gospel, ECM aesthetics and free-jazz. These influences do not appear in their music as quotes, but as a natural reflection of Starešinić's musical experience, from where they emerge in the form of colors, rhythms or textures. Chui thus develops its own musical language that stands out for its originality while at the same time remaining in touch with the traditions from which contemporary improv-jazz and experimental music emerged.

A significant part of their work also relates to interdisciplinary projects. At Starešinić's encouragement, the band composed and performed live music accompanied by a silent documentary film screening. Berlin: Die Sinfonie der Großstadt Walter Ruttmann from 1927. With their music they managed to connect the centuries-old cultural milieu of film with the modernist and futuristic sensibilities of today, creating a bridge between two artistic eras. Their music for the theatre, for example in the play Hairy Hairy Mouth of the Lithuanian Psilicone Theatre, confirms the same ability: adapting to different artistic contexts while preserving a recognizable style.

The visual dimension of the band is embodied in the character of Chui – a stylized alien, the artwork of Toni Starešinić. Chui is conceived as a being who lives his dream on Earth, and his personality is intentionally ambiguous: on the one hand, a contemporary, urban and technologically curious character, and on the other, a “retro” character who knows and respects tradition. This character has become a symbol of their musical poetics: openness, imagination, technological curiosity and constant pushing of boundaries. The aesthetics of the band Chui combine futuristic impulses and nostalgic references, urban sounds and poetic overtones.

Their studio albums bear witness to the constant evolution of their sound. Third Sun from the Stone was declared the best Croatian album of 2015, while the collaboration with the HRT Jazz Orchestra on the album Chui this music resulted in their first Porins. Double album Zagreb - Berlin brought them a series of awards and critical acclaim, and the album To the stars further established their status, especially thanks to the song "Svemir ima novi pozivni", the official theme song of the first Croatian satellite CroCube, which is also physically stored in its memory modules and travels around the planet. The single "Tebi putujem", created in collaboration with Josip Lisac, emphasized their ability to connect with different musical circles.

The band Chui has been active since 2012, and has had a number of musicians pass through it over time, creating a rich and diverse performance history. The only permanent member since its founding has been keyboardist and composer Toni Starešinić, while the current lineup consists of saxophonist Vojkan Jocić, drummer Ivan Levačić, and bassist Konrad Lovrenčić.

Chui has been active on regional and European stages since the beginning and has performed at festivals such as Dimensions, INmusic, Zagreb Vip Jazz Festival, Liburnia Jazz Festival, ZEZ ciklus, Žedno uho, JazzTime Rijeka, MENT, Eurosonic Noorderslag, BUSH festival and Free Music Festival. At these festivals, he shared the stage with prominent international musicians, including Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood, Etienne Mbappé & Su La Take, DKV Trio, Hamid Drake, Ken Vandermark & ​​Kent Kessler, Volcano with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Giovanni Hidalgo, Jose Gola & Horacio Hernandez and Tarana. They also performed as Croatian representatives at the Kaunas Biennial, the largest Baltic biennial.

The band's discography includes the albums Chui, Second Arrival, Third Sun from the Stone, Chui ovu muzika (in collaboration with the Croatian Radio and Television Jazz Orchestra), Iz kapetanovog dnevnika, Zagreb – Berlin and Do zvijezda. Album Third Sun from the Stone was declared the best Croatian album of 2015, and their collaboration with the HRT Jazz Orchestra brought them their first Porin award. Double album Zagreb - Berlin won a number of awards, while the album To the stars further strengthened their status, especially thanks to the song "Svemir ima novi pozivni", the official theme of the first Croatian satellite CroCube, which was also stored in its memory during the mission into orbit. The collaboration with Josip Lisac on the single "Tebi putujem" attracted widespread public attention. For the album To the stars Chui won four Porin awards in 2025, including the awards for best instrumental album and best album recording, and was named Jazz&Off Artist of the Year.

Over more than a decade of activity, Chui remains one of the most active and recognizable Croatian bands, with continuous concert activity and a strong presence on the regional music scene.

Davor Hrvoj