Popovic Puts Passion Into Playing Music

Back in action with a new album and her first child, singer-guitarist Ana Popovic can’t stand still. The soft-spoken Amsterdam resident is reeling with excitement from the recent birth of her son, Luuk, and she’s anticipating performing her new songs from her latest compact disc, “Still Making History,” for those attending the Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Festival this weekend. Set to take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Harry E. Kelley Park, Popovic is almost shy during interviews, yet she takes on an assertive bandleader persona while bending the strings of her Fender Stratocaster while in concert.

“I like the feeling blues music has in it,” said Popovic during a recent telephone interview. “And I like that blues music is recognizable. People should really let their own things come out and not copy others or worry about what others will say. Play what you feel. Put passion into it.”

Even pregnancy and a temporary lack of touring hasn’t slowed down Popovic, who was born in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, in 1976. “Still Making History” managed an impressive stay on the Billboard album chart.

“It’s great the CD was on the Billboard chart for 14 weeks and I wasn’t even playing live,” said Popovic. “I was pregnant and home then, and people were still getting my music.”

Popovic called the new tracks the most personal of her career, with a healthy mix of love songs, political numbers and other tracks that cover multiple topics.

“Some of it talks about the things that happened in Serbia while I lived there, and it’s a different political situation in Serbia now,” she said. “That country really still doesn’t succeed in becoming a democratic country. I really hate to see that.”

The political and visual landscapes of third-world countries often weigh on Popovic’s mind and heart.

“I’m really shocked at the way people live; they really can’t change their everyday life because of their regime and where they are born,” Popovic said. “So many people are suppressed by their regime, and a lot of careers and lives are ruined by that. People struggle instead of getting to their dream. I hope there’s a day when people can work and have a chance.”

Popovic herself has struggled over the years. Many of her peers and fans would tell the then-budding guitarist to forget about touring outside of Serbia’s borders.

“People would say, ‘Don’t play outside of Serbia because they have such great musicians there,’ and that would only make me work harder,” she said with a laugh. “People said the same thing about musicians coming to the United States, but everything is possible. That is what I believe.”

Popovic also believes in her new disc. Although a few of her guitar solos were trimmed a bit in the editing room for the CD, the live renditions will stretch here and there.

“I enjoy the studio very much, but when I play live, I really enjoy the energy and the band,” Popovic said. “I’m very inspired by Cream, Jimi Hendrix and a lot of fusion, blues and rock, and I like to use all of that live.”

During her set at last year’s Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Festival, Popovic impressed many area musicians with the tight, wide sound of her trio.

“Oh, I can always be better on guitar,” she said. “I started playing guitar when I was 15 and I didn’t really have a plan to become a musician.

“So if you start to get full of yourself as a working musician, you will get a lot of disappointment,” Popovic added.

Keeping Popovic grounded are her family, friends and band members.

“Music is really beautiful when it’s at a high level,” she said. “It’s when you can enjoy good stages, good bands and good sound systems that music is at its best.”