This collaboration is for culturally rooted contemporary vocal artists working in regionally grounded languages in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly those based in Croatia, Czechia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, who have already developed a serious artistic voice and some level of local recognition. I work with artists who have recorded material and a desire to reach English-speaking without losing the integrity of their original work.
No. All songs, lyrics, and musical works remain entirely the artist’s own. I do not claim authorship, co-authorship, copyright, publishing rights, or ownership of any kind.
This work can only be undertaken where the artist holds authorship and rights to the material being adapted. Traditional repertoire, cover material, or songs written by third parties are not a fit for this collaboration
I work primarily with contemporary, hybrid, and folk-influenced genres, including acoustic, jazz, electronic, and experimental forms. The defining factor is not genre, but whether the music carries a clear artistic intention and cultural grounding.
Yes. I work only with artists who have existing recorded material (released or in preparation). The collaboration depends on listening closely to how meaning, voice, and musical phrasing already live in the artist’s work.
I work with a range of languages from Central and Eastern Europe, particularly those based in in Croatia, Czechia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. If you are unsure if your language is a good fit, you are welcome to ask
Artists need a minimum B1 (Intermediate) level of English, as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
This collaboration involves sharing nuanced ideas in written English. Machine translation tools may be used to support communication, but artists must be able to read and understand English text.
If needed, I can also support pronunciation and vocal clarity in English.
If, after reviewing your materials, I feel there may be a good fit, we begin with a single song as a test collaboration. This allows both of us to assess alignment before committing to a larger project.
Depending on complexity a single song can involve upwards of 6–8 hours of focused collaborative work shared between artist and facilitator. For the first song we use the full collaborative process. After this there is an option to work in a lighter, facilitator-led way, which requires less of the artist’s time.
AI is used as a supportive tool, not as an author or decision-maker. It helps explore possibilities quickly, but all interpretive, aesthetic, and artistic decisions remain human and collaborative.
This work is offered free of charge. This allows me to remain selective and to work only on projects that feel ethically and artistically aligned. Artists should still expect to invest time, attention, and care in the process.
Either of us may decide to stop the collaboration at any point. Ending a project respectfully is always preferable to continuing without alignment.
I help artists create communication tools, such as lyric texts, annotations, song introductions for live performances, translations, and written materials, that support their music’s public life.
I do not manage streaming accounts, submissions, or administrative tasks. Those remain the artist’s responsibility.
I welcome a wide range of artistic expression, including difficult or painful themes. However, I do not participate in projects that directly incite violence, hatred, or harm toward individuals or groups.
Please send links to your music, a short artistic biography or CV, current performance or release plans, and a few sentences about what you hope to achieve in reaching English-speaking audiences to: contact@istaracollab.org