Dragi Šestić
Dragi Šestić is a Bosnian music producer, sound engineer, director of music video clips and record label owner.
In 1998 he founded the first Bosnian World Music band, Mostar Sevdah Reunion. He rediscovered almost forgotten Gypsy music legends from ex-Yugoslavia Šaban Bajramović and Ljiljana Buttler-Petrović and brought them into the spotlight of the international World Music scene.
Šestić was born in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He worked with the famous maqaam, star - Farida Ali from Iraq on her album Ishraqaat.
His work involved many of the Balkan stars, including the Queen of Gyspies Esma Redžepova, Boban Marković, Naat Veliov, Amira Medunjanin, Fulgerica, Ljubiša Stojanović Louis, and many more. His work can be found on many World Music compilations, but most of it is on his record label Snail Records, founded in 2002. He lives and works in the Netherlands.
Discography as a music producer
- Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «Mostar Sevdah Reunion»
- Mostar Sevdah Reunion presents Šaban Bajramović: «A Gypsy Legend»
- Ljiljana Buttler: «The Mother Of Gypsy Soul»
- Fulgerica and The Mahala Gipsies: «Gypsy Music From The City Of Bucharest»
- Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «A Secret Gate»
- Amira: «Rosa»
- Branko Galoić: «Above The Roofs»
- Farida: «Ishraqaat»
- Mostar Sevdah Reunion and Ljiljana Buttler: «The Legends Of Life»
- Mostar Sevdah Reunion and Šaban Bajramović: «Šaban»
- Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «Cafe Sevdah»
- Ljiljana Buttler: «Frozen Roses»
- Sarr e Roma: «Sarayland»
- Louis: «The Last King Of The Balkans»
- Klezmofobia: «Kartushnik»
- Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «Tales From A Forgotten City»
- Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «Kings Of Sevdah»
- Klapa Reful Split: «Heart Of Dalmatia»
- Mostar Sevdah Reunion presents Sreta: «The Balkan Autumn»
- Marin Jerkunica: «Badija»
- Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «Lady Sings The Balkan Blues»
- Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «Live in Sarajevo»
- Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «Bosa Mara»
- Tondini plays Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «Disko 088»
Awards
- "Davorin" Bosnian Music Awards: Special Award 2002.
- "Davorin" Bosnian Music Awards: The Best Ethno Album Of The Year 2003.
- "Davorin" Bosnian Music Awards: The Best Album Of The Year 2004.
- Songlines (magazine) - TOP OF THE WORLD - album Amira Medunjanin "Rosa"
- Songlines (magazine) - TOP OF THE WORLD - album Farida Mohammad Ali "Ishraqaat"
- Songlines (magazine) - TOP OF THE WORLD - album Saban Bajramovic and Mostar Sevdah Reunion "Saban"
- Songlines (magazine) - TOP OF THE WORLD - album Ljiljana Buttler "Frozen Roses"
- Songlines (magazine) - TOP OF THE WORLD - album Mostar Sevdah Reunion "Tales From A Forgotten City"
- "Transgloba World Music Charts" Best of Europe - album Mostar Sevdah Reunion "Lady Sings The Balkan Blues"
- Songlines (magazine) - TOP OF THE WORLD - album Mostar Sevdah Reunion "Lady Sings The Balkan Blues"
- Songlines (magazine) - Mostar Sevdah Reunion - The Best Group 2024.
Films
- Mostar Sevdah Reunion by Pjer Žalica 2000
- Sevdah the Bridge that Survived by Mira Erdevički 2005
- Šaban by Miloš Stojanović 2007
- Tales from a Forgotten City by Amir Grabus 2013
- Balkan Blues - documentary film Balkan Blues: Stories from Mostar by Lucio de Candia 2016
- Hocu kuci - Al Jazeera - Doprinos domovini 2018
- Sounds that made us – Klapa by Balázs Weyer 2023