D mol: 10 facts about Montenegro’s Eurovision 2019 group

D mol will represent Montenegro at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv with their song “Heaven”. It’s a harmony-driven track which developed a strong ethnic flavour following a revamp.

Montenegrin broadcaster RTCG chose D mol through its five-song Montevizija selection process. The group won with 62.1% of the televotes in the super final. The network hopes the band can bring the country back to the grand final for the first time since 2015.

As a group, D mol is only in its infancy and much about the band remains unknown. So, it’s a perfect excuse for us to dig deep and present to you 10 facts about Montenegro’s D Mol. Let’s do this!

1. D mol are…

Formed in October 2018, D Mol is made up of six members — three women and three men. They are Tamara Vujacic (16, Podgorica), Rizo Feratovic (21, Gusinje).  Mirela Ljumic (17, Podgorica),  Zeljko Vukcevic (18, Podgorica), Ivana Obradović (18, Bijelo Polje) and Emel Franca (18, Prijepolje).

2. No Name’s Danijel Alibabić will mentor the group

Danijel Alibabić participated in Eurovision 2005 for Serbia & Montenegro with the band No Name. Singing “Zauvijek moja” (Forever mine), they finished seventh in the final with 137 points. They participated in the national final again in 2006. However, after a dispute between the juries from Montenegro and Serbia, the broadcaster withdrew from the contest. After Eurovision, the band recorded more music, including a duet with Bojan Atanasovska. No Name split in 2008. Now a free-agent, Danijel will travel with D mol to Tel Aviv and act as their mentor, guiding them through the Eurovision experience.

3. The band was formed at Danijel’s private music school

Danijel Alibabić founded the D-Moll Singing School in October 2016. The school is located in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica and has around 40 to 50 students. The student body consists mostly of children and teens. They receive lessons in all type of singing styles, along with media, camera and technical training. All six members of D mol attended the school.

4. The name D mol comes from…

The school’s name is written D-Moll. In an interview dating back to 2016, Danijel explains: “people think the name of the school comes from the song “D Moll” of Serbian singer Djordje Balasevic. But it’s not the case”. It actually comes from D minor, off the musical scale. After winning Montevizija, the group dropped one “L” and became D mol.

5. They shot their music video in locations throughout Montenegro

The video clip for “Heaven” was shot in different locations througout Montenegro: the city of Podgorica, the town of  Stari Bar and Ulcinj Long Beach. To coincide with its release, the Montenegrin broadcaster RTCG published a “making of” video. The children in white are actually all pupils from Danijel’s singing school. Vili Ferdinandi, a famous Montenegrin violinist, also guests in the video.

6. They recorded the song in Montenegrin first

The group has stated in interviews that “Heaven” was originally sung completely in Montenegrin. Band member Zeljko Vukcevic said that the song was first recorded in their native tongue. Before Montevizija 2019, it was decided to also make an English version. “There is a Montenegrin version, but when we heard it, we knew that this music genre is better done in English”.

7. They’re used to performing for big crowds

Despite forming mere months ago, D mol have already performed their first big gig. They performed “Heaven” in the Morača Sports Center in Podgorica, providing the in-match entertainment during a basketball game.

8. Tamara Vujacic is both the youngest and most experienced member

Aged just 16, Tamara is the youngest of the six. But despite her young age, she is the most experienced group member. She explains in a recent interview: “I’ve been on many children’s festivals and won many awards, so I can say that I’m in a mild advantage over them because my scene is well known, as well as cameras and recordings”. She competed on the Serbian TV talent show Pinkove Zvezde, a format which has produced numerous Balkan Junior Eurovision stars through the years. You can hear Tamara at the Golden Snowflake Festival 2014 below.

9. They plan to stay together after Eurovision

There are always question marks over groups formed especially for Eurovision — will they stick together afterwards? However, D mol have already expressed their intention to continue after the contest. Franca Emel said in an interview that we can expect more songs from them: “We will never give up on music. Music has merged us, we feel it with all our heart and soul, and we live for a moment to bring our emotions and happiness to the audience through our live performances”. Ivana Obradovic agrees, “We want to start with performances, because we believe in love at first glance with the audience In us, as you see, there is a great desire for this team to play as a band and believe in our project. We will work on ourselves, to be as good and secure as I am in the reaction of people when our group is concerned”.

10. All of D-Moll supports D mol

The members are quite young and new to the concept of being in a group together. However, their singing school will provide them with the professional support at every stage of their journey. Not only will Danijel Alibabic be a mentor and director, school professors Snezana Cosovic and Milos Vojinovic will also lend them their expertise.

What do you think of Montenegro’s Eurovision 2019 chances? Are you expecting big things of D mol? Let us know in the comments below.

Read more Eurovision 2019 artist facts here.