DADDO
Oreskovich

Release Highlight

Emina - short version

This is Daddo’s instrumental arrangement of an old Bosnian traditional folk song “Emina". The arrangement showcases lead acoustic and electric guitars, a symphony orchestra background throughout the composition, and a rock band set up in the end section.

This track was released on Daddo’s album “The Other Side”. One notable difference from the album version is that this “short version” omits the orchestral intro part.

The acoustic guitar parts in the piece's first half are characterized by their gentle, melodic, and fluid nature, evoking a strong sense of emotion. Transitioning into the second section, the electric rock guitar assumes a more aggressive stance while retaining the melodic essence and emotional depth.

The video footage was captured at the historical site of the medieval old town of Sokolac and the city center of Bihać, located in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Cinematographer: Džemal Ćatić
Drone Operator: Irfan Alijagić

The video showcases the following guitars:
- customized Ibanez RGDMS8-CSM multiscale 8-string guitar featuring GraphTech guitar parts
-Agile Renaissance 8X NA EQ, an 8-string multiscale acoustic guitar.

Biography

Daddo Oreskovich was born in 1978 in the small town of Bihać, located in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the age of six, he commenced his studies in classical guitar. Throughout his formative years, Daddo demonstrated substantial musical development as a guitarist, influenced by the recordings of distinguished artists such as Gary Moore, Richie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Paul Gilbert, Richie Kotzen, and Reb Beach. He subsequently began to merge his classical training with contemporary rock guitar techniques.

Despite the adversities presented by the war in Bosnia, Daddo maintained a solid commitment to his musical aspirations. In the face of challenging living conditions and often under the dim illumination of candles, he dedicated much of his time in a basement environment to playing guitar and composing music.

Following the war's conclusion and after his high school graduation, Daddo enrolled at the Music Academy in Sarajevo, pursuing a major in Music Theory. Due to the absence of a guitar department at that time, he was engaged in piano studies. During his second year, he formed friendships with individuals from Boston, who inspired him to apply to the Berklee College of Music to focus on electric guitar. After completing a tape audition, Daddo was invited to participate in the Berklee College of Music Live Scholarship Tour in Paris. In 1999, he was awarded a scholarship from Berklee, and in January 2001, he relocated to Boston.

Throughout his studies at Berklee, Daddo received guitar mentorship from notable musicians, including Joe Stump, David Fiuczynski, Mark White, and Don Lappin. In addition to engaging in traditional coursework encompassing Harmony, Counterpoint, Arranging, and Conducting, he expanded his understanding of various musical styles prevalent in modern and popular music and music technology. His primary focus and specialization were Progressive and Neo-Classical Rock and Metal. Daddo successfully graduated in 2004, earning a degree in Guitar Performance.

Daddo possesses a distinctive musical ability characterized by his ability to create cohesive and expressive compositions reflecting his background and identity. He integrates elements and instrumentation from classical music and traditional Eastern European styles with classical and contemporary progressive sonic expressions. This synthesis engenders a unique and captivating musical style that is likely to intrigue and inspire audiences.

In 2008, Daddo's remarkable talent shone brightly when he earned the title of first runner-up in the national guitar competition, Guitar Superstar, hosted by Guitar Player magazine. Performing in a sold-out show before over 1,000 passionate guitar fans, Daddo, the only award-winning electric guitar player, captivated the judges, including legendary guitarists Joe Satriani, George Lynch, and Steve Vai. With Police guitarist Andy Summers as the host, Daddo's ascent into the elite circle of guitarists was firmly established.

Daddo also won first place in the Premier Guitar Challenge online, hosted by Broadjam and Premier Guitar magazine. Among thousands of participants, he stood out as the top guitarist in the electric guitar category with his inspiring instrumental, "The Temple." Notably, Marcus Henderson, lead guitarist for the Guitar Hero video game series, served as the artist judge, recognizing the exceptional skills, originality, and unique use of tone and musical spaces demonstrated by the contestants.

On November 12, 2009, at Avalon Theater in Hollywood, California, Daddo was celebrated as the winner of the prestigious Los Angeles Music Award in the Guitar Performance of the Year category, a testament to his dedication and excellence as an independent musician in the United States.

Daddo has been bestowed with an honorary charter by his hometown of Bihać. This prestigious accolade, known as the "February 26" charter, is conferred upon distinguished local individuals and legal entities who have demonstrated exceptional achievements and noteworthy contributions across all economic and social activity sectors, which hold significant importance for the City of Bihać.

Testimonials

"Great technique... Intonation was really good. I was impressed with all the ground you're covering, and all the different sounds you had on there. That was pretty impressive; you've pulled the two parts together; Shredding, sweep picking, everything...Nice vibrato..."
Joe Satriani

"...I like the transitions. You know, a lot of times you find the guys that can't really play sweetly soft and also, you know, have the control when they pump up the volume. Very well, very well. Good control. I like your confidence, communicating with the audience...Very cool, congratulations."
Steve Vai

"...The stuff you're doing is insane, you know. I come from the 60's and 70's, I mean, we don't play that way back then...”
George Lynch

"From Chicago by way of Bosnia, Daddo Oreskovich wins the near-capacity crowd with a fun, dynamic showcase, using foot pedals to shift from an acoustic guitar sound to electric guitar squeals and speed. There's a bit of the aggressive jazz-rock playing of early Al DiMeola, but Mr. Easton doesn't mind this look back. He says, "I loved it."
Wall Street Journal

"Although Oreskovich was the only award-winner to plug into an amp, his performance still had acoustic overtones, as he opened with a piezo-driven, faux-flat-top section that paid homage to the folk melodies of his native Bosnia. From there, he cagily interspersed beautiful overdriven melodies with shred barrages."
Guitar Player magazine

"He's been my top student for quite awhile now and also one of the strongest Rock/Metal players I've worked with during my ten year period on the Berklee guitar faculty."
Joe Stump

VIDEO