Branko Galoic was born in Zagreb, Croatia, then Yugoslavia, and grew up in the small town of Ivanić-Grad. He spent 11 years in Amsterdam, 3 years in Berlin and 11 years in Vitry sur seine near Paris where he lives at the moment.
Two events changed young Branko’s life forever: « When I was 17, I discovered the guitar, and it became a major passion – or worse, an obsession. And when I was 18, the war broke out. »
Branko is an autodidact, self-taught musician. He played in several local cover bands until the year 2000, playing mainly rock covers, Balkan and gypsy songs.
Faced with limited perspectives, Branko decided to leave his country at the age of 26. « I sold my amp, bought a one-way ticket and showed up in Amsterdam with my guitar, and 50 German marks in my pocket. I didn’t even know where I was going to sleep »
He started in Amsterdam from nothing, busking in the streets for a year and working all kinds of jobs to get by.
In the meantime, he started writing, in both Croatian and English. His compositions caught the eye of Bosnian producer Dragi Sestić, whose label Snail Records has recorded such legendary musicians from the former Yugoslavia as Saban Bajramović, Liliana Buttler and Mostar Sevdah Reunion.
Branko’s first album, „Above the Roofs“, was released by Snail Records in 2005. It is a collection of acoustic tunes that are often poignant, inspired by the Bosnian blues or « Sevdah » from his mother’s native region. This album was well received by several European music critics.
For a couple of years Branko also played the guitar in the Amsterdam based band The Hotel and played with them many concerts on festivals and clubs in Holland.Also he played guitar on two albums.
In 2010, he released the album « Skakavac » (Grasshopper), using the Balkan brass band sound for the first time, with special guests Merima Ključo on accordion and Vlatko Stefanovski on guitar. In Holland he formed the Skakavac Orkestar (tuba, trumpet, trombone and drums) and toured the festival circuit.
His third album « Angel Song » (Silvox/Galileo MC) was released in 2015, blending brass sound with wild guitar solos and irony as well as deep emotion. This album got many positive reviews around Europe, including number 15 on World Music Charts Europe and a nomination for the „Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik“ in Germany.
After 11 years in Amsterdam Branko moved again and this time to Berlin where he lived for 3 years and recorded the album „Super Cug“ with renowned German-Serbian mouth harmonica virtuoso Marko Jovanović. In Berlin he also played and recorded an album with Dury De Bagh, a singer and guitarist from Iraq.
In 2014 Branko moved to Paris and recorded more albums:
„Carnet de Voyages“ is a collection of compositions for movies and documentaries, released by the French publisher Superpitch. « One with the Wind » is a duo project recorded with Portuguese guitar virtuoso Francisco Cordovil.
„Ples Slobode“ (Dance de la Liberte/Freedom Dance) is Branko Galoic’s 8th album.With an international group of musicians coming from Portugal, Iran, France, Serbia, Bosnia and Holland, he further develops his own typical sound, rooted in the Eastern European and Balkan traditions and mixed with all kind of different styles.
After that he recorded 3 albums,2 EPs and 16 singles.
All togehter 13 albums.
Branko’s music is featured in many international TV Series,programs and movies.