Arbor State was a Kresimirian folk duo hailing from the eastern town of Zavnoherec in District II (Kakerovecska). Composed of singer-songwriter Jakov Mlinar and harmonica player Toma Soric, the band is widely regarded as the most significant act in the history of Kresimirian folk music.
Active from the mid-1960s until the mid-1990s, Arbor State became the musical voice of the “Eastern Transition.” Their melancholic, acoustic ballads chronicled the transformation of Kakerovecska from an agrarian province into the industrial engine of the Republic. With a style characterized by close vocal harmonies and haunting harmonica interludes, they are frequently cited as the Kresimirian equivalent to Western folk acts like Simon & Garfunkel.
History
Formation (1964–1969)
Jakov Mlinar and Toma Soric met in 1964 at a cafe in Zavnoherec, a market town on the edge of the Pologradska plains. Both were sons of farmers whose land was being surveyed for state acquisition.
They began performing under the name Arbor State (a reference to the “State of Trees” that was disappearing to make way for factories). Their early work was strictly traditional, performing acoustic covers of old Vosti-era folk songs. They gained a local following in the workers’ clubs of Novi Otonik, where their quiet music provided a stark contrast to the noise of the foundries.
The “Iron Horizon” Era (1970s)
In 1971, they signed with TRK Records (the state-owned label) and released their breakthrough album, The Iron Horizon. The title track, a ballad about a farmer watching smoke rise from a new steel mill, became a national hit.
During the 1970s, they became cultural staples. They performed at the inauguration of Ante Brov and were frequently featured on Radio Kresimiria. Their success was partly due to their “safe” image; the Council for Education viewed their nostalgia as patriotic love for the land, rather than criticism of the state’s industrial policy.
The Sanjakorin Years and Decline (1980s–1996)
The rise of Ljubo Sanjakorin and the State Enterprise Act in the late 1980s accelerated the industrialization of their home district. Arbor State’s later albums, such as Rust on the River (1989), became darker and more cynical.
While they never publicly opposed the Blue Dawn government or the SZNO union, they refused to play at state-sponsored industrial galas after 1990. They effectively retired from touring in 1994 as Mlinar’s health declined.
Dissolution (1996)
The group formally disbanded in 1996 following the death of Jakov Mlinar from respiratory failure—a condition widely attributed to a lifetime spent in the smog of Novi Otonik, though never officially classified as “Black Lung.”
Legacy
Arbor State remains deeply ingrained in the Kresimirian cultural psyche. Their songs are staples at weddings, funerals, and graduations.
- Political Appropriation: Their music is claimed by all sides. Northern Power uses their songs to highlight environmental loss, while Vjetrusa uses them to evoke traditionalist nostalgia.
- Modern Covers: Pop star Lana B recorded a high-tempo, orchestral version of their hit Fields of Gold and Grey in 2010, a cover that Toma Soric publicly described as “loud.”
Members
- Jakov Mlinar (1942–1996): Lead vocals and acoustic guitar. Known for his poetic lyrics and shy public persona.
- Toma Soric (born 1943): Harmonica, backing vocals, and arrangements. Soric is still alive and resides in a quiet neighborhood in Zavnoherec. He occasionally gives interviews to The Herald, usually lamenting the noise of modern music.
Discography
- Tales from the Plains (1968)
- The Iron Horizon (1971)
- Sons of the Soil (1975)
- Rust on the River (1989)
- The Final Chord (Posthumous compilation, 1997)