Interview with HAUSER: The Croatian rebel with a cello

HAUSER (Photo credit: Nikes Soos)

Croatian cello star HAUSER achieved rockstar fame as founding member of the duo 2CELLOS and now he is out on his own.

The success of HAUSER himself extends far beyond his many, many millions of social media followers with a devoted, international fan base that continues to grow. With more than a billion audio streams across the globe and more than 4 billion views, the Croatian cellist is a phenomenon that is one part virtuoso and the other, that of sheer, animal magnetism. 

Ahead of the release of his new single today, the “Phantom of the Opera” theme song, we caught up the rockstar with a cello.

What is your favourite place you have toured?

I have toured so many places around the world it is truly hard to pick a favorite. Everywhere I go, I enjoy listening to people’s stories, discovering their culture and their language, and tasting the different foods they have to offer. This is why I call the world my home, because I always feel at home no matter where I am in the world. 

What is your favourite place/venue you have performed in?

I have performed in many different and amazing venues during my career and it is so hard to pick a favorite! A couple notable venues I have had the honor of performing in would be the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Sydney Opera House, and New York’s Madison Square Garden. 

(Photo credit: Nikes Soos)

A lot of people from Croatian communities come out when you tour – where were some memorable concerts when Croatians outside of Croatia?

Croatians have been to many concerts all over the world! The most recent turn out of my Croatian community was during my first solo concerts as the “Rebel With a Cello” in Prague and Budapest. It is always a pleasure meeting my fans and getting to know how much they enjoy the music and the concert. After all, the show, the performance, and the music, it is all for my fans!

Your latest album has a lot of Latin-inspired tracks, what can fans expect in the future?

The cello is such a versatile instrument that fans can really expect anything and everything from me and my cello. I have always wanted to show the true power of the cello by playing all genres of music with the cello. “The Player,” my most recent album, was just one example of what the cello can do, and fans can expect more breathtaking performances in the years to come. 

What can fans expect on your 2023 tour?

Fans can expect the unexpected! I want my shows to be a rollercoaster of emotions that will be felt throughout the show. I will take my fans on a journey through the world of music, crossing genres from classical music all the way to latin music. The only way for fans to truly prepare for the experience is to listen to all my albums and prepare for the unexpected. 

(Photo credit: Norbert Baksa)

What is your favourite song to perform? What Croatian song is your favourite to perform?

I truly love performing all types of music, from classical, to pop, to latin, and this is one thing that is so special about coming to my shows. I will show my audience my favorites from all genres! As for music from my beloved home country, I know thousands of Croatian songs! When I start playing my favorite Croatian songs, it becomes a non-stop medley of thousands of songs and I enjoy that so much.

What music do you like to listen to in your spare time?

I love all types of music! From an early age, I listened to a lot of classical music from various classical composers and this was actually what I listened to the most. But through my development, I began listening to a wide variety of music and I have influences from many different types of artists like Elvis Presely, Elton John, Michael Jackson, and many more. So my playlist is really a mix of everything! 

What is your favourite item you own?

My cellos, of course!!!

What are your plans/goals with your solo career?

I want to take the cello to a whole new level and break all the preconceived boundaries and limitations that surround the cello. I want to make one of the greatest shows of all time through the power of instrumental music and create a party at each one of my concerts. 

My goal is to show my audiences a little bit of everything, from classical music, to pop, to latin, and more. I want my fans to come to my shows and experience something new and exciting that they did not know about before, whether it is a new song they had not heard or an emotion that they haven’t felt in years. This can be achieved through the power of the cello.

(Photo credit: Roger Rich)

How important is your family in your career?

My family is everything. Without the support of my family, without my mom’s undeniable passion for the cello, my career would not exist! It is because of my family that I am here today and I am grateful for everything that they have done for me (and are still doing for me).

Where is your favourite place in Croatia to relax and enjoy?

Rakalj, a village where I grew up. I love revisiting the places I used to frequent as a small child. It brings back so many memories and it is where I go to reconnect to my roots. 

What do you miss the most (apart from family) about Croatia when you are on the road touring?

The Croatian nature and the sea. I have mentioned before that I love to go on long walks and contemplate. I do this even when I am on the road, but nothing can replace those long nature walks that I love to take when I am home in Croatia. As they say, there is no place like home!

(Photo credit: Olaf Heine)

Tell us about the HAUSER Music Foundation, why you started it and what are some of the initiatives?

I started the HAUSER Music Foundation because I want to develop and support real live musicians and artists around the world. The main goal of the Foundation is to help artists overcome barriers in their field in order to help them reach their full potential. 

The Foundation achieves this by establishing educational programs, offering assistance to underprivileged communities, and creating lifetime partnerships within communities to serve the people who need help the most. The goal is to continue the legacy of real music around the world. 

Also, what about the new line of luxury wine? How did that come about?

Wine has always been something that has interested me, from the growing of the grapes to the production of the final product. HAUSER wine came about with a partnership with MAD Wine from the Grand Cru sites in one of the world’s most renowned wine regions of the world. 

I wanted to continue that feeling of quality and luxury that one gets when listening to the cello. That is why I created HAUSER wine. Now everyone can enjoy the taste of the highest quality wine along with the sound of HAUSER’s music. 

Later this year HAUSER will embark on his ‘Rebel With a Cello’ tour. 

HAUSER – REBEL WITH A CELLO TOUR DATES:

October 8, 2023 – Bordeaux, France – Arkea Arena 
October 10, 2023 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi
October 11, 2023 – Madrid, Spain – WiZink Center
October 12, 2023 – Lisboa, Portugal – Altice Arena
October 15, 2023 – Dijon, France – Le Zenith
October 16, 2023 – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
October 18, 2023 – Assago, Italy – Mediolanum Forum
October 20, 2023 – Rome, Italy – Palazzo Dello Sport
October 21, 2023 – Firenze, Italy – Nelson Mandela Forum
October 22, 2023 – Jesolo, Italy – Palazzo Del Turismo
October 24, 2023 – Belgrade, Serbia – Štark Arena
October 25, 2023 – Zagreb, Croatia – Arena Center
October 27, 2023 – Prague, Czechia – Tipsport Arena
October 28, 2023 – Munchen, Germany – Olympiahalle
October 29, 2023 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
October 31, 2023 – Berlin, Germany – Mercedes Benz Arena
November 2, 2023 – Vienna, Austria – Wiener Stadthalle
November 3, 2023 – Krakau, Poland – Tauron Arena
November 5, 2023 – Gdansk, Poland – Ergo Arena
November 7, 2023 – Oberhausen, Germany – Rudolf Weber Arena 
November 8, 2023 – Antwerp, Belgium – Sportpaleis 
November 9, 2023 – Hamburg, Germany – Barclays Arena
November 11, 2023 – Manchester, UK – O2 Apollo 
November 12, 2023 – London, UK – The O2
November 14, 2023 – Paris, France – Accor Arena

For tour dates and tickets, see HERE.