Emir HOT was born on February 23, 1978, in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. His passion for music ignited at the tender age of five when he first became interested in the guitar, influenced by the records of Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and Eric Clapton from his two older brothers' collections. Even as a child, he diligently sought to familiarize himself with the instrument, learning his first rhythms and chords.
By the age of 10, Emir’s dedication to music led him to enroll in the Music School in Tuzla, where he was admitted directly into the third year. At 12, he began exploring a wider range of heavy and rock music, diving into the works of various bands and solo guitarists. In 1989, he joined HATRED, a thrash metal band from Tuzla.
As the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina erupted a few years later, Emir's commitment to music remained steadfast. He became part of another thrash metal group, RETARD, and performed at the first war concert in the renowned rock venue Stelekt in Tuzla. After several lineup changes, the band rebranded as NEON KNIGHTS, taking their name from the opening track of Black Sabbath's album Heaven and Hell. NEON KNIGHTS soon began to write original material, and their early concerts garnered a positive response, establishing the band’s originality.
In 1997, NEON KNIGHTS received their first significant opportunity when an individual who had witnessed their performance in Tuzla offered them a record deal in Italy. The band embraced this chance and embarked on a small tour across ten cities in Italy. In 1998, they recorded and released their album Deserted Land. This effort led to numerous concerts throughout Europe, where they had the privilege of meeting prominent figures in heavy rock, including Iron Maiden and Dream Theater. The album received favorable reviews from various metal and rock magazines. However, following several tours, Emir decided to depart from the band as challenges began to mount.
In early 1999, Emir joined SOUTHERN STORM, a new band that had just begun to establish itself. They recorded new songs, secured a manager, and performed extensively. The band achieved notable success by securing first place at the HEINEKEN MUSIC FESTIVAL in Zenica, Bosnia, in August 2001, competing against 42 other bands from the region. In 2002, they released their debut album, titled 1999, which became a source of pride for the Bosnian metal scene and was hailed by critics as one of the best metal records from the former Yugoslavia. The band also performed in Croatia and Slovenia, appeared on various TV shows, and gave numerous interviews to a range of publications.
However, the post-war political instability in Bosnia, difficulties in traveling abroad, and challenges related to copyright laws led Emir to reconsider his ambitions for the band. He ultimately decided to leave the country in search of better opportunities by enrolling in a school abroad.
In January 2003, Emir auditioned for the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA, and successfully passed the audition. Given the college's high tuition fees, Emir faced challenges in securing financial resources. During this time, he organized music festivals, conducted guitar workshops, performed at numerous clubs, worked as a studio musician for various bands, opened his own private guitar school, and composed music for the first post-war Bosnian TV drama, Forgotten Saying.
In 2004, he recorded his first instrumental album, Quarterworlds of Fantasia, in Split, Croatia, collaborating with Dean Clea Brkic, the singer of the Croatian rock band Osmi Putnik. Although the album has yet to be released, it is anticipated to be available soon. Emir also received an invitation to perform as a solo guitarist with the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra but chose to move to the UK, where he enrolled at THE LONDON GUITAR INSTITUTE. In May 2005, he won a significant guitar competition, GUITAR HERO UK 2005, earning equipment valued at over £2000.
By June 2007, Emir graduated from THE GUITAR INSTITUTE and began working on “Sevdah Metal,” his first serious project as a solo artist. The material for this album was composed during his time at university in London, and he was fortunate to collaborate with renowned musicians such as John West on vocals and Mike Terrana on drums. The album is set for release in early 2008, accompanied by numerous performances across Europe.
