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.

DISCOGRAPHY

Biography

Daddó D. Oreskovich

Guitarist | Composer | Songwriter | Producer | Educator

From the candlelit basement of wartime Bosnia to Berklee College of Music and international recognition, Daddó Oreskovich has followed a lifelong passion for music and artistic expression.

A classically trained guitarist with a progressive musical vision, Daddó's musical world spans rock, progressive metal, orchestral compositions, and original songs. Combining technical virtuosity with melody, emotion, and storytelling, he continually explores new possibilities of musical expression.

Today, based in Madrid, Spain, he continues this journey as a guitarist, composer, songwriter, producer, and educator. Through his original compositions, musical collaborations, and his distinctive nine-string electric guitar, Julia, Daddó explores musical possibilities beyond conventional boundaries.

Beyond performing and composing, Daddó has contributed to guitar education through numerous instructional videos, guitar lessons, and documentaries exploring extended-range electric guitars and unconventional playing techniques. His experience also includes working as a journalist and columnist for the Croatian guitar magazine Gitara i Bas, sharing his musical knowledge and perspectives with the wider Balkan guitar community.

The Early Years — Where It All Began

Born in 1978 in Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Daddó began studying classical guitar at the age of six.

As his musical interests expanded, he discovered the expressive power of electric guitar through artists such as Gary Moore, Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Paul Gilbert, Richie Kotzen, and Reb Beach. Their influence, combined with his classical foundation, helped shape a musical identity in which technical precision and emotional expression would become equally important.

His formative years were profoundly shaped by the war in Bosnia during his childhood and adolescence. During this period, Daddó spent much of his time living in a basement, seeking shelter from the dangers of war. Even under these difficult circumstances, music remained a constant presence in his life. With limited resources and sometimes only candlelight for illumination, he continued practicing guitar and composing music.

For Daddó, music became far more than an artistic pursuit. It was a refuge, a source of strength, and, in many ways, a lifeline. That profound connection has remained with him throughout his life, providing comfort through personal challenges and shaping his belief in music's extraordinary ability to express emotions, inspire hope, and connect people.

From Sarajevo to Berklee College of Music

Following the war and his high school graduation, Daddó enrolled at the Music Academy in Sarajevo, where he studied music theory and piano, as the academy did not offer a dedicated guitar program at the time.

During his second year in Sarajevo, Daddó met and befriended a group of Americans from Boston. Having long dreamed of attending Berklee College of Music, partly inspired by his guitar hero Steve Vai, a former Berklee student, this unexpected connection encouraged him to take the next step toward making that dream a reality.

After submitting a recorded audition, he was invited to participate in the Berklee Live Scholarship Tour in Paris. In 1999, he was awarded a scholarship from Berklee, and in January 2001, he moved to Boston to begin a new chapter in his musical journey.

At Berklee, Daddó studied under renowned guitarists and educators including Joe Stump, David Fiuczynski, Mark White, and Don Lappin. Alongside his specialization in progressive and neoclassical rock and metal, he immersed himself in harmony, counterpoint, arranging, conducting, improvisation, and music technology, expanding both his technical abilities and compositional vocabulary.

During his studies, Daddó received the prestigious Harris Stanton Award for Outstanding Musicianship, accompanied by an additional scholarship and presented by Berklee Guitar Department Chair Larry Baione. Nominated by his professor, renowned guitarist Joe Stump, Daddó was recognized among the most accomplished students in Berklee's extensive Guitar Department. The distinction acknowledged his exceptional musicianship and dedication to his craft.

Daddó graduated in 2004 with a degree in Guitar Performance, having developed a broader musical perspective that would become fundamental to his work as a guitarist, composer, and songwriter.

International Recognition

In 2008, Daddó released his debut instrumental album, The Other Side, through Guitar Nine Records. The album brought together progressive rock, metal, classical influences, orchestral arrangements, and traditional Eastern European musical elements. Compositions such as The Temple, and his arrangement of the traditional Bosnian song Emina showcased his ability to combine technical virtuosity with expressive melodies and rich musical textures.

That same year, Daddó earned first runner-up honors at Guitar Superstar, the national guitar competition organized by Guitar Player magazine, held at the historic Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, California. Performing before a sold-out audience of more than 1,000 guitar enthusiasts, he impressed a distinguished judging panel that included Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and George Lynch. Hosted by Andy Summers of The Police, the event marked a significant milestone in his career, bringing his distinctive musical style to an international audience.

Daddó also won first place in the electric guitar category of the Premier Guitar Challenge, an online competition organized by Premier Guitar magazine and Broadjam. His instrumental composition The Temple was selected for its originality, musicianship, and creative use of tone and musical space, with Marcus Henderson, guitarist associated with the Guitar Hero video game series, serving as the artist judge.

On November 12, 2009, Daddó received the Los Angeles Music Award for Guitar Performance of the Year, presented at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood, California. The award further recognized his accomplishments as an independent guitarist and composer.

His musical achievements were also honored by his hometown of Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which awarded him the prestigious February 26 Charter, a civic distinction recognizing individuals whose exceptional achievements and contributions have brought recognition to the city.

Beyond the Boundaries of the Guitar

For Daddó, musical exploration has never been limited to conventional instruments or established techniques. Driven by curiosity and a desire to expand his creative possibilities, he has spent years experimenting with extended-range electric guitars, unconventional tunings, and new approaches to harmony, melody, and instrumental expression.

Central to this exploration is his distinctive high-A tuning, which extends the guitar's upper register by adding an additional string above the conventional high E. Unlike the more common approach of expanding the guitar's lower range, Daddó has long been interested in extending its melodic possibilities in both directions.

After years of performing and composing on extended-range eight-string guitars, his musical journey evolved toward Julia, his distinctive nine-string electric guitar, custom-modified by renowned Austrian luthier Adam Wehsely-Swiczinsky of MADA Guitars, based in Vienna.
Tuned from a low F♯ to a high A, Julia offers an exceptionally broad tonal range, allowing him to move between deep, powerful bass foundations, rich harmonic textures, and delicate upper-register melodies.

Rather than focusing exclusively on the heavier sounds often associated with extended-range guitars, Daddó approaches the instrument as a means of expanding melodic freedom, harmonic expression, and musical storytelling.

His Julia Sessions series brings this philosophy to life through short, live, one-take guitar performances that combine improvisation, composition, and spontaneous musical ideas.

Alongside his performances, Daddó documents his extended-range guitar journey through his ERG documentary series, sharing his experiences with alternative tunings, instrument configurations, and the creative possibilities of guitars that extend beyond the traditional six strings.

A Musical Language Without Boundaries

Although the guitar remains at the heart of his artistic identity, Daddó's creative work extends far beyond instrumental performance.

As a composer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, he moves naturally between progressive rock, orchestral compositions, cinematic soundscapes, and vocal music. His work combines classical harmonic concepts, modern production techniques, and emotionally expressive melodies, reflecting a musical perspective shaped by diverse influences and life experiences.

His compositions often explore the relationship between melody, harmony, and emotion, drawing on both his formal musical education and his personal experiences. Whether creating an intimate instrumental piece, an expansive orchestral arrangement, or an original song, Daddó approaches music as a form of storytelling and human connection.

His recent artistic activities also include collaborations with singers and fellow musicians, including the Madrid-based guitar-and-voice duo Cuerda & Voz, alongside vocalist Miriam Dues. Through these collaborations, he continues exploring different musical styles and forms of expression.

For Daddó, music has always been more than a profession or artistic discipline. From his earliest experiences to his ongoing creative journey, it has remained a source of strength, inspiration, and emotional connection.

His artistic philosophy reflects a lifelong belief that music is not only about what a musician can play, but about what another human being can feel.

“Music is not just what I do. Music is who I am.”
— Daddó Oreskovich

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

Daddó Oreskovich with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai — Guitar Superstar, San Francisco, 2008.

VIDEO

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