Massimo Savić was one of the most refined and distinctive voices of the Croatian music scene. Born in 1962 in Pula, he began his artistic journey as the frontman of the cult band Dorian Gray before building a remarkable solo career marked by interpretative precision, subtle emotion, and unmistakable charisma. Over the years, he received numerous awards, including multiple Porins, and was admired for his authenticity and depth.
“I wrote the lyrics for Love Travels Like a Scent and sent them to Sandra Sagena. Sandra composed the music, and Marko Križan created the arrangement. For me, it was an intensely creative moment that completely fulfilled me at the time,” says Katja Restović.
“When Sandra told me that Massimo would sing the song, I was truly thrilled. I had always loved his voice. We had known each other for years, but that moment gave everything a new dimension.”
Katja directed two music videos for the song – one visually refined and aesthetically strong, and another more intimate, almost documentary in tone.
“The lyrics meant a great deal to me because I had written them myself. When I direct videos, I’m not always emotionally attached to the words. This was different. Watching Massimo interpret my lines was a completely different experience. There is something extraordinary about hearing someone sing your emotions.”
Everything felt spontaneous, yet carefully shaped down to the smallest detail.
“He observed every frame. In that way, we were similar – I approach my work with precision and attention. Nothing was left to chance.”
For his performance of Love Travels Like a Scent, Massimo received a Porin for Best Vocal Interpretation. Their conversations continued long after the project – about music, film, and life.
At the time, Katja shared with him the concept for the trailer of her film Doors of Redemption, and he immediately immersed himself in the idea of the character, speaking of it as if he were already portraying it. Curious, open, and deeply involved in everything he created – he was sensitive and gentle, yet profoundly passionate.
They met many times after that.
“These were not just professional meetings. They were warm, human conversations that stay with you. His passing left a great emptiness – on stage and in the heart. He was truly special,” Restović concludes.
