Mario Roth: Criticism Has Taught Me the Most
The frontman of Vigor speaks candidly in an interview about their new song, love, memories of Jasmin Stavros, and the American tour awaiting them in November.
The frontman of Vigor speaks candidly in an interview about their new song, love, memories of Jasmin Stavros, and the American tour awaiting them in November.
The frontman of the popular band Vigor, Mario Roth, who has also been known to audiences in recent years as a judge on the show "Tvoje lice zvuči poznato" (Your Face Sounds Familiar), spoke about numerous topics in a major interview for Večernji list. From the inspiration behind the new song and his views on love, to valuable career lessons, and even emotional memories of his late colleague Jasmin Stavros.
During the summer concert season, Vigor introduced their new single "Kao tequila" (Like Tequila) to the audience. Roth explains that the song came from a desire to capture the moment when one person completely changes your mood. "The song was born from the desire to describe the feeling when one person completely changes your mood and energy," Roth told Večernji list, adding that they wanted to create an infectious, summery, and honest song that everyone can relate to.
When asked about his own experiences with falling in love, the frontman emphasizes that it's a feeling everyone who has ever loved sincerely has experienced at least once. Over the years, he admits, his view of love has changed. "Today I believe that true love is shown through respect, trust, support, and togetherness," he stressed.
Speaking about the band's popularity in Croatia and the region, Roth believes the key lies in sincerity. "I think people primarily recognize sincerity. We have never tried to be something we're not," he stated. Throughout his career, he has had the support of many big names from the local scene, such as Miroslav Škoro and Jelena Rozga, and the most valuable advice wasn't about hits.
"The most valuable advice wasn't about hits or career, but to stay true to myself, stay grounded, and never forget to respect the audience," Roth recalled.
A particularly emotional moment in the conversation was remembering the late Jasmin Stavros. Roth doesn't hide how much he misses his warmth. "I miss his warmth and incredible life energy. He was a man who knew how to cheer anyone up, give advice at the right moment, and make you feel like part of his family," he said.
He also added that Stavros's legendary phrase carried special weight: "His 'my son' wasn't just a catchphrase, but a sincere expression of closeness."
As a judge on "Tvoje lice zvuči poznato," Roth revealed what impresses him most about the contestants. "What always impresses me the most isn't a perfect imitation, but when someone manages to convey emotion and completely transform," he explained.
He also reflected on his own beginnings and his attitude toward criticism. "At first, you take every criticism personally, but over time you realize that constructive feedback can teach you the most. I learned to listen, analyze, and extract something useful from every situation. Without that, there's no progress," Roth said honestly.
After the summer season, Vigor has no plans to slow down. Roth announced continued work on new music and numerous performances, with the biggest plan being a trip across the Atlantic. "In mid-November, we're going on an American tour. I like to let the songs speak instead of big announcements, but I can promise the audience a lot of good energy and a few nice surprises," the frontman conveyed.
Finally, Roth also expressed gratitude to his parents for instilling key values in him. "I am most grateful to them for teaching me honesty, hard work, and humility. They always taught me to treat everyone with respect and that success should never change a person," he concluded.
