Dirty Hairy & Zdenko Ivanušić Reunite on “The Turnback”
London-born DJ and producer Dirty Hairy reconnects with veteran Croatian jazz musician Zdenko Ivanušić on “The Turnback”, a warm and reflective collaboration rooted in friendship, improvisation, and shared musical history.
The pair first met in 2006, when Dirty Hairy was immediately drawn to Zdenko’s spiritual jazz tone and expressive, free-flowing approach to performance. What began as a musical connection quickly developed into a lasting friendship. Zdenko was later invited to perform at Dirty Hairy’s wedding, and over the years the two have shared stages and improvised together many times. After relocating to Croatia, Dirty Hairy made a promise to record with one of the first friends he had made there. “The Turnback” brings that promise to life.
Built around warm Fender Rhodes chords, a deep funk-inspired bassline, and dusty jazz-hip-hop drums, the track settles into a laid-back groove that nods to classic jazz rap and vintage library funk. Zdenko’s tenor sax and flute drift effortlessly through the arrangement, adding loose, soulful improvisations that give the piece a rich late-night atmosphere.
“The Turnback” marks the first release in an ongoing series of collaborative recordings between the two artists, capturing the natural chemistry that has developed between them over nearly two decades of musical exchange.