Gjurmët

The band was formed in 1980 by Migjen Kelmendi (vocals, rhythm guitar), the son of the writer and journalist Ramiz Kelmendi,[1] inspired by new wave music.[2] The lineup also included Armando Gjini (piano, synthesizer), Tomor Kurshumliu (vocals, bass guitar),Gazmend Hasbahta (lead guitar) , Petrit Riza (drums) and Bekim Dyla (lead guitar).[3] During the same year, the band recorded their first song, being the first new wave song in SAP Kosovo.[4]

In 1984, the band recorded the material for their debut album, which was released the following year.[5] The reason for the delay was the controversial album cover, which featured dancers performing the traditional Albanian "eagle dance", making the shape of a double-headed eagle with their posture.[5] Eventually, the album was released by Radio Television of Pristina, on compact cassette only, and featured the band's photo on the front cover; in the image, Kelmendi is looking at his wrist watch as a comment on the release delay.[5] The album featured a combination of new wave, post-punk and folk music.[6]

The following year, in 1986, the band disbanded.[7]

Kelmendi became a journalist and was head of editing for the program Contacto on Radio Television of Pristina (1988-1990), executive producer of Victoria Television of New York (1996) and of the Programme Albanian Satellite (1997-1999), and director of television of Radio Television of Kosovo (2000-2001).[8] He was also the founder of the weekly magazine Epoca (1991) and of the literary magazine MM (1996), and is currently editor of the weekly newspaper Java, which he founded in 2001.[8] He has written four books, including To Change The World: A Short History of The Traces, about his musical career.[8]

In 2002, a compilation album LP, featuring a collection of material the band had recorded in the course of the 1980s, was released.[3]

• Gjurmët (1985)

• LP (2002)