Welcome to our series of posts – “The Looker” where we will share our wish list of artists participating in Eurovision.
This is the 3rd year in a row that we are running the project.
But before we start, let us remark that our recommendations will not necessarily come true (as for example some countries select their artists by reality shows)
This is the 4th post in the series and it will concentrate on 3 countries: Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
You can read the previous chapters here
- Chapter 1: Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands
- Chapter 2: Cyprus, Greece, Israel
- Chapter 3: Finland, Norway, Sweden
Previous wishes: Marko Kutlić, Marin Jurić-Čivro, SUN U, Bad Daughter, J.R. August
#1. Matija Cvek
Matija Cvek is a 30 year old Croatian singer-songwriter.
He rose to fame in 2018, when he participated in the HRT‘s show “A strana“.
In 2017, he was one of the backing vocalists for Jacques Houdek‘s song “My Friend” (Eurovision 2017, 13th place).
Matija released his debut studio album, “Izbirljivo i slučajno” (Eng: picky and random) in 2021.
Some of his songs topped the Croatian chart.
So far, he has won 5 music awards:
- Best Pop Album (Porin awards, 2022)
- Best Male Vocal Performance (Porin awards, 2022)
- Song of the Year (Top.HR Music Awards 2023)
- Song of the Year (Cesarica 2023)
- Song of the Year (Zlatni Studio 2023)
Let’s listen to 3 of his songs
In 2021, he released the song “Ptice” (Eng: Birds):
In 2022, he collaborated with Eni Jurisic on the song “Trebas li me” (Eng: Do You Need Me?):
In 2023, he released the song “Zalazak” (Eng: Sunset):
Matija Cvek suggests a very interesting combination of a powerful warm voice, Balkan inspiration and fresh pop.
It might work well at Eurovision.
#2. Silente
Silente is a Croatian pop-rock band, based in Dubrobnik.
Over the years, the band’s line-up has changed. The current band members are:
- Lara Viktorija Ilić (lead singer since 2023, the former was Doris Kosović)
- Tibor Karamehmedović (lead singer, guitar)
- Sanin Karamehmedović (bass guitar)
- Ivuša Gojan (drums)
- Ivana Čuljak (violin, backing vocals)
- Luka Softić (synthesizer, backing vocals)
They have released 4 studio albums to date
- 2013: “Lovac na čudesa” (Eng: Wonder Hunter)
- 2015: Neće rijeka zrakom teć (Eng: The River Won’t flow through the air)
- 2018: “Malo magle, malo mjesečine” (Eng: Malo magle, malo mjesečine)
- 2022: IV
Three of his albums peaked at number 1st, 2 of peaked at number 2nd and one peaked at number 10th.
Let’s listen to 3 of his songs:
In 2021, theye released the song “Poljubi me za kraj” (Eng: Kiss me to finish)
In 2022, they released the song “Idi” (Eng: Go):
In 2023, they released the song “Sve što treba znat o ženi” (Eng: Everything you need to know about a woman):
Silenete has made an impressive journey in the Croatian music industry.
It seems like they can bring a sound that we haven’t heard from Croatia for years.
Previous Wishes: LORENS, Luke Black (wish granted!), Anastasija Raznatovic, Saša Kovačević, Zoi
#1. Dzordzi
Djordje Culafic (better known as Dzordzi) is a 28 year-old Serbian singer and model.
He has released several singles since 2020.
Let’s listen to 3 of his songs:
In 2022, he collaborated with Edita on the song “Edita”:
In 2023, he released the song “Indijanac” (Eng: Indian)
In 2023, he released the song “Marija“:
Dzordzi suggests a modern wave of radio-friendly pop club music.
It seems like he achieved more and more popularity in the Balkans, and it can definitely be a good sign for Eurovision
#2. Teya Dora
Teodora Pavlovska (better known as Teya Dora) is a 31 year-old Serbian singer-songwriter and producer.
Along with the secondary school in Belgrade, she also attended the music school “Dr. Vojislav Vučković” in the piano department. Thereafter, she continued to study singing at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. In college, she studied with Charlie Puth.
Teya was a backing vocalist for well-known singers like: Patti Austin , Sydah Garrett , Jerry Allen and Valerie Simpson.
In 2018 she broke through in Serbia, first as a song-seier for Zoi, Nataša Bekvalac, Jovana Nikolić, and Jovana Nikolić.
In June 2023, she became the 3rd Serbian artist to exceed one million monthly listeners on Spotify. The 2 other Serbian artists to experience this success were: Konstrakta (Eurovision 2022), and Luke Black (Eurovision 2023).
Let’s listen to 3 of her songs:
In 2022, she released the song “Vozi Me” (Eng: Drives Me)
In 2023, she released the song “Atamala” (together with Albino):
In 2023, he released the song “DŽANUM” (Eng: Darling):
Teya Dora is one of the most promising names in the Serbian (and Balkan) music industry.
She delivers hits, one by one, and can’t be ignored with her smokey but smooth voice.
Previous wishes: Anja Kotar, Raiven, Joker Out (wish granted!), Balladero, Taja
#1. Nina Pušlar
Nina Pušlar is a 34 year-old Slovenian singer-songwriter.
She won the contest “Bitke talentov 2005″, and released her debut album.
In 2010, she competed in “EMA 2010” (Slvoenian selection for Eurovision 2010) , where she ended in the 2nd place, withht the song “Dež“
So far, the singer has relased 6 stidui albums, the last to date being released in 2022.
In 2019, she released the song “Za naju” (Eng: For Us)
In 2022, she released the song “Nina, Nina, Nina“:
In 2023, he released “Malo Malo“:
Throughout the years, Nina Pušlar has proven she is here to stay.
Her warm voice and romantic atmosphere of songs are heart warming.
I believe she will do well at Eurovision.
#2. MRFY
MRFY is a 4 member Slovenian Indie-Rock band that was formed in 2013.
The band members are: Gregor Strasbergar (lead singer and songwriter), Lenart Merlin (bass guitar), Tomaž Zupančič (guitars) and Rok Klobučar (drmus).
They are named after the American engineer Edward Aloysius Murphy , who is known for saying “Anything that can go wrong, will”.
So far, the band has released an EP (“A side of the story” – 2018) and 2 studio albums: “Story” (2018) and “Use” (2022).
Let’s listen to 3 of their songs:
In 2022, she released the song “Zaljubila” (Eng: She fell in love):
In 2022, they released the song “Angeli” (Eng: Angels):
In 2023, they released the song “San Fransisco”:
MRFY might be a risk worth taking. We’ve seen that authentic risk has the potential to do well, and that’s why they can be a good fit for Eurovision.
What do you think about the recommendations we gave?
Who would you like to see representing Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia in the future?
Get back to us next time, where we will discuss additional countries.
