ZHIVA is a breath of fresh air on the Serbian music scene, a singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist based in Belgrade. She made her independent, big step forward on the scene with the release of her debut album “Preterujem” (“I Exaggerate”) in November 2023, for Glitch Records. The album features nine original songs, creating an introspective and energetic mosaic that blends alt-pop, jazz, hip hop, drum & bass, and reggae. ZHIVA dedicated her first album to mental health, sharing her life experiences, showing vulnerability, and healing herself and others. A year after her debut, she released her second album, “ZHIVA ZDRAVA.” While her first album explored struggles with mental health, her second presents an empowered, calm, and optimistic ZHIVA – an evolution shaped partly by her deepening connection with her audience.
ZHIVA aspires to return to quality pop, which is not devoid of personal expression and a mere product of industry, but has admixtures of the author’s musical and life experiences. She is convinced that achieving an ideal balance between pop and alternative music is possible, which the audience will enjoy. Winning the award for Best New Artist in 2024, awarded by the Association of Independent Publishers RUNDA, represents one of the indicators of her success on the region’s cultural scene. Also, she is one of 11 regional artists who made the list of artists to watch (100 ARTISTS TO WATCH) for 2024, brought by IMPALA in cooperation with YouTube.
