Maja Berović (born 8 July 1987), known by her stage name Maya, is a Bosnian born-Serbian pop singer. Born in Ilijaš, Bosnia her professional career began when she was signed to Belgrade-based record label Grand Production, aged 19. She has since become one of the leading pop singers in the region, with six studio albums and multiple singles.

Contents 1 Personal life 2 Early life 3 Career 3.1 2007–2016: career beginnings and early success 3.2 2017–present: mainstream success and genre translation 4 Discography 4.1 Albums 4.2 Non-album singles 5 References Personal life

Maya has a partner named Alen Dragosav[1] since 2006.[2] They married on 31 July 2016. He served as the executive producer of her first two albums. They relocated to Graz, Austria in 2009 and also have a "spacious home" in Belgrade.[3]

Following the May 2014 floods and landslides in Bosnia and Serbia, Maya donated money and made sure that food and clean, bottled water was made available to those most-affected by the natural disasters.[4] She said her "soul hurt" watching the suffering following the storm.

Early life

Berović was born 8 July 1987 in the village of Malešići, part of the Ilijaš municipality near Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her father (1960–1990) died at age 30, when she was three. Fifty-seven years after her father's birth, she released the song "Balmain".[5] The Berović family lived in Malešići until the end of the Bosnian War in 1995, when her mother, older brother and she relocated to Bratunac where her mother is originally from. In Bratunac, she attended school and first began practising music. From age 12 she sang in local discotheques every weekend until she turned 18. Berović grew up listening to artists such as Dragana Mirković, Lepa Brena and Ceca and lists them as her musical influences.

Berović said in 2016 about her childhood during the Bosnian War: "I had the bad fortune to belong to the generation that grew up during the war in Bosnia. I carry many ugly, and beautiful memories from that period of my life. The ugly memories include my family's relocation in search of a peaceful life, even though, at the time, I was not fully aware of the horrors of the situation. I spent most of my days playing, like any child."[6][7]

Career 2007–2016: career beginnings and early success

Still a teenager, Maya was signed to the Belgrade-based record label Grand Production and released her first studio album Život uživo (Life, Live) in August 2007.[8] The songs were written by famed Serbian songwriters Marina Tucaković and Aleksandar Milić, among others. Other than achieving moderate success with the song "Džin i limunada" (Gin and Lemonade). She soon parted ways with Grand Production. In 2015 Berović explained that she and Grand director Saša Popović had differing ideas and that she is happy with her current label City Records.[9] Over a year later, in December 2008, she released her second studio album Crno zlato (Black Gold) under the short-lived label IN Music.[10] Black Gold was recorded at a studio in Zemun. Ivana Selakov, a then-unknown artist was featured as a backup vocalist on several songs. "Sedativ" (Sedative), "Uspomene" (Memories) and the title song all received more radio airplay than Gin and Lemonade had the previous year.

Two months after the release of Black Gold, Maya debuted a self-released non-album single "Koliko te ludo volim ja" (Madly in Love with You) in February 2009.[11] Soon after, she began work on her third studio album under the Bosnian record label BN Music, based in Bijeljina.[12]

Her big breakthrough came upon the release of her third and eponymous album, Maya, and the success of the feminist ballad "Djevojačko prezime" (Maiden Name), in February 2011.[13] In December, the song was the recipient of the "Hit of the Year" award in Sarajevo.[14] The rest of the album was composed of mostly upbeat pop-folk songs which were perceived well by critics and her fans.

Maya began work on another album upon returning from a month-long vacation in January–February 2012 on an Australian cruise ship near Sydney and spending ten days in Dubai.[15][16] She signed a recording contract with the record label City Records. The first single off the album was "Leti ptico slobodno" (Fly Bird, Freely), written by Dragiša Baša and produced by Dejan Abadić.[17] It premiered 25 June 2012.[18]

Djevojka sa juga (Girl from the South), her fourth studio album, was first released 17 October in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and 20 October in neighboring countries.[19] She has said that she was "extremely satisfied" with her new labels support of her music.[20] Girl from the South marked the first time she collaborated with Damir Handanović, a composer who has produced hit songs for artists such as Ceca, Dara Bubamara, Elvira Rahić, Darko Lazić and Mile Kitić, among many others. The photo shoot for the album lasted 18 hours and had to be paused when Maya became ill from hunger.[21]

Upon the release of Girl from the South and comments from the press and public on how her music and style differed from that of her overtly-sexual colleagues, she was quoted as saying:

I entered the world of show business with the intention to prove myself with quality songs and I think this is the only way to build a successful and long-term career. This was and remains my only goal.[22]

Maya held her first concert in Belgrade in April 2013. Her friends Damir Handanović and Katarina Živković were in the audience to show their support.[23]

In April 2014 Berović was one of 26 participants in the first ever Pink Music Festival. Her submission, a club-oriented song about going out, getting drunk and having a great time, called "Alkohol" (Alcohol) was the most-listened to of the 26 entries.[24] Damir Handanović co-wrote the song with Marina Tucaković for Maya and gifted it to her for her birthday. The music video was done by the video production company IDJ Videos and premiered on 9 May 2014.[25]

Opasne vode (Dangerous Waters), her fifth album and second consecutive project with City Records, was released 27 October 2014.[26] Alcohol served as the lead single. The second single, "Čime me drogiraš", was released 23 September followed by "Javi šta ti je u glavi" on 7 October.[27][28][29] In addition to an updated and slightly different sound, a new fashion style accompanied the new album.[30] Dejan Milićević directed the music videos for all the songs on Dangerous Waters.[31] The official album cover art was unveiled 17 October 2014.[32]

In March 2016 Berović released "Pauza", a non-album single. On 8 July 2016, Berović's 29th birthday, she released "To me radi" featuring Bosnian rappers Jala Brat and Buba Corelli.[33] It was the first collaborative song in her career.

2017–present: mainstream success and genre translation

Her sixth studio album Viktorijina tajna was announced in June 2017. It was released on 2 July 2017 through City Records, produced by the Sarajevo-based Imperia Productions. The album has 9 tracks including previously released hit-single To Me Radi. Every song of the album has its own music artwork video, and the physical edition of the album has a bonus DVD with all of the music videos on it. The album was entirely produced and written by famous Bosnian rappers and producers Jala Brat & Buba Correlli, who are featured in 3 songs from the album. This album has more urban sound than her previous turbo folk releases. Viktorijina Tajna has reached enormous success, reaching more than 100 million hits on YouTube and dominating charts on streaming service Deezer. All songs from the album became instant hits and thanks to its success Maya had all venues she had performed in sold out, she even went on a US tour with Jala Brat & Buba Correlli which also went very successfully. This album is arguably by far the most successful in Maya's 10 year old career. Maya is so successful that she is easily competing to other Balkan singers.

Discography Albums Život uživo (2007) Crno zlato (2008) Maya (2011) Djevojka sa juga (2012) Opasne vode (2014) Viktorijina tajna (2017) 7 (2018) Non-album singles Koliko te ludo volim ja (2009) Pauza (2016) Izvini tata (2016) Legalna (2017) References ^ "Da joj nije bilo verenika, njena karijera ne bi bila ovakva: On me bezuslovno podržava, veliki mi je oslonac u životu!". Alo!. 21 December 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.  ^ "Maya Berović: Moj vjerenik zna da ga neću prevariti!". Express. Archived from the original on 4 March 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2014.  ^ "Maja Berović: Zbog ljubavi sam napustila Bosnu". Story. 10 August 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.  ^ "PEVAČICA NESEBIČNO POMAŽE UGROŽENIMA: SVE RAZUMEM, JER SAM I SAMA PRE DVADESET GODINA OSTALA BEZ DOMA!". Opera 17. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ https://www.pulsonline.rs/puls-poznatih/njene-pesme-znaju-svi-ali-ne-i-zivotnu-pricu-maya-berovic-prvi-put-o-odrastanju-bez/g2lg8c5 ^ "Maja Berović o odrastanju: Nisam bila ni svesna užasa kakav je rat". Svet. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.  ^ "POTRESNA SEĆANJA". Srbija Danas. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.  ^ "Život uživo". Discogs. 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Nije mi bilo mesto u Grandu, SAŠA POPOVIĆ I JA NE ŽELIMO ISTO!". Srbija danas. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2015.  ^ "Crno zlato". Discogs. 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Koliko te ludo volim ja". Discogs. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Maya - 2011". Discogs. 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Maya Berović: Odmor na Brionima i novi singl". Story. 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Maya Berović dobila nagradu za hit godine!". Svet. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Maja Berović na vrelom zimovanju". Kurir. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Maya na proputovanju po Australiji". Press Online. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ ""Vruće" fotke i letnji hit: Maya Berović "dirnuće" vas u srce". S Media. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Leti ptico slobodno". Discogs. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Djevojka sa juga". Discogs. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Maya izabrala put kojim se ređe ide: Danas je najlakše skinuti se!". Svet. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Maya Berović: Pozlilo mi je od gladi!". Svet. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Maya Berović: Moj vjerenik zna da ga neću prevariti!". Express Magazine. 2012. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "POPULARNA SARAJKA Maya napravila lom na svom prvom nastupu u Beogradu". Doznajemo. 21 April 2013. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Pesma Maye Berović najslušanija: Ko je vaš favorit na Pink festivalu?". Svet. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.  ^ "Maya Berović uradila spot za pjesmu Alkohol!". Ekskluziva. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.  ^ "Opasne vode". Discogs. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.  ^ ""ČIME ME DROGIRAŠ": Maya Berović promovisala novu pesmu i spot!". Press Online. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ ""Javi šta ti je u glavi": Maya promovisala novu pesmu!". Svet. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "JAVI ŠTA TI JE U GLAVI: Maja Berović promovisala novu pesmu". S Media. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Znate li ko je ovo? Pevačica uz nove pesme promoviše i novi stajling!". Svet. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.  ^ "Maya Berovic: "Pogledajte kakve akrobacije izvodi pjevačica"!". Cafe. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.  ^ "Poslušajte novi album Maye Berović!". Folk estrada. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.  ^ "Pogledajte šta najbolje radi plavušu Maju Berović". Puls. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.