Nikolija (singer)

Nikolija Jovanović (Serbian Cyrillic: Николија Јовановић, born on 19 October 1989) is a Serbian singer, rapper and model. The daughter of singer Vesna Zmijanac, she gained inital prominence by appearing on the reality television show Survivor Srbija VIP: Philippines (2010). In 2013, Nikolija pursued a music career with her breakthrough single "Ćao zdravo". She has released two studio albums to date; №1 (2016) and Yin & Yang (2019), as well as numerous standalone singles.

Nikolija
Николија
Birth nameNikolija Jovanović
Born (1989-10-19) 19 October 1989
Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • rapper
  • model
  • businesswoman
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2010–present
Labels
Associated acts

Since 2014, Jovanović has been in a relationship with musician and actor Relja Popović, with whom she also has two daughters.

Early life

Jovanović was born in Zagreb, SFR Yugoslavia to folk singer Vesna Zmijanac and economist Vlada Jovanović, who operated as the chief of marketing at PGP RTS.[1][2] The family relocated to Belgrade, where Nikolija was raised. Her parents divorced shortly after she had been born and Jovanović has two step-siblings from her father's second marriage.[3] In 1995, she appeared in her mother's music video for the song "Kad bih znala kako si". According to Zmijanac, Nikolija showed interest and talent for music from an early age.[4] However, Jovanović also stated that as a child she didn't desire to become a singer due to the experience of having a famous singer mother.[5]

For her senior year of high school, Nikolija moved to Athens, Greece were she later began attending The School of Business & Economics at the American Deree College, from which she graduated in 2013 with a degree in international business.[6][7]

Career

Music

Nikolija's music career began during her studies in Athens when she started performing in local nightclubs as dancer and MC, claiming to have worked alongside acts such as Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk and Swedish House Mafia.[8] In 2011, she also released her first song as Nicole, titled "Crazy 2 Night", but failed to make significant success.

After returning to Serbia following her graduation in 2013, Jovanović decided to pursue a recording career there by releasing the house rap single "Ćao zdravo" in April through IDJTunes.[9] It received polarizing reception from the public and some controversy due of its provocative lyrics and S&M-inspired music video.[10] During the summer of 2013, Nikolija then had a featuring rap verse on the song "Milion dolara" by Serbian singer Ana Nikolić, which served as the title track for her fourth album. In November of that year, Jovanović also released an eponymous song. Following the success of these releases, Nikolija became arguably the first female rap performer in Serbia to reach the mainstream.

In August 2014, Nikolija collaborated with Serbian pop-rap duo Elitni odredi on "Alkohola litar".[11] The song went on to become Nikolija's highest-performing single to date on YouTube, having accumulated over seventy million views as of December 2021. In October, she also released solo single "Kako posle mene". These two releases marked the departure from her initial work, as she embraced singing rather than just rapping as well as more commercial pop-folk sound, which Nikolija mixed with urban contemporary influences creating her signature style of music.[12] In June 2015, she managed to score a summer hit with "Opasna igra".[13][14] Its music video was declared the most viewed one by a Serbian artist that year.[15] Her debut album, titled №1, was eventually released on 20 October the following year under City Records to general commercial success with shipments of 50,000 units in Serbia.[16] It includes singles that had been released since the beginning of her career and three new songs.

In March 2017, Nikolija dropped her first single since the album, titled "Promenimi planove".[17] It was followed by "Loš Momak", produced by Coby, in July.[18] The following year she released three more singles; "Malo", "Nema limita" and "Slažem" in March, May and August, respectively.[19][20][21] On April 24, 2019 Nikolija released her sophomore studio album Yin & Yang under IDJTunes.[22] It was preceded by two singles, the title track and "Nije lako biti ja" featuring Serbian rapper Fox, in March and April, respectively.[23][24] Subsequently, in the summer, Nikolija and Relja Popović collaborated on their duet "Meduza".[25]

In April 2020, Nikolija released the trap ballad "Nakit" under newly established label founded by Popović, called Made In BLKN. In October 2021, she collaborated with Teya Dora on the single "Ulice" for the soundtrack to the 2021 Serbian thriller Južni Vetar 2: Ubrzanje.

Other ventures

Jovanović made her first public appearance in 2010 by competing alongside her mother on the reality TV series Survivor Srbija VIP: Philippines, where she was the first contestant to be voted out. Nikolija subsequently voluntarily left the show on medical grounds.[26] In March 2014, she started appearing on Serbian series of Dancing with the Stars, where she finished 8th after six weeks of competing.[27]

In 2017, Nikolija starred in a post-apocalyptic movie, titled Volja sinovljeva, alongside Žarko Laušević and Sergej Trifunović in the lead roles, which is yet to be released.[28] The following year, she released a music video for the single "Nema limita", which was inspired by the movie as well as directed by the director of Volja sinovljeva, Nemanja Ćeranić.

Additionally, Nikolija also ventured into fashion industry. Since 2015, she has been a frequent collaborator of Nike on their campaigns for Serbian market.[29][30] Nikolija walked the runway for George Styler at Belgrade Fashion Week in November the same year.[31] In December 2020, Jovanović and her half-sister launched a fashion brand, called About Me, with streetwear designed by her.[32]

Personal life

In 2011, Nikolija began dating Greek NBA player Thanasis Antetokounmpo.[33] In September 2014, it was reported that they had broken up.[34]

In late 2014, she started a relationship with Serbian musician and actor Relja Popović of Elitni Odredi after they had collaborated on "Alkohola litar".[35] On 26 September 2016, Nikolija gave birth to daughter Rea.[36] The couple welcomed their second daughter on 17 July 2021.[37][38] Serbian magazine Story published an interview with Nikolija at the beginning of February 2022, in which it was revealed that their daughter was named Hana.[39] However, Jovanović subsequently denied giving this interview via an Instagram story and had previously stated that she and Relja did not have intentions of revealing their second daughter's name to ensure her privacy from the public life.[38]

Nikolija and her family reside in Vračar, downtown Belgrade.[40] She also has an apartment in Athens, Greece, which she calls her "second home".[41]

Discography
Main article: Nikolija discography
Studio albums

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominee/work Result Ref.
2013 OGAE Video Contest Music Video of the Year "Milion dolara"
(Ana Nikolić ft. Nikolija)		 Nominated [42]
2019 Music Awards Ceremony Modern Dance Song of the Year "Nema limita" Nominated [43]
2020 Trap Collaboration of the Year "Meduza" (Relja feat. Nikolija) Nominated [44]

See also

References
  1. "NIKAD VIĐENA PORODIČNA FOTOGRAFIJA: Pogledajte kako je izgledala Nikolija Jovanović kao beba". story.rs (in Serbian). 28 August 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  2. A. Kolarević (6 January 2020). "Dali ste znali - Nikolijin otac je doktor nauka". nova.rs (in Serbian). Nova S. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  3. "Mnogi nisu znali da Nikolija ima sestru, evo kako ona izgleda". idjtv.com (in Serbian). 16 June 2019. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  4. "Vesna Zmijanac i mala Nikolija; Muzička kutija (1997)". YouTube (in Serbian). RTV Pink. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  5. "Nikolija - Nije lako biti ja; IDJHot Specijal". YouTube (in Serbian). 26 April 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  6. "Nikolija Jovanović: moj otac nije bio oduševljen zanimanjem koje sam izabrala". hellomagazin.rs (in Serbian). Hello Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  7. Marinović, M. (23 April 2022). "Najškolovaniji među poznatima: Pravnici, ekonomisti i diplomirani muzičari". Nova.rs (in Serbian).
  8. "Nikolija - Intervju - Dvogled - (TV Pink BIH 2013)". Pink BH (in Serbian). 16 June 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  9. "SADO-MAZO: Pogledajte seksi spot Vesnine ćerke". Kurir (in Serbian). 10 April 2014.
  10. "Ćao, Zdravo (feat. Teca) – Single by Nikolija". Apple Music, iTunes (United States). 1 April 2015. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  11. "Alkohola Litar (feat. DJ Mladja & Nikolija) – Single by Elitni Odredi". Apple Music, iTunes (United States). 9 September 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  12. "Nikolija u novom spotu ponovo između hip-hopa i folka". tracara.rs (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  13. "Opasna Igra – Single by Nikolija". Apple Music, iTunes (United States). 5 June 2015. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  14. "Prošlo je pet godina! Ova Nikolijina numera je bila himna leta". idjtv.rs (in Serbian). 17 June 2020. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  15. "Nećete verovati! Ovo su najgledaniji Jutjub video snimci u Srbiji 2015. godine". blic.rs (in Serbian). Blic. 11 December 2015. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  16. "No1, Nikolija Jovanović". Cobiss.
  17. "Promeni Mi Planove – Single by Nikolija". Apple Music, iTunes (United States). 9 March 2017.
  18. "Los Momak – Single by Nikolija". Apple Music, iTunes (United States). 21 July 2017.
  19. "Malo - Single by Nikolija", Apple Music, retrieved 3 January 2022
  20. "Nema Limita - Single by Nikolija", Apple Music, retrieved 3 January 2022
  21. "Slazem – Single by Nikolija". Apple Music, iTunes (United States). 14 August 2018.
  22. "Yin & Yang by Nikolija". Apple Music, iTunes (United States). 25 April 2019. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  23. "Yin & Yang - Single by Nikolija". Apple Music, iTunes (United States). 29 March 2019.
  24. "Nije Lako Biti Ja (feat. Fox) – Single by Nikolija". Apple Music, iTunes (United States). 19 April 2019. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  25. "Meduza (feat. Nikolija) – Single by Relja". Apple Music, iTunes (United States). 17 June 2019. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  26. "Nikolija Jovanović: Depresija je bila jača od mene". Blic (in Serbian). 10 November 2010.
  27. "Nikolija Jovanović i Ivan Mihailović u šouu "Ples sa zvezdama"". Blic (in Serbian). 13 March 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  28. "Zavirite na set filma na kojem glume Žarko Laušević, Igor Benčina i Nikolija". Blic (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  29. "Poznati trčali svoje prve Nike krugove". Wannabe Magazine (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  30. "Beograd u stilu devedesetih obeležio Air Max Day" (in Serbian). Esquire Serbia. 21 March 2018. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  31. "Drugo veče Perwoll Fashion Week-a: Nikolija prošetala pistom". Blic.rs (in Serbian). 24 October 2014. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  32. "Nisam očekivala ovoliki odziv: Nikolija lansirala svoj brend About me". idjtv.com (in Serbian). 23 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  33. "Nikolija Jovanović zaljubljena u košarkaša". hello.rs (in Serbian). 9 June 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  34. "Sve se seušilo posle dve godine, bivši dečko Nikolije Jovanović je bio ovaj poznati košarkaš". blic.rs (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  35. "Nikolija i Relja iz Elitnih Odreda u vezi već mesecima". Tracara.com (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  36. "Nikolija Jovanović i Relja Popović, ćerka stiže na jesen" (in Serbian). Story. Archived from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  37. "Story otkriva: Nikolija se porodila! Tata Relja presrećan! Ovo su detalji!". Story (in Serbian). 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  38. "Nikolija i Relja drugu ćerku dobili su pre četiri meseca, njeno ime privuklo veliku pažnju". Hello Magazine (in Serbian). 22 November 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  39. "Trudili su se svim silama da se ne sazna: OVO ime su Nikolija i Relja dali drugoj ćerki, kad čujete biće vam jasno ZAŠTO SU KRILI". Story (in Serbian). 9 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  40. "Ovako žive Nikolija i Relja na Vračaru sa ćerkicom Reom! - Paparazzo lov". YouTube (in Serbian). 21 January 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  41. "SVE PRŠTI OD LUKSUZA: Zavirite u morsko skrovište Nikolije i Relje u grčkoj prestonici". Story Magazine (in Serbian). 8 July 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  42. "Ana Nikolić i Nikolija Jovanović na OGAE takmičenju" (in Serbian). Prelistavanje.rs. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  43. "Ovo je lista dobitnika regionalnih MAC muzičkih nagrada" (in Serbian). Tracara.com. January 2019. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  44. "GLASANJE" (in Serbian). Music Awards Ceremony. December 2019. Archived from the original on 26 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
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