Bilja Krstić

Bilja has been on the Yugoslav pop scene for a long time. Her stage experience started at her very young age in Chorus of Youth; later, in the 1970s, she was a member of the cult bands Suncokret, and Rani Mraz, one led by Bora Đorđević and the other by Đorđe Balašević. After the break-up of Rani Mraz, she went solo. Her first album was released in 1983. She has released three pop-oriented records, and did music for many theatre shows at Belgrade's National Theatre. In the meantime, she graduated from University of Musical Arts, and started to work as a Music Editor on Radio Belgrade.

After successful career in pop music, Bilja Krstić has decided to record material close to her heart ever since her childhood. For more than five years, she was patiently collecting obscure folk songs from the territories of Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Greece. The results were the albums Bistrik (2001) and Zapisi (2003). Album Bistrik was re-released by V2-Greece record label, in May 2002.

Her third folk Album, Tarpoš, was released across Europe in early 2007, under the licence of German record label Intuition/Schott Music and gained great success amongst World Music critics and audience (Magazine Songlines, London – Top of the world, and TRADMagazine, France - “Bravos”). The Fourth, very insteresting a capella album, The Wellspring released 2013 (PGP-RTS) and fifth, Svod under the licence of England record label ARC Music (2016).

The music performed by Bilja Krstić is a fusion, blend of traditional ethno music, a cappella songs and ethno grooves with elements of improvisation and modern music approach. Their aim is to translate folklore into contemporary art, their performances to awaken the heart and give rebirth and energy to forgotten emotions. Her sincere stage presence and beautiful voice received great acclaim at more than 600 concerts across the world and in her home country; it was best acknowledged when she was invited as the only female vocal performer from Mediterranean at festival "Mostra Sesc de Artes" in São Paulo in 2005. At the time, she was a member of "Mediterraneo Orchestra", formed of about 25 top musicians from all over the world.

With Suncokret:

Singles:

• "Gde ćeš biti, lepa Kejo" / "Pusto more, pusti vali" (1976)
• "Rock 'n' Roll duku duku" / "Gili gili blues" (1976)
• "Oj, nevene" / "Tekla voda" (ZKP RTLJ 1976)
• "Imam pesmu za sve ljude" / "Čovek koga znam" (1978)

Albums:

• Moje bube (1977)

With Rani Mraz:

Singles:

• "Računajte na nas" / "Strašan žulj" (1978)
• "Oprosti mi Katrin" / "Život je more" (1978)
• "Panonski mornar" / "Moja draga sad je u Japanu" (1979)
• "Lagana stvar" / "Prvi januar (popodne)" (1979)

Albums:

• Mojoj mami umesto maturske slike u izlogu (1979)
• Odlazi cirkus (1980)

Solo albums:

• Prevari večeras svoje društvo sa mnom (1983)
• Iz unutrasnjeg džepa (1985)
• Loptom do zvezda (1990)
• Bilja (1994)

With Bistrik Orchestra:

• Bistrik (2001)
• Zapisi (2003)
• Tarpoš (2007)
• Izvorištе (2013)
• Svod (2017)

She worked with Tenores di Bitti "Mialinu Pira", David D`Or, Marta Sebestyen, Yanka Rupkina, Amira Medunjanin, Tamara Obrovac, Bojan Zulfikarpašić, Vlatko Stefanovski, Nenad Vasilić, Magda Dourado Pucci, Grupa "Synthesis", Vasko Atanasovski, Vlado Kreslin,

Bora Dugić, Boban Marković and Marko Marković and others.

• Bilja Krstic's official website