Maya Berović

Maja "Maya" Berović (Serbian Cyrillic: Маја Беровић; born 8 July 1987) is a Bosnian Serb singer. Born in Ilijaš, she made her recording debut in 2007. Berović gained more significant regional popularity upon the release of her sixth and seventh studio albums Viktorijina tajna (2017) and 7 (2018), on which she collaborated with Jala Brat and Buba Corelli. In 2018, she held her first major solo concert in the Belgrade Arena. As of 2023, Berović has released nine studio albums.

Maya Berović
Маја Беровић
Berović performing in 2016
Berović performing in 2016
Background information
Birth nameMaja Berović
Born (1987-07-08) 8 July 1987
Ilijaš, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2006–present
Labels

Early life

Maja Berović was born 8 July 1987 in the village of Malešići, part of the Ilijaš municipality near Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to Serb parents. Her birth name was often falsely reported as "Maida" and her ethnicity has been disputed in the media.[1][2][3] She lost her father when she was three years old.[4] Berović lived in Malešići alongside her mother and older brother until the end of the Bosnian War in 1995, when she relocated to Bratunac where her mother was originally from. In a 2016 interview, Berović described 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."[5][6]

In Bratunac, she attended school and first began practising music. From the age of 12 she used to sing in local discothèques 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.

Career

2006–2011: Career beginnings

Berović pursued a career in music as a teenager when she was signed to the Belgrade-based record label Grand Production through which she released her debut studio album Život uživo (Life Live) in August 2007.[7] It included eight tracks written by Serbian lyricist Marina Tucaković and composer Aleksandar Milić Mili. Život uživo spawned her first stand-out hit "Džin i limunada" (Gin and Lemonade). Her sophomore album, Crno zlato (Black Gold), was released in December the following year under IN Music.[8] Her third album, Maya, was released in February 2011 featuring popular ballad "Djevojačko prezime" (Maiden Surname), which was declared the Hit of the Year in Sarajevo.[9]

2012–2015: Djevojka sa juga and Opasne vode

In October 2012, Berović released Djevojka sa juga (Girl from the South) under City Records.[10] The following year, she held her first performance in Belgrade.[11] In April 2014, Berović participated in Pink Music Festival with a club-oriented song called "Alkohol" (Alcohol).[12] The song served as the lead single for her next album, Opasne vode (Dangerous Waters), which was released on 27 October 2014.[13] In addition to an updated and slightly different sound, the new record was also accompanied by a new image.[14][15] Both Djevojka sa juga and Opasne vode were sold in the circulation of 50,000 copies.[16][17]

2016–2019: Viktorijina tajna and 7

In March 2016, Berović released her single "Pauza" (Break) singing in Ekavian dialect instead of Ijekavian, which is dominantly spoken in Bosnia. The transition saw criticism from the audience, which perceived that Maya was trying to appeal more to Serbian market. In her own defense, Berović stated that the choice was made due to the fact that the song was written by Serbian songwriters.[18] However, she continued singing in Ekavian even when working with Bosnian songwriters.

On her 29th birthday, Berović released "To me radi" (That Makes Me) featuring Bosnian rappers and producers Jala Brat and Buba Corelli.[19] She continued working with the duo on her commercially acclaimed album Viktorijina tajna (Victoria's Secret), which was released on 2 July 2017 through City Records.[20] It was sold in 50,000 copies.[21] All nine music videos from the album have collectively accumulated over 340 million views on YouTube, as of December 2022. To promote it, Berović embarked on a regional tour which also included dates in the United States.[22]

The following July, she released her subsequent seventh studio album through XL Elit Invest.[23][24] It included nine tracks, written by Jala Brat and Buba Corelli,[24] which have collectively as of December 2022 amassed over 350 million views and over 18 million streams on Spotify. The album featured a duet titled "Pravo vreme" (Right Time) with Buba Corelli, which alone has collected over 130 million views and is recognized as one of the most viewed music videos by an Ex-Yu artist.[25] In November 2018, as a part of her regional tour, also called Pravo Vreme, Berović performed a sold-out show in the Belgrade Arena.[26] According to media reports, the concert was also one of the fastest selling events in the venue's history.[26]

On 1 November 2019, she released a standalone double A-side, "Zmaj" (Dragon) and "Uloga" (Role), which would become her last collaborations with Jala and Buba.[27]

2020–2023: Intime and Milion

In July 2020, Berović held an online concert via Serbian streaming service YouBox.[28] It was viewed by 260,000 people.[29] On 6 August the same year, Maya released her eight studio album Intime (Intimacies).[30] The songs from the album were dominantly written by music duo Alex and Nikki Caneras. Intime is consisted of ten tracks accompanied by music videos, which have collectively accumulated over a hundred million views by the end of the year.[31] In October, Berović released a makeup collection titled Maya Beauty Line.[32]

Her song "Alkohol" was featured in the 2022 Netflix movie The Swimmers.[33] In December 2022, Berović released a standalone single "Ale ale", which is a cover of a song by Albanian singer Xhensila Myrtezaj.[34] In July 2023, Berović released her ninth studio album, entitled Milion (Million).[35]

Personal life

On 31 July 2016, Berović married Alen Dragosav.[36] On 21 February 2022, Berović welcomed her first son, named Lav.[37]

She currently reside between Graz, Austria and Belgrade, Serbia.[38] Berović is an Eastern Orthodox Christian.[39]

Maya reached the milestone of one million followers on Instagram in October 2020.[40]

Philanthropy

In July 2019, Berović showed her support for the LGBTQ+ community in Bosnia and Herzegovina by inviting people to the first ever Sarajevo Pride, held on 8 September 2019.[41]

Discography
Maya Berović discography
Studio albums9
Live albums1
Compilation albums1
Singles23

Studio albums
Title Details Peak chart positions
AUT
[42]		 SUI
[43]
Život uživo ——
Crno zlato
  • Released: December 2008
  • Label: IN Music s.r.o.
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
 ——
Maya
  • Released: 17 February 2011
  • Label: BN Music
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
 ——
Djevojka sa juga
  • Released: 17 October 2012
  • Label: City Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
 ——
Opasne vode
  • Released: 27 October 2014
  • Label: City Records, DH Music
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
 ——
Viktorijina tajna
  • Released: 2 July 2017
  • Label: City Records, Imperia
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
 ——
7
  • Released: 8 July 2018
  • Label: Spinnup, Imperia
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
 ——
Intime
  • Released: 6 August 2020
  • Label: XL Elit, Leona
  • Format: CD, memory stick, digital download, streaming
 1230
Milion
  • Released: 14 July 2023
  • Label: XL Elit
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 ——

Compilation albums
Title Details
The Best of Collection (17 vanvremenskih hitova)
  • Released: December 2017
  • Label: City Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming

Live albums
Title Details
Koncert (Live at Štark Arena 2018)
  • Released: 2 December 2021
  • Label: XL Elit
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles
Title Year Album
"Džin i limunada" 2007 Život uživo
"Kriva rijeka"
"100 dinara"
"Sedativ" 2008 Crno zlato
"Crno zlato"
"Uspomene"
"Koliko te ludo volim ja" 2009 non-album single
"Djevojačko prezime" 2011 Maya
"Voljela sam s tobom sve"
"Kaldrma"
"Amajlija"
"Leti ptico slobodno" 2012 Djevojka sa juga
"Alkohol" 2014 Opasne vode
"Čime me drogiraš"
"Pauza" 2016 non-album single
"To me radi"
(featuring Jala Brat and Buba Corelli)		 Viktorijina tajna
"Izvini tata" non-album singles
"Legalna"
(with Leon)		 2017
"Problem"
(with Aca Lukas)		 2019 Uspavanka za ozbiljne bebe
"Zmaj" / "Uloga"[lower-alpha 1] Intime
"Rampampam"
(with Caneras)		 2021 non-album singles
"Ale ale" 2022
"Do kostiju" 2023

Notes
  1. "Uloga" and "Zmaj" are included in the physical editions of Intime only.

References
  1. ""Ja sam Srpkinja i ponosim se time": Maja Berović otkrila koje je njeno pravo ime". www.telegraf.rs. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  2. "Maya Berović o porijeklu: Ja sam Srpkinja i ponosim se time". nezavisne.com (in Serbian). 15 August 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-21.
  3. "Ne znam zašto misle da se stvarno zovem Maida". mondo.rs (in Serbian). 15 August 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-21.
  4. "Njene pesme znaju svi, ali ne i životnu priču: Maya Berović prvi put o ODRASTANJU BEZ OCA, POČETKU KARIJERE I POROCIMA!". 20 September 2017.
  5. "Maja Berović o odrastanju: Nisam bila ni svesna užasa kakav je rat". Svet. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  6. "POTRESNA SEĆANJA". Srbija Danas. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  7. "Maya-Život uživo". Discogs. 2007.
  8. "Maya-Crno zlato". Discogs. 2008.
  9. "Maya Berović dobila nagradu za hit godine!" (in Bosnian). Svet. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  10. "Djevojka sa juga". Discogs. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  11. "POPULARNA SARAJKA Maya napravila lom na svom prvom nastupu u Beogradu". Doznajemo.com. 21 April 2013. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  12. "Pesma Maye Berović najslušanija: Ko je vaš favorit na Pink festivalu?". Svet. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  13. "Opasne vode". Discogs. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  14. "Znate li ko je ovo? Pevačica uz nove pesme promoviše i novi stajling!". Svet. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  15. "Poslušajte novi album Maye Berović!". Folk estrada. 18 October 2014. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  16. "Devojka sa juga (Zvučni snimak)". Cobiss.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  17. "Opasne vode (Zvučni snimak)". Cobiss.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  18. "ODGOVORILA // Pevačica je POLUDELA zbog negativnih komentara: Rešila je svima da ODGOVORI i da im ZAPUŠI USTA!". Opera17.rs (in Serbian). 26 March 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  19. "Pogledajte šta najbolje radi plavušu Maju Berović". Puls. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  20. "Stigla "Viktorijina tajna"! Poslušajte ceo album Maje Berović". Tracara.com (in Serbian). 2 July 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  21. "Opasne Vode (Zvučni snimak)". Cobiss.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  22. "Maja Berović se ZADRŽALA U AMERICI, a evo i zbog čega!". Pink.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  23. "Poslušajte novi album Maje Berović, "Seven"". Tracara.com (in Serbian). 8 July 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  24. "KONAČNO UGLEDAO SVETLOST DANA: Stigao "Seven", Maja Berović nikad provokativnija". Blic.rs (in Serbian). 8 July 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  25. Jovićević, P. (26 June 2020). "Srpski spotovi probili rekord od 100 miliona na Jutjubu". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  26. Tozev, Lj. (3 November 2018). "NEOČEKIVANI PROBLEMI Maja Berović u Areni pevala pred 20.000 ljudi, a evo šta joj se dogodilo malo pred koncert". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  27. Tozev, Lj. (4 November 2019). "OVA ŽENA IZGLEDA KAO MILION DOLARA Evo zbog čega je Maja Berović TEMA DANA u Srbiji". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  28. "Maja Berović prvi put na YOUBOXU". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). 17 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  29. Dejanović, M. (20 July 2020). "Online koncert Maje Berović ispratilo čak 260.000 ljudi". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  30. Jovović, P. (6 August 2020). "Maja Berović objavila novi vizuelni album "Intime"". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  31. Jovović, P. (29 December 2020). "Maja Berović ostvarila zavidan uspeh u 2020. godini". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  32. Stoisavljević, L. (10 October 2020). "Da li je ovo šminka Maje Berović ili čuvenog svetskog brenda". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  33. Mišić, V. (5 December 2022). "Maja Berović završila u "Netfliksovom" filmu: Svi pričaju o ovoj sceni". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  34. Mišić, V. (17 December 2022). "Maja Berović odgovorila hejterima na prozivke zbog prepevane pesme". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  35. Vasiljević, N. (17 July 2023). ""Muž mi je platio prvi album": Maja Berović o počecima, zaradi i estradi". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  36. "Da joj nije bilo verenika, njena karijera ne bi bila ovakva: On me bezuslovno podržava, veliki mi je oslonac u životu!". Alo.rs. 21 December 2014. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  37. Lazić, N. (24 February 2022). "Maja Berović objavila prvu fotografiju naslednika". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  38. "Maja Berović: Zbog ljubavi sam napustila Bosnu". Story. 10 August 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  39. "LJUDI, JA SAM PRAVOSLAVKA! ŠTO JE TO ČUDNO? Maja Berović udala se u crkvi u Grčkoj, a ovako će proslaviti VASKRS!". Kurir (in Serbian). 17 April 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  40. Jovović, P. (13 October 2020). "Maja Berović dogurala do milion pratilaca na Instagramu". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  41. Pandurević, Dragana (23 July 2019). "Naklon do poda za Mayu Berović i video kojim je podržala Paradu ponosa". Noizz.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 26 July 2021.
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