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Maya BerovićМаја Беровић
Berović performing in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Maja Berović
Born	(1987-07-08) 8 July 1987 (age 37) Ilijaš, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia
Genres	Pop-folk electropop
Occupation	Singer
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Grand City BN Music Imperia [bs] XL Elit Invest

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 with the album Život uživo. It was followed by four other moderately successful releases: Crno zlato (2008), Maya (2011), Djevojka sa juga (2012) and Opasne vode (2014).

Following the initial ten years of her career, Berović rose to substantial regional popularity by collaborating with rappers Jala Brat and Buba Corelli on her albums Viktorijina tajna (2017) and 7 (2018). Her song "Pravo vreme" is one of the most-viewed music videos by an Ex-Yu artist. During her first major headline Pravo Vreme Tour, Berović performed in the sold-out Belgrade Arena, in November 2018, and broke the record for the most visited concert in the venue.

Subsequently, she released Intime (2020) and Milion (2023).

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. She lost her father when she was three years old. 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."

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

Berović began performing professionally during her early teenage years. In August 2007, her debut album, Život uživo, was released through Grand Production. The album, which was written by Marina Tucaković and produced by Aleksandar Milić Mili, spawned the popular song "Džin i limunada". Život uživo was followed by Crno zlato, released in December 2008 under IN Music. Subsequently, in February 2011, Berović released her third self-titled album through BN Music. It produced "Djevojačko prezime", which Berović describes as her signature hit. The song also won the award for the 'Hit of the Year' in Sarajevo

In October 2012, Maya released Djevojka sa juga under the Belgrade-based label City Records. The following April, she also had her first performance in Belgrade. In April 2014, Berović participated in the Pink Music Festival with a club-oriented song, called "Alkohol", produced by Damir Handanović. The song was later featured in the 2022 Netflix movie The Swimmers. Subsequently after its release, "Alkohol" was included to her fifth album, Opasne vode, released on 27 October 2014. In addition to an updated and slightly different sound, the new record was also accompanied by a new image. According to Berović, the album marked an important milestone of her gaining popularity in Serbia. Both Djevojka sa juga and Opasne vode were sold in 50,000 copies each. In March 2016, Berović released her commercially successful single "Pauza" 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 had been made due to the fact that the song was written by Serbian songwriters. However, she continued singing in Ekavian even when working with Bosnian songwriters.

On her 29th birthday, Berović released the single "To me radi" featuring Bosnian rappers and producers Jala Brat and Buba Corelli. Its music video amassed over 70 million views. She continued working with the duo on her commercially acclaimed album Viktorijina tajna, which was released on 2 July 2017 through City Records. It was sold in 50,000 copies. As of December 2022, all nine music videos from the album have collectively accumulated over 340 million views on YouTube. To promote it, Berović embarked on a regional tour, which additionally included dates in the United States. The following July, she released her subsequent seventh studio album through her independent label XL Elit Invest. It included nine tracks, again written and produced by Jala Brat and Buba Corelli, which have collectively, as of December 2022, amassed over 350 million views and over 18 million streams on Spotify. The album featured a duet with Buba Corelli, titled "Pravo vreme", which alone has collected over 130 million views and is recognized as one of the most viewed music videos by an Ex-Yu artist. In November 2018, as a part of her regional tour, also called Pravo Vreme, Berović held a concert in the Belgrade Arena to 18,000 people. According to the media reports, the concert was also one of the fastest-selling events in the venue's history.

In July 2020, Berović held an online concert via Serbian streaming service YouBox, which was viewed by 260,000 people. On 6 August, Maya released her eight studio album, titled Intime. The album charted in Austria and Switzerland. Ten tracks from Intime collectively accumulated over one hundred million views by the end of the year. In October, Berović released a makeup collection, called Maya Beauty Line. Her ninth album, Million, was released in July 2023.

Personal life

On 31 July 2016, Berović married Alen Dragosav. On 21 February 2022, Berović welcomed her first son, named Lav. She currently reside between Graz, Austria and Belgrade, Serbia. Berović is an Eastern Orthodox Christian.

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

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.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Live albums

Singles

Tours

Headlining

• Viktorijina tajna Tour (2018)
• Pravo Vreme Tour (2018-2019)

Co - headlining

• USA Tour (2017)

Notes

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

References

1. Čunković, M. (30 December 2018). "DŽala, Buba, Maja i Rasta tinejdžerska božanstva". Novosti.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 8 December 2023.
2. ^ Jovićević, P. (26 June 2020). "Srpski spotovi probili rekord od 100 miliona na Jutjubu". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
3. ""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.
4. "Maya Berović o porijeklu: Ja sam Srpkinja i ponosim se time". nezavisne.com (in Serbian). 15 August 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-21.
5. "Ne znam zašto misle da se stvarno zovem Maida". mondo.rs (in Serbian). 15 August 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-21.
6. "Njene pesme znaju svi, ali ne i životnu priču: Maya Berović prvi put o ODRASTANJU BEZ OCA, POČETKU KARIJERE I POROCIMA!". 20 September 2017.
7. "Maja Berović o odrastanju: Nisam bila ni svesna užasa kakav je rat". Svet. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
8. "POTRESNA SEĆANJA". Srbija Danas. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
9. ^ Radulović, Z. (24 November 2023). "Maja se slomila zbog pokojnog oca: "Rekli su mi da ide da primi bocu i da će mi doći, a znala sam da neće..."". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 4 December 2023.
10. "Maya Berović dobila nagradu za hit godine!" (in Bosnian). Svet. 14 December 2011. 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. Mišić, V. (5 December 2022). "Maja Berović završila u "Netfliksovom" filmu: Svi pričaju o ovoj sceni". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 17 December 2022.
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) (in Serbian). ISBN 978-86-7808-960-2. Retrieved 17 December 2022. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
17. Opasne vode (Zvučni snimak) (in Serbian). ISBN 978-86-527-0087-5. Retrieved 17 December 2022. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
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) (in Serbian). ISBN 978-86-527-0087-5. Retrieved 17 December 2022. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
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. ^ 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.
26. "Maja Berović prvi put na YOUBOXU". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). 17 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
27. Dejanović, M. (20 July 2020). "Online koncert Maje Berović ispratilo čak 260.000 ljudi". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
28. Jovović, P. (6 August 2020). "Maja Berović objavila novi vizuelni album "Intime"". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
29. Jovović, P. (29 December 2020). "Maja Berović ostvarila zavidan uspeh u 2020. godini". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
30. Stoisavljević, L. (10 October 2020). "Da li je ovo šminka Maje Berović ili čuvenog svetskog brenda". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 July 2022.
31. 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.
32. "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.
33. Lazić, N. (24 February 2022). "Maja Berović objavila prvu fotografiju naslednika". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
34. "Maja Berović: Zbog ljubavi sam napustila Bosnu". Story. 10 August 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
35. "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.
36. Jovović, P. (13 October 2020). "Maja Berović dogurala do milion pratilaca na Instagramu". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 February 2022.
37. 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.
38. • For Intime: "Maya Berović - Intime". Austrian Charts (in Austrian German). Retrieved 27 July 2023.
39. • For Intime: "Maya Berović - Intime". Schweizer Hitparade (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 27 July 2023.
40. • For "Ne računaj na mene": "Croatia Songs (Week of February 10, 2024)". Billboard. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.

External links

• Official website
• Maya Berović discography at Discogs

• 1987 births
• Living people
• People from Ilijaš
• People from Bratunac
• 21st-century Bosnia and Herzegovina women singers
• Bosnia and Herzegovina folk-pop singers
• Grand Production artists
• City Records artists
• BN Music artists
• Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Eastern Orthodox Christians from Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriates in Serbia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriates in Austria