E.N.I.

Four Girls From Rijeka: The Origins of E.N.I.

E.N.I. is a Croatian pop girl group from Rijeka, consisting of members Ivona Maričić, Iva Močibob, Elena Tomeček Zdjelar, and Nikolina Tomljanović. The name E.N.I. uses the first letters of three of the girls’ first names. All four founding members came from the Rijeka-based supergroup Putokazi. Just like the Rijeka group Put four years earlier, E.N.I. grew directly out of Putokazi. In late 1996, before they even released a solo single, the group appeared on a special presentation album called Putokazi predstavljaju: E.N.I. i Vivien Galetta, which introduced them alongside another new Rijeka singer. That early release gave Croatian audiences a first taste of what the four women could do together.

Dora 1997 and the Road to Dublin

In early 1997, E.N.I. entered Dora, Croatia’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. HRT held Dora 1997 on 9 March at the Crystal Ballroom of Hotel Kvarner in Opatija, hosted by Ljudevit Grgurić Grga, with 20 entries competing. The winner was decided by 20 regional juries. E.N.I.’s song “Probudi me” won the contest with 170 points, finishing 9 points ahead of runner-up Petar Grašo. The song, which translates as “Wake Me Up”, had music composed by Davor Tolja and lyrics by Alida Šarar. Subsequently, at the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 in Dublin, E.N.I. came 17th with a total of 24 points. Despite the modest result, the group had firmly established their name across Croatia.

First Albums and Building a Fanbase

After their Eurovision appearance, E.N.I. wasted no time building a discography. Their debut studio album, also titled Probudi me, came out in 1997 and spawned two additional singles, “Mi možemo sve” and “Ljubav je tu”. Their second studio album, Saten, followed in 1998 through Orfej, producing three singles: “Ljubav je tu”, “Kap po kap”, and “You’re The One”. Rather than resting on the attention their Dora victory had brought them, the group kept releasing music and performing at major Croatian festivals. They also took the stage at Zadarfest, Arena Fest, and the festival of Split, showing a commitment to live performance that helped them develop a loyal and enthusiastic following throughout Croatia.

Collaborations, Politics, and Pride

Around the turn of the millennium, E.N.I. stepped beyond their own records and embraced collaboration. In 2000, while on a break from solo recording, the group appeared on several songs with other artists, including “Košulja plava” with Šajeta and “Profesor Jakov” with rock band Let 3. That same year, together with many other rock musicians, they publicly supported the Social Democratic Party of Croatia and other opposition parties during the 2000 parliamentary elections. Moreover, in 2002, they released the collaborative track “Treba mi vremena” with Rijeka-based rock band En Face. Then, on 14 June 2004, the group appeared at the Zagreb Pride parade and festival, where they performed a set of songs. They showed they were never afraid to take a stand.

Awards, New Albums, and Continued Success

In 2003, E.N.I. signed with Dallas Records and released their third studio album, Da Capo, on 9 June 2003. The album featured 10 cover versions of popular Yugoslav songs from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Their fourth album followed in 2007. Oči su ti ocean was released through Dallas Records and included two commercially strong tracks: the title single “Oči su ti ocean” and “Traži se dečko”. At the 2007 Porin Awards, the group won Best Group Vocal Performance for “Oči su ti ocean”, while also earning a nomination for Best Pop Album.Furthermore, a Best of E.N.I. compilation appeared in December 2008, gathering the group’s biggest hits alongside two new songs: “Polaroid” and “Crna kutija”.

E.N.I. Today

E.N.I. have continued releasing music well into the 2020s, proving they remain one of Croatia’s most durable pop acts. Their releases include the singles “chill cat” (2023), “Hatter” (2024), and the album Ouija, which appeared in April 2025. Unlike most Eurovision acts who later faded from view, E.N.I. maintained their presence in the Croatian music industry thanks to strong vocal talent and regular collaborations with other artists, particularly rock musicians from their home city of Rijeka. After nearly three decades together, the four women of E.N.I. show no signs of stopping.