Karolina Gočeva

​Karolina Gočeva was born on April 28, 1980, in Bitola, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. At just ten years old, she performed Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” at the “Šaram Baram” children’s show in Bitola. This early exposure led her to participate in various music festivals, including the “Si-Do” children’s festival in 1991 and “Makfest” in Štip, where she performed “Mamo, pušti me” (“Mom, Let Me Go”). This song became the title track of her debut children’s album released in 1992.

Throughout the 1990s, Karolina became a regular participant in Macedonian music festivals, notably “Skopje Fest.” She debuted there in 1994 with “Koj da ti kaže” (“Who Told You”) and continued to compete in subsequent years, gaining recognition for her vocal talent. In 2000, she signed with Avalon Production and released her first adult studio album, “Jas Imam Pesna” (“I Have a Song”). The album featured notable tracks like “Sakaj me” (“Love Me”), “Bez ogled na se” (“No Matter What”), and “Nemir” (“Restlessness”), a duet with the late Macedonian singer Toše Proeski.​

In 2002, Karolina represented Macedonia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Tallinn with the song “Od nas zavisi” (“It Depends on Us”), finishing in 19th place. Undeterred, she released her second album, “Zošto Sonot Ima Kraj” (“Why Does the Dream Have an End”), which included songs like “Ti možeš” (“You Can”) and “Jamajka” (“Jamaica”). Her growing popularity in the Balkans led her to record songs in Serbian, broadening her appeal across former Yugoslav countries.​

Her third album, “Znaeš Kolku Vredam” (“You Know How Much I’m Worth”), was released in 2003, followed by a Serbian version titled “Kad zvezde nam se sklope… kao nekada” (“When the Stars Align… Like Before”). In 2005, she released “Vo Zaborav” (“In Oblivion”) and its Serbian counterpart “U Zaboravu,” featuring hits like “Se lažam sebe” (“I’m Lying to Myself”) and “Ruža Ružica” (“Red Rose”).​

Karolina returned to Eurovision in 2007, representing Macedonia with “Mojot svet” (“My World”) in Helsinki. She successfully qualified from the semi-finals and achieved 14th place in the final. This period also saw her experimenting with traditional Macedonian music. In 2008, she released “Makedonsko Devojče” (“Macedonian Girl”), an album blending pop with traditional Macedonian sounds. The collaboration with composer Zlatko Origjanski received critical acclaim and solidified her status as a versatile artist.

Continuing this exploration, Karolina released “Makedonsko Devojče 2” in 2014, further delving into Macedonian folk influences. The album’s success led to sold-out concerts in Macedonia, Serbia, and Bulgaria, highlighting her widespread appeal. In 2018, she released “Izvor” (“Source”), continuing her fusion of traditional and contemporary music styles.​

In 2022, Karolina collaborated with Duke Bojadziev and Ismail Lumanovski to release “Pesni za Ljubov i Kopnež” (“Songs for Love and Longing”). This album featured reinterpretations of Macedonian songs from the 1950s to the 1970s, showcasing her commitment to preserving and revitalizing the nation’s musical heritage. As of 2024, she announced plans for a new pop-oriented album, preceded by singles “Od nebo do dno” (“From Sky to Bottom”) and “Daj na sunce” (“Give to the Sun”), with a scheduled release at the end of the year.​

Beyond her music career, Karolina has been active in various social campaigns, including efforts against drug use, uterine cancer, and gender-based violence.