Marija Šestić

Marija Šestić is a Bosnian Serb singer and pianist from Banja Luka, born in 1987. She first gained international recognition representing Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with the ethno-ballad “Rijeka bez imena” (“Nameless River”). The performance in Helsinki earned her 11th place in the final​, and the song was later released in an English version titled “Never Wake Me Up”​. Following Eurovision, Šestić received significant accolades at home: she won the “Prince’s Award” for Best Debutant at the Sunčane Skale festival and was honored as Večernjakov Pečat’s “Star of the Year” for 2007​. These early achievements set the stage for her music career in the ensuing years.

Post-Eurovision Years (2008–2010)

In the years immediately after Eurovision, Marija Šestić continued to build on her success with new music and festival appearances. In 2008–2009 she focused on live performances and collaborations, including a duet with Croatian singer Jacques Houdek titled “Odavno” (“A long time ago”). The duet was presented at a regional radio festival in 2007 and remained popular on Balkan radio stations into 2008​. A major highlight came in 2010 when Šestić participated in the Sunčane Skale music festival in Herceg Novi, Montenegro. There she premiered a new single called “Tajna” (“Secret)​. Her appearance at Sunčane Skale 2010 put her back in the regional spotlight, as the festival was a prominent summer event featuring artists from across former Yugoslavia. 

International Collaborations and Live Performances (2011–2015)

From 2011 onward, Marija Šestić’s career was marked by extensive live performances and collaborative musical projects, often beyond the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina. She performed in a wide range of countries – Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, North Macedonia, Albania, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Portugal, Russia, Belarus, the UAE, China, and more – reaching diaspora audiences and international music events​. These concerts included solo shows, festival guest appearances, and cultural tours where Šestić was frequently invited to represent Bosnian music and culture abroad. Her classical training and fluent English made her a versatile ambassador on these stages.

A significant evolution in Šestić’s artistry during this period was her foray into traditional Bosnian sevdalinka and jazz fusion projects. In 2013–2015 she began collaborating with Dr. Ammar Project, a world-music ensemble led by percussionist Ammar Ćamo, which reimagined sevdalinka (traditional love songs) with contemporary arrangements. Šestić’s vocals were featured in the group’s live performances at the Sarajevo Sevdah Festival, where she delivered poignant renditions of classics like “Razbolje se šimšir list” and “Gdje si dušo, gdje si rano”​. These performances were recorded live and released as part of a 2015 album showcasing the festival, BKC Sarajevo – Sevdah Fest, highlighting Šestić’s ability to convey the soul of Bosnian folk music. She also recorded “Nikad me ne zovi” (“Do Not Call Me Ever”) with Dr. Ammar Project. 

Šestić concurrently ventured into jazz performance, frequently appearing with the Sarajevo Jazz Guerrilla ensemble. Though she modestly noted that she doesn’t consider herself a pure jazz singer, she found the genre’s freedom appealing and learned by sharing the stage with top regional jazz musicians​. 

Despite not releasing a solo album, Šestić remained highly active and visible. In interviews she explained that she prioritized collaborations with excellent musicians over pursuing a conventional solo career​. This philosophy kept her open to diverse projects. By 2015, her continued relevance was evident when she was invited to Portugal’s Eurovision Live Concert – an annual event celebrating past Eurovision stars. In September 2015, Šestić performed in Setúbal, Portugal, singing her signature “Rijeka bez imena” for an international fan audience​. 

Another important aspect of Marija Šestić’s life in this era was her role in music education. Having graduated in piano from the Banja Luka Music Academy as the institution’s youngest ever student, she went on to earn a master’s degree in music and share her expertise with others​. By the mid-2010s, Šestić was working as a piano instructor at the Academy of Arts in Banja Luka, mentoring new generations of musicians​. She served as a korepetitor (accompanist) and professor, spending her daytime hours teaching classical piano and accompanying students in performances​. This academic role ran in parallel to her singing career. Šestić found balance between the two, later noting that she feels most herself behind the piano – given her extensive training – while singing became a passionate extension of her artistry​. 

Jazz Collaborations and Artistic Growth (2016–2020)

In the late 2010s, Marija Šestić continued to refine her musical style, gravitating further towards intimate jazz settings and cross-genre performances. She became a familiar presence at regional jazz and classical crossover festivals. In 2018, Šestić was the featured hometown artist at the inaugural Intime Jazz Fest in Banja Luka’s historic Banski Dvor Cultural Center​. On November 26, 2018, she co-headlined a concert with renowned Croatian jazz pianist Matija Dedić at this festival​.

Throughout 2016–2020, Šestić maintained a steady output of live performances, often in collaboration with ensembles. She frequently performed with her own Marija Šestić Trio/Quartet or joined big band concerts, lending her voice to jazz arrangements of both local and international songs. In Sarajevo and Banja Luka, she became known for evenings of “jazzorama”, where she would sing a Duke Ellington standard, then seamlessly transition to a Bosnian folk song

By 2020, she had not released a traditional studio album, but her work appeared on several compilation and live albums (from festival recordings to guest features). For instance, her vocals are prominent on the Sarajevo Big Band’s live recordings and on tribute concerts for legendary ex-Yugoslav composers. 

Throughout the late 2010s, Marija Šestić balanced performance with her ongoing role in music education. She continued working at the Banja Luka Academy of Arts, mentoring young pianists and vocalists. By sharing her stage experiences in the classroom, she became a mentor figure to many students. She also participated in music workshops and served on juries for youth music competitions, contributing to the mentorship of aspiring artists in her community.

Recent Years and Ongoing Projects (2021–2025)

Marija Šestić entered the 2020s as an established artist celebrated for both her past hits and her present artistry. Even as the global music industry slowed down during the COVID-19 pandemic, Šestić found ways to remain active and relevant. In December 2021, Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrated its National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai, the world exposition that brought together nations for cultural exchange. Šestić was invited as one of the special musical guests representing her country on this world stage. During the National Day ceremony at Dubai’s Al Wasl Plaza, she performed alongside the popular sevdah fusion band Divanhana. Together, Šestić and Divanhana presented authentic sevdalinka songs – a moving highlight of the program that introduced Expo visitors to the emotional depth of Bosnian folk music. This performance in the UAE was a proud moment in Šestić’s career, as it symbolized her role as a cultural ambassador. Standing on a global stage, she seamlessly merged her classical poise with folkloric vocal stylings, underlining the universal appeal of her music. 

Back home, Šestić continued to appear at concerts and special events. As live performances gradually returned, she took part in local festivals and televised music specials. In 2022 and 2023, for example, she was featured in concerts organized by Bosnia’s public broadcaster, often paying homage to distinguished songwriters and historical anniversaries. In one televised concert, she might sing a classic sevdah song with the national folk orchestra; in another, she would perform a piano-and-voice rendition of a regional pop evergreen. Šestić also graced the stage of the Sarajevo Winter Festival and similar cultural festivals, aligning with themes of unity and artistic heritage. In late 2024, she participated in a Sarajevo initiative called “Kultura na ulice” (“Culture to the Streets”), which brought music and arts into public spaces. Šestić held a concert in a restored historic house as part of this program, enchanting a full audience and further cementing her status as a beloved live performer.

As a mentor and educator, Marija Šestić has continued her work at the academy into the mid-2020s. She has guided students through graduations and even collaborated with some in concert.