The unbearable Sarajevo smog and the extremely complex socio-political reality of Bosnia and Herzegovina have given rise to a unique versatile artistic collective called Helem Nejse. It was born out of the need of talented young students to “scream” through the media space and showcase their musical, acting, writing, and production talents. Not so long ago, in 2014, they took over the radio waves of Bosnia and Herzegovina, launching their first radio show, the “Helem Nejse Radio Show,” which quickly became the most listened-to program in the country. During their work on the collage-style content of the show, various comedic and satirical sketches were created, which soon led to their first original theater production performed in the packed iconic Sarajevo Kamerni Teatar 55, as well as hip hop-reggae songs that found their way to their first album, often considered a classic, “Go u Gostima” (2017).
The lyrics of their songs are love-themed, socially engaged, inspired by real characters and events in society and their immediate surroundings, often containing humorous quips, and many lines have over time become established parts of urban slang in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In an interview with Belgrade’s Politika, critic Vrač Momir described Helem Nejse as “a fresh perspective on the world.” Their concerts are energetic, requiring excellent physical fitness, and the interaction with the audience and breaking the fourth wall makes them authentic compared to other acts.
“Helem Nejse incorporates elements of theater in their performances, which distinguishes them at this moment and makes them truly irresistible live performers. They are a breath of fresh air in every sense as they represent young people whose common-sense social engagement and criticism shine through.” (Zoran Stajčić, music critic, ravnododna.com)
They have performed at numerous festivals across the region and Europe, including OK FEST, Mostar Summer Fest, Exit Festival, Pomurski Poletni Festival, Ferragosto Jam, Seasplash, Kaleidoskop, Dfest, CMC Festival, Asphalt Festival Dusseldorf, and BeerFest Bijeljina, as well as holding dozens of solo concerts in Sarajevo, Zagreb, Belgrade, Novi Sad, Vienna, Munich, Mostar, Tuzla, Skopje, etc. In June 2022, they held a fantastic concert with the Sarajevo Philharmonic (56 musicians) as part of the Red Bull Symphonica at the Sarajevo National Theatre.
They have released three studio albums, one EP, and over 30 music videos:
– “Go u Gostima” (2017) EMDC
– “Pola Čovjek Pola Jedan” (2019) Croatia Records
– “Gluten Tag” (2020) Croatia Records
– “Eco Reggae Session” (2021) Independent
They have collaborated with major regional stars such as Dubioza Kolektiv, Edo Maajka, Frenkie, Marko Louis, Letu Štuke, Božo Vrećo, and Amira Medunjanin, and their most popular hits include “Kabadahija,” “Bosnia,” “Debili,” “Pionirska,” “More Than Weed,” “Kule i Gradovi,” “Go u Gostima,” “Maza,” and more.
“They are musically interesting and exciting, with production that is flawless. An exceptionally pleasant surprise from a genuinely intriguing group whose lyrics deserve careful listening, as they do not speak without reason, but rather very thoughtfully and stylishly. It’s only a matter of time before they start filling venues.” (Dubravko Jagatić, music critic, nacional.hr)
The Helem Nejse artistic collective is also behind the regionally popular animated series “Bruca Braca Bruda Brada” and the youth late-night show “Helem Nejse Late Nightmare Show,” both of which have garnered millions of views on YouTube. In addition to numerous projects, they have created songs for campaigns by the Dogs Trust Foundation, UNICEF, OLX.ba, Gorenje, Bingo, and worked on the title song for the documentary series “Neuspjeh prvaka” produced by Arena Sport, while the song “Lagana Zadava” found its place in the latest film by Bosnian director Pjer Žalica, “Praznik rada.”
“Helem Nejse is very much engaged in activism, not only through music but also through radio and video content, where they combine humor, reality, and art to comment on everyday life. The guys have a cool, laid-back vibe; they are different, not swayed by the influences that most follow, and that’s likely their ticket to success.” (Goran Terzić, music critic, ziher.hr)
The complete artistic portfolio of music, radio shows, podcasts, cartoons, and theatrical sketches does not confine the group Helem Nejse to a specific genre, but rather gives them the necessary breadth to directly hit a highly diverse audience. However, they claim that they are not the best, but they are the only ones. In the fall of 2023, they released their fourth studio album, “Ozbiljna Zaebancija,” announced with the singles “Ruža” featuring Amira Medunjanin and “Taiwan.”