For his project Nikola envisioned two things: the creation of an electro-pop single combining Montenegrin and international urban sounds; and a series of workshops on music production. Both through the eclectic genre of the reconfigured “Još ne sviće rujna zora” and through the practical song production workshops, Nikola hoped to bring young listeners and artists into the foreground of the Montenegrin music scene. Nicola gathered a dynamic team of musicians, singers and audio producers, who produce two versions of the mentioned “Balkan evergreen” song. He then promoted the song across Montenegro and the wider Balkans to reach an estimated 500,000 listeners on streaming platforms. The song was chosen precisely because its origin is debated, and its modern iterations span from Bosnian to Croatian to Serbian to versions by Spanish Gypsy orchestras. Nikola has already been approached by representatives from the Ministry of Culture who are interested in revamping other traditional songs, possibly expanding his original concept to include collaborations with artists from other Balkan countries. 23
Project of the MOST Urban Creatives Page 24 Page 26