With her voice, stage energy, and maturity that transcends generational boundaries, Sara Vojičić has managed to combine what many consider incompatible: metal music and musical theatre. A violinist and former aspiring ballerina, she has grown into a stunning vocalist, or perhaps one could say, her genetics have triumphed.
Sara Vojičić is the daughter of Bosnian rock legend Mladen Vojičić Tifa, but she is building her career not on her father’s fame, but entirely through her own work. She is a rare example of authentic talent that does not seek shortcuts. As the lead vocalist of the metal band Dolia, she operates between Sarajevo and Zagreb, yet the entire world is her stage.
Sara began attending music school at the age of eight, receiving years of instruction from renowned violinist Violeta Smailović-Huart. She envisioned a career in classical music, but her path took a turn in her first year of high school when she joined a metal band as a violinist.
“Music found me, because metal is the music of rebellion, a fight against the system. Today, it encompasses many directions, and in it, one can find classical musicians, hard rockers, and even fans of ethno melodies,” Vojičić emphasises.
Although she sang from a young age, she began building her professional career in musical theatre in Sarajevo and later in Zagreb. At 17, she intensified her vocal education at the Institute for Music, Theatre, and Multimedia (iMTM), training for musical theatre under opera soloist Melisa Hajrulahović and music pedagogue Alma Ferović-Fazlić.
She gathered knowledge from professors at the Royal Academy in London, vocal coaches from Los Angeles, and many others through various seminars and workshops. In 2016, she landed her first role in the musical “Annie” in an iMTM production. Unlike her father, Sara entered a time when her peers and even younger audiences preferred different musical directions.
“I respect what was once considered folk music, but that’s not the path I would take. My path is certainly harder, because I chose to build my career through metal and musical theatre. But it all depends on one’s goal. My goal is to do what I love and present it to people in a way that feels right to me. Staying true to myself and doing what I love is more important,” explains Vojičić.
She does not want to be seen through the lens of her successful father, but as someone forging her own path, even though it would have been easier to lean on his fame.
“Of course, I cannot escape it; people will always make the connection. I’m proud of him, but I believe I’ve proven that all these years, I haven’t built my career based on his name. I could never forgive myself if I built something on his reputation without sweating for it,” says Vojičić.
However, she cannot, and no longer wishes to, avoid questions about when she will record a duet with her father.
“We’ve already done it. When I was little, I wrote a song called ‘Nada’ for children with cancer, and we sang it together. We have that duet, but I would love to record a real duet now. If you had asked me a year and a half ago, I probably would have said I wanted to finish my album first. But now that I’ve created opportunities for myself, I would love to have a duet,” Vojičić shares.
Currently, she is working on a new production at the iMTM theatre. At the beginning of January, she will release a new single with her band, followed by an album later in the year.
“Musical theatre and metal music have shaped me in parallel, and the album I’m working on with my band is very similar to the concept of musical theatre. All my vocal expression comes from what I learned in musical theatre – singing with a story. This journey took me beyond our country, to Croatia, helped me grow as a singer, and freed me from perfectionism. In the studio, I can repeat as much as I want, but in theatre, every performance is different. I’ve learned to appreciate the perfection of imperfection, balance these two worlds, and use everything I have in the best way,” Sara told Visit BiH magazine.
Since she mostly sings in English, she revealed that one song will also be performed in Bosnian.
“A lot of things are brewing. As a band, we’ve wanted to create a rock opera. I have plenty of ideas and people around me who can help bring them to life. The band’s album is definitely the priority now, followed perhaps by solo singles,” adds Vojičić.
Although Sarajevo is her city, she was born in Stuttgart, Germany.
“I like to joke that my parents imported me to Bosnia. I was born in Germany, spent three months there, and then they brought me to Bosnia. Other than what my passport says, Germany has nothing to do with me,” Vojičić says honestly.
She emphasises that Bosnia is her homeland, and she prefers spending her free time in the mountains.
“We shot our first video at the very top of Bjelašnica Mountain. When I climbed there, I felt the peace and saw the landscape, realising the wealth we have. The mountains are my favourite escape, and I think we’re not fully aware of how lucky we are to be in Sarajevo, surrounded by mountains. I especially love the village of Umoljani, where we spent a lot of time during filming. And it’s even better when, after breathing in the mountain air, you enjoy a hot pie or a sweet pastry. When it comes to that, I’m a true Bosnian,” concludes Sara.
