Following sold-out, emotionally charged concerts that left a lasting impression on Belgrade audiences, Sharon Kovacs returns to BitefArtCafe on November 4 and 5 as part of Musicology Barcaffè Sessions.
Known for her deep, dark soul vocals and an atmosphere that evokes cinematic noir, blues, alternative pop, and contemporary electronic music, Kovacs has developed a special connection with Serbian audiences over the years, making Belgrade a destination she keeps returning to.
Since her debut EP, My Love, which launched her onto the European music scene, Kovacs has developed a distinctive musical identity that combines the emotion of soul, the raw energy of blues, and sophisticated production. Her music often draws comparisons to artists such as Betty Davis, Etta James, Amy Winehouse, and Portishead, yet Sharon Kovacs has created a sound that remains entirely her own.
Her albums Shades of Black, Cheap Smell, and Child of Sin have established her as one of Europe’s most intriguing contemporary singer-songwriters. Performances at major festivals including Glastonbury, North Sea Jazz, Sziget, and Rock Werchter, along with her collaboration with the Metropole Orchestra, have further strengthened her reputation as an artist whose concerts deliver a powerful emotional and visual experience.
Her album Child of Sin attracted particular attention thanks to a collaboration with Till Lindemann of Rammstein. A new chapter in her career is now taking shape with an upcoming album that sees her exploring electronic music more extensively for the first time, drawing inspiration from early electro and industrial sounds.
In partnership with Lenovo Serbia, Musicology Barcaffè Sessions has been supporting young and talented musicians for five consecutive years through the Musicology Showcase by Lenovo programme, giving emerging artists the opportunity to share the stage with internationally acclaimed performers.
IN CONVERSATION WITH SHARON KOVACS AHEAD OF HER BELGRADE CONCERTS
- You’re performing in Serbia for the fourth time. Has Belgrade become a place you return to rather than simply a place you visit again? What keeps bringing you back?
Definitely a place I return to. Belgrade was one of the last places we performed before COVID, so we ended up spending about four days at BitefArtCafe because we couldn’t travel anywhere else.
I know the owners very well, and we have a lovely relationship, so going back there feels like coming home. I also really love the city. I’m always happy to return.
- You often sing about vulnerability without ever sounding fragile. Where do you think that balance comes from?
For me, talking about vulnerability is actually a form of strength. It’s a way of taking control of it.
Vulnerable things live in silence, and if we don’t talk about them, they become much bigger than they really are.
That’s why strength comes from not hiding them. Once you bring them into the open, they no longer have the same power over you.
- Your music carries influences of soul, jazz, and noir, yet it never sounds nostalgic. How do you avoid turning your music into a tribute to the past while still embracing those inspirations?
I try to take the elements I like, but not the whole thing. It’s about combining different styles and ingredients and putting your own personal stamp on them, rather than simply copying everything.
- If someone who had never heard your music asked you to play just one song that represents who you are today, rather than who you were five years ago, which one would you choose?
That’s a really difficult question. Honestly, it would probably be one of my new songs that nobody has heard yet.
Maybe “Perfect Crime” or “Fragile”, but I actually recognise who I am today most clearly in the new, unreleased songs.
- What has become easier over the years of your career, and what has unexpectedly become much harder?
What’s become harder is separating my identity from my music, reminding myself that I’m not just KOVACS, the singer, but also Sharon.
If one of those two sides doesn’t succeed, it doesn’t mean that I’ve failed as a whole person.
Trust has also become difficult. Throughout your career, so many people promise you different things and then fail to deliver. In the beginning, you trust everyone, and in the end, you trust no one.
What’s become easier is believing in my own vision, doing things my own way, and no longer feeling the need to fit into other people’s structures.
- When people leave your concerts, what would you rather stay with them longer — the songs they heard or the feeling they had while listening to them?
The feeling. That’s what the experience is about. People can listen to the songs at home whenever they want, but the feeling is something we create together in that moment.
This belief in meaningful shared experiences is also at the heart of the partnership between A1 Serbia and Musicology Barcaffè Sessions.
A1 believes that a fulfilling everyday life is built on simple things: staying connected, the people who matter to us, and experiences that shape who we are. Culture brings all of these elements together, which is why A1 supports bringing outstanding international artists and unforgettable live music experiences closer to local audiences.
This November, Belgrade audiences can look forward to a performance by an artist who has developed one of the most distinctive and authentic voices on the contemporary European music scene.
Barcaffè and Musicology have long shared the same belief: the best moments happen when people come together, share an experience, and stay a little longer because the atmosphere is simply too good to leave.
Music, much like coffee, has the power to bring people together and turn an ordinary moment into a lasting memory.
Few artists have built such a special relationship with Belgrade audiences as the queen of contemporary noir soul Kovacs.
CONCERT INFORMATION
Venue: BitefArtCafe, Mitropolita Petra 8, Belgrade
Schedule:
8:30 PM– Doors open
9:00 PM– Musicology Showcase by Lenovo
10:00 PM– KOVACS LIVE
Tickets: Available via bilet.rs and at BitefArtCafe, Monday to Friday, from 10 AM to 5 PM.
https://bilet.rs/events?title=kovacs&startDate=&endDate=&location=&tag=
WATCH KOVACS
YouTube:
Facebook event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1594404712144334
CONTACT
BitefArtCafe
Mitropolita Petra 8, Belgrade
+381 63 594 294
+381 63 594 054