Featured on Mixmag: Rave against the regime - Serbia’s club scene is helping to fuel a revolution

Nightlife figures within a venue in Belgrade

It was 1 AM. Jet-lagged from weeks of travel between the States and Mexico, I was scrolling Instagram when I saw DJ and producer Marko Nastić’s stories—clips of chaos, cars running over people, and a cryptic callout to EXIT Festival. None of it made sense. I messaged him, asking for context.

Translating from Serbian to English, I started piecing things together: people were taking to the streets in protest. Something big was happening. When I offered to share what I could in solidarity, Marko responded, "I need your help in another way: come to Belgrade and help us tell the story."

I immediately reached out to a friend, the Global Editor of Mixmag, for guidance on covering such a politically charged movement. Instead of advice, he introduced me to the Mixmag team. But this was unfolding in real-time—by the time they opened their emails on Monday, I had already returned. There was no time for preparation.

Six hours later, I arrived in Belgrade and headed straight to a bar, where I met a group of nightlife figures: DJs, promoters, social media managers, booking agents, students, and club program directors. My husband Zach was with me, assisting with filming and interviews. We documented everything—from the streets to the underground clubs keeping the city's spirit alive.

I was upfront with everyone: there were no guarantees this would be published, but at the very least, their voices would be heard on my platform.

Now, I’m beyond grateful and proud to share that my written piece has been accepted and published on Mixmag Global today.

Read Rave against the regime: Serbia's club scene is helping to fuel a revolution now.

Photo by Marko Edge

The best way to support the Serbian youth in their protests is to purchase music from a compilation called Bunt: Rhythms of Revolution VA [BUNT01] on Bandcamp.