NTOS:
Belgrade recently received recognition from the international guide “Lonely planet”, namely a recommendation that our capital is a destination worth visiting, especially when it comes to nightlife. In your opinion, what fascinated the experts at “Lonely planet”?

Marina:
Probably the fact that nightlife begins in the late afternoon and lasts until morning — first with a good dinner, then heading to clubs, and finally a hearty breakfast at one of the all-night bakeries.

NТОS:
How much, in your opinion, has music contributed to Belgrade’s image as a city that never sleeps? Does the DJ scene play an important role in the city’s tourist identity?

Marina:
Absolutely. Many call Belgrade the Balkan Berlin — although much smaller, it offers an excellent music program curated by outstanding DJs. And not only that, the concert scene is also very lively and exciting.

NТОS:
If you could create the ideal “night tour” for tourists, from sunset to early morning, what would it look like? Where would it start, and where would it end?

Marina:
Probably with a visit to Cetinjska 15, where many cafés and restaurants are located. We would first eat at Zaokret, then head to Dim, which has a great club program even though everything ends before midnight. After that, I would take them to Karmakoma and/or “Drugstore”, located next to each other. The first has the best club program, sound, and staff in Belgrade, while the second is known for its harder sound and brutal ambience (it is located where a slaughterhouse used to be), similar to “Berghain”. If we get hungry again in the meantime, we would order food directly to the club (it has happened). If we go out on a Saturday night, the outing does not have to end on Sunday morning at all, because starting at 6 a.m. on Sundays, the club “Dim” offers a new daytime music program until 10 p.m. named Para.

NTOS:
Do you have the impression that nightlife has become an important motive for tourists to visit Serbia? And if so, what does that tell us about our lifestyle?

Marina:
It certainly has. We book artists from all over the world, and it seems to me that this is becoming a very important cultural marker — that we already identify with the fact that we have a strong music scene. And when that becomes part of the identity, the responsibility grows to ensure knowledgeable and demanding audiences have a great time.

NТОS:
How would you describe the difference between day and night in Belgrade? Is it the same city, or does it seem to transform into something else?

Marina:
It’s the same city, the same people and spirit — the day flows into the night and vice versa. Some places even offer daytime programs and then transform into clubs, such as KC Grad.

NTOS:
Is there a moment from your performances — an anecdote, a situation, a reaction from the audience — that best captures the Belgrade spirit?

Marina:
Many say that the “take it slow” ideology rules here, but I haven’t gotten that impression — the scene is more alive than ever.

NTOS:
Can you draw a parallel — where does Belgrade stand in terms of nightlife compared to the region, and also compared to larger European capitals? Can it compete?

Marina:
Compared to the region, we are certainly in first place when it comes to nightlife, and the arrival of tourists for the nightlife also proves that the scene is far from negligible.

NТОS:
What does a good night out mean to you personally?

Marina:
I love following Belgrade’s concert scene and everything that “Bad Music for Bad People”, “Connected Fam”, and others are doing. Concerts often happen on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. On weekends, I go to clubs — it’s also my workout — once a week I have to dance for 3–4 hours. I also attend festivals: “Changeover”, “Polja”, “Fields”, “Artfestival Jerma”; some take place in summer, some throughout the year.

NTOS:
When you want to take a break from lights and rhythm, which places in Serbia inspire you and recharge your energy?

Marina:
Sometimes I find rest and peace even in Belgrade; friends have boats and river rafts, so we spend our free afternoons there. If I really want to escape the city, I visit my parents in Pirot or go to Gorski Konak on the slopes of Stara Planina, on the Knjaževac side, where I recharge my batteries.

NTOS:
How do you see the development of Belgrade’s club scene in the coming years — can Belgrade become the main “party hub” of this part of Europe?

Marina:
It already is.

NTOS:
Do you have a recommendation for New Year’s Eve?

Marina:
Many venues still haven’t announced their New Year’s Eve programs. From the ones I’ve seen, Karmakoma has a great offer, as well as Drugstor (the “Mrak” party) and Ruke in Gastrošor… the after-party programs are also good. December in Belgrade is all about celebrations, and it’s hard to find anything that isn’t worth going to.