A model example of Balkan collaboration, this Ljubljana-based band brings together Serbian vocalist and bassist Jelena Rusjan, Macedonian guitarist and singer Damjan Manevski, and Slovenian drummer Leon Stoilković. Lelee first made a name for themselves six years ago, when during the first year of the pandemic they managed to complete a club tour under the patronage of Radio Študent. A year later, they released their debut album Mora malo u crveno on the renowned Moonlee label, confirming several things at once: Lelee are masters of melodic indie songwriting, with a strong sense for pop feeling, catchy choruses, and carefree, at times nostalgic and occasionally wilder melodies. Adriatic indie rock may not be an established genre term, but it could well describe music tailored to both alternative and mainstream audiences. Post-punk meets power pop.
“Lelee show versatility and a more assertive, confident expression that will surely bring them onto the radar of more listeners and festivals. Playful riffs, piercing vocals and unexpected stylistic shifts are just a few of the band’s qualities worth praising. Lelee write their lyrics gently and poetically, filled with skepticism and shaped around dualities. Uncertainty in love, its intensity, the decision to commit to one person, or the mutual struggles within a relationship are just some of the ideas they give musical form to. The album is not afraid of complexity, yet delivers it to listeners in an accessible and digestible way,” wrote Full Moon magazine about their album Čuka bije pumpa (2024).