As Europe gets to know their voices through the lights of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, we wanted to get to know the women behind Lelek—talented and inspiring young artists whose name has echoed strongly across both the Croatian and European scene in recent months. With their song “Andromeda,” they have already represented Croatia in a way that goes far beyond competition—as a country of strong women, heritage, and courage.
It may have started with music, but this story reaches far beyond those boundaries. Through their message, they encourage new generations to take pride in their roots, to stand firmly in their faith, and to remember the importance of fighting for human dignity. They have honored the memory of their people’s history, the Croatian identity, and the resilience of the women from whom the pride and courage of new generations were born. They are the voice of those who are too often unheard—in the fight against injustice, for freedom, and for the right to one’s own identity.
At Human Voice, we believe their story deserves to be heard louder—as a tribute to the past, but also as a powerful inspiration for the future. That is why we want to share this story as a reminder that no woman should ever again have to live in fear, silence, or injustice.
Our story began back in 2024, when Tomislav Rosso came up with the idea for the group. His vision was to create a group rooted in ethnomusic elements, but with a modern sound, and he was looking for five girls to bring that idea to life. We were all immediately drawn to the concept, so saying yes came naturally.
I think the identity of Lelek was born from Tomislav’s original vision for the group. We definitely helped shape and complete that vision together with him, turning it into what it is today. At its core, it’s our traditional style of singing combined with modern music, with the goal of bringing ethno music closer to younger generations and making it feel more contemporary and accessible—even though it has always been fascinating in its own way. “Andromeda” is a beautiful but also deeply emotional story. It was inspired by the tradition of sicanje.
The song is inspired by women who tattooed themselves in order to avoid slavery. And although that may sound like a heavy or dark subject at first, we don’t experience it that way. We see it through the strength those women carried within themselves, and we want that strength to inspire women today—but also everyone else. Everyone should have the right to their identity, to their own sense of self, and to their own voice. We believe those women expressed that in an incredibly powerful way. Through those tattoos and the act of sicanje, it became their silent cry for help. And within that silence, we chose to give it a voice and a sound. I think it all came together into a beautiful story—one that has always existed and still exists today. Maybe we simply reminded people of it.
Even though it all began as a painful way of fighting for freedom and preserving identity, it eventually became a beautiful tradition that women proudly passed on to their children, grandchildren, and daughters. In a way, they brought closure to the entire story through something deeply meaningful. Today, we look at those tattoos with great pride, because we believe those women managed to tell an enormous story without saying much at all. Honestly, I think we could probably learn more from them than we could ever teach ourselves. I think all of us want to give women a voice—but also everyone else. Everyone has the right to be who they truly are, and no one should have to give up their identity, especially not because of other people. There’s incredible power in accepting yourself and living life fully. People reach out to us saying that maybe we’ve empowered them, encouraged them, or inspired them to think more deeply about their identity and their rights. We can already see that happening, and it makes us happy to know that younger generations can also take something meaningful from this song.
I can honestly say this experience has brought us incredibly close. I wouldn’t even call us friends anymore—we’re more like sisters. We spend so much time together that it’s impossible not to form a deep bond, especially during a period like this, when we’ve practically been together nonstop for more than 50 days. I truly feel we’ve grown into a kind of sisterhood.
Both. Music brought us together first, because we all joined this group with the same goal in mind. But as we got to know each other better, we realized how many values we share—and that brought us even closer.
Female support means a lot to us—not just the support we give each other, but also the support we receive from the women in our lives, like our mothers, grandmothers, and sisters. It means so much because they genuinely support what we do. Everything feels easier when you know you’re supported by people who truly love and appreciate you.
First and foremost, we’ve learned how to listen. That’s the most important thing, both in singing and in conversations. We’ve also learned to try new things and not judge them before experiencing them ourselves. When one of us falls, another is there to lift her back up.
I’ll carry our sense of togetherness with me the most. I love that we’re always there for each other, no matter what. Even when one of us disagrees with something, we still support one another and always have each other’s backs. More than anything, I’ll carry that unity with me. And I also want to thank everyone who follows us, watches us, and listens to us. We hope you’ll continue supporting us in Vienna.
Lelek is an ethno-pop group, but we’ll explore different genres and themes—ranging from lighter, more playful songs to more serious and emotional ones. What matters most to us is preserving that ethno sound we all grew up listening to in this region, something that carries a sense of familiarity and tradition. Music has always gone through different phases throughout history, and people constantly experiment with it—just like they do with fashion or art. Today, it often feels like everything has already been invented, so we try to find the best way to blend something old with something new.
Yes. People often tell us that “Andromeda” gives them chills—it creates a feeling of elevation throughout the entire song. I think the biggest reason for that feeling lies in the harmonies, especially the traditional multi-part singing and ethno vocal layers. Through future songs, I’d love to continue creating that same sense of togetherness. Music is beautiful when it’s honest and comes from the soul, but there’s something even more powerful when several voices come together—as if they’re speaking to one another through the music.
Eurovision fans are something completely different from what we’re used to—both as performers and as an audience. People are incredibly devoted to the whole concept and willing to travel to any city for the artists they love, and I really admire that. I’d say at least 80 percent of the people there weren’t from Croatia and didn’t speak Croatian, but that’s exactly the value this song carries. When someone takes an interest in a song they have to research and discover for themselves—especially when it’s not in their own language—that means the song already holds real value.
I think the most important thing for anyone listening to music is the emotion it carries. That’s what brings people together, builds friendships, and creates a sense of unity and connection. I believe music has the power to hold all of that within it.
We’re bringing a lot of emotion and pride, and we hope people will truly feel that while watching our performance. Above all, we’re simply happy and grateful to have the opportunity to represent Croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest. It’s a huge honor, and I think every artist dreams of representing their country in that way. Of course, we want to make it to the final—we didn’t apply just for the experience. We want to achieve a great result both for Croatia and for ourselves. I also believe our song brings a piece of tradition that has been missing from our music scene, and we want to show the rest of Europe what we have to offer.
We were honestly thrilled and so happy that people recognized us. We didn’t even expect them to know who we were. At one point, our manager told us, “There will be Eurovision fans here, so don’t be surprised if people start waving at you and saying hello.” We’re young, and this is our first experience in a world like this, but we’re slowly getting used to the fact that our work is being recognized—and that means so much to us.
We’ll always stay connected to ethno music and that sense of togetherness, as long as it remains aligned with our values. Right now, our entire focus is on Eurovision, and we want to give the best performance possible. But we’re already planning to release a small three-song EP, and later on, hopefully an album as well—so people can continue listening to music from Lelek.
From the very beginning, what mattered most to us—and what we truly hope people remember from our performance, beyond the emotion and love—is the importance of togetherness and human connection. Reaching out to one another matters deeply in the world we live in today.
I think faith is incredibly important—perhaps today more than ever before. It’s easier to wake up each morning when you feel there is meaning in the path you’re walking, and that everything has a purpose. Life feels lighter when you know you have something to lean on.
We are deeply proud of the women we sing about. It’s a great responsibility to honor that kind of strength and everything those women endured, so that today we may be able to enjoy freedoms and opportunities we often take for granted. Because of that, we feel a strong responsibility to carry this song with dignity. We’re grateful to the women of the past, but also to women today. At its core, what Lelek speaks about is the female experience and the female story. And if we’ve managed to touch people’s hearts—regardless of who they are—then our mission has already been fulfilled. What matters is that we remember, and that we learn from the past so we can build a better tomorrow together.
Our intention with this song was to inspire change—to say, “Enough is enough,” and to encourage people to create a better tomorrow together. The chains society faces today are also found in other things—wars, divisions, and conflicts that should never happen. We don’t want to fall into apathy, which is why we keep emphasizing how important it is to reach out to one another and keep trying to build a better future together.
And to everyone supporting us—thank you for the incredible love and support we’ve felt from the very beginning. We hope you’ll continue supporting us while we’re in Vienna. We love you all so much.
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