Beginner’s Guide to EX-YU Music
Welcome to exyumusic.org — your guide to the music that shaped a region.
Whether you’re discovering Ex-YU funk or jazz for the first time, or diving deeper into post-punk, new wave, prog, or electronic music from the Balkans — you’re in the right place.
I created this site in 2024 to document my journey into the wild, emotional, genre-defying music of the former Yugoslavia. Since then, it’s grown into an archive of forgotten gems, essential albums, and contemporary discoveries.
Let’s start at the beginning.
Contents
Navigating Our Site
You’ll find three main sections here:
- Archive – A curated collection of album reviews covering the 1960s to the early 2000s, focused on the pre- and immediate post-breakup Yugoslav scene.
- Contemporary – This section covers post-2010s releases — newer bands, experimental projects, and the ongoing evolution of Ex-YU music in the digital age.
- About Us – Find out about who we are and what we do at EX-YU Music.
You can also explore by artist, album, genre, or era using the tags or search bar. If you’re not sure where to begin, this guide will walk you through it.
What is ‘EX-YU’ music?
‘EX-YU’ (ex-Yugoslav) refers to music that originated in the countries that once made up Yugoslavia: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
From the 1960s to the 1990s, Yugoslavia fostered a truly unique music culture — open to Western influence, but distinct in its own political, social, and artistic context. The result was a collision of sounds: local folk traditions met Led Zeppelin. Novi Val (new wave) was fuelled by immense creativity and political tension. Jazz, funk, punk, prog, electronic, and heavy rock all had their scenes.
Today, this archive of music stands as one of the richest in Europe — mysterious, melodic, melancholic, and still largely undiscovered by global audiences.
5 Essential Albums to Start With
Ex-YU music encompasses an era of over 30 years, well, nearly 60 years if you continue into present day. That makes it impossible to create a list of 5 essential records… I’ve done my best to create a list that is accessible, culturally relevant, includes regional representation, and offers variety in its eras covered.
Here’s your beginner’s starter pack:
- Indexi – Indexi (1974) Indexi laid the groundwork for so many later acts. Their melodic, Beatles-influenced sound makes them an easy gateway to the era. A compilation is best for newcomers because their singles were more impactful than any single LP.
→ Read my review - Bijelo Dugme – Bitanga I Princeza (1979) This album showcases the blend of hard rock and Balkan folk that made Bijelo Dugme iconic. Goran Bregović’s songwriting here is sharp, and the production quality is high. It’s a solid intro to the massive arena rock wave of 1970s Yugoslavia.
→ Read my review - Azra – Sunčana strana ulice (1981) Azra’s beloved sophomore record bridges accessible songwriting, lyrical intelligence, and punk/new wave cred. It’s slightly raw, yet witty and overflows with cultural relevance. The album is not available on Spotify, so you’ll have to navigate YouTube.
→ Read my review - Haustor – Bolero (1985) Of all the 1980s new wave albums, Bolero is one of the most musically diverse and polished. It mixes rock, reggae, jazz, and introspective lyrics — and it’s arguably Haustor’s most complete work. Darko Rundek’s vocals and arrangements are highly accessible.
→ Read my review - Ekatarina Velika – Samo Par Godina Za Nas (1989) This is EKV’s masterpiece and one of the most emotionally resonant albums of the entire Ex-YU era. It’s just as dark and theatrical as iconic acts like The Cure and Joy Division. Sonically rich and lyrically poetic.
→ Read my review
You can find the full list in more detail here.
Want More?
Get 5 Bonus Deep Cuts — obscure, underrated, and mind-blowing Ex-YU albums sent straight to your inbox.
Major Scenes & Eras
1970s: Prog, Hard Rock, Psychedelia
Inspired by bands like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, the 1970s saw a surge in guitar-driven prog and acid rock.
Some key artists:
- Indexi – Known as the pioneers of psychedelic rock
→ Read my review of their compilation album - YU Grupa – Folk-infused hard rock trailblazers
→ Read my review of their debut LP - Time – Their self-titled debut LP is one of the most important albums in EX-YU history
- Bijelo Dugme – One of the biggest and best selling rock bands from the region
→ Read my review of their debut LP - Pop Mašina – Influential band who embodied the shift from prog to hard rock
→ Read my review of Kiselina
1980s: New Wave, Post-Punk, Synth, Art Rock
The new wave explosion brought angular guitars, smart lyricism, experimentation, and synths to the mainstream. Centred around larger cities like Belgrade, Zagreb, Ljubljana, and Sarajevo, this era gave birth to some of the region’s most iconic acts.
Some key artists:
- Šarlo Akrobata – Post-punk from Belgrade with raw, expressive chaos
→ Read my review of their debut LP - Idoli – Their sophomore record is often regarded as the best album from EX-YU
→ Read my review of this record - Haustor – Zagreb-based band that fused new wave with world music
→ Read my review of Bolero here - Ekatarina Velika – Cult post-punk band headed by icon Milan Mladenovic, initially named Katarina II
→ Read my review of their self-titled LP - Azra – Massively influential Croatian new wave band with poetic lyricism
→ Read my review of their sophomore record - Zabranjeno Pušenje – Distinct garage rock, closely associated with Sarajevo’s New Primitivism movement
→ Read my review of Das Ist Walter
1990s: War, Fragmentation, Underground
Local scenes suffered as war broke out in the ‘90s. Many participated in anti-war activities. The compilation Rock Under Siege was released in 1995 and gained a cult following.
Some key artists:
- Darkwood Dub – Atmospheric alt-rock/dub/electronica fusion
→ Read my review of U Nedogled - Majke – Bluesy, gritty rock with raw emotional delivery
- Let 3 – Provocative, theatrical rock with performance art elements
- Hladno Pivo – Pop-punk legends with a political edge
→ Read my review of Džinovski - Daleka Obala – Blended rock, pop, and Dalmatian coastal vibes
- Laibach – Industrial/avant-garde icons – highly political and globally influential
→ Read my review of Opus Dei
2000s: Indie, Alt Rock, Fusion
The 2000s saw a rise in indie, electronic, and fusion genres, built alongside the growth of the internet.
Some key artists:
- The Bambi Molesters – Chilled surf-rock band with a track featuring in Breaking Band
→ Read my review of their Sonic Bullets record - Repetitor – Another prominent Belgrade-based alt-rock group of the so-called New Serbian Scene
- Dubioza Kolektiv – Fusion of dub, reggae, and rock with social commentary
- Siddharta – Helped define the 2000s Slovenian alternative scene
→ Read my review of their Rh- record - The Beat Fleet – Bridged the gap between hip hop, funk, and rock.
2010s – Present: Contemporary Sound
Contemporary music is genre-blending and internet-native. A new generation of alt-rock, post-rock and indie artists emerge.
Some key artists:
- S.A.R.S. – Catchy blend of pop, reggae, and rock
- Zoster – Alt-rock group from Mostar, fusing rock with world music
→ Read my review of their Srce Uzavrelo - Lufthansa – Explosive emerging art-punk band from Skopje
→ Read my review of their second LP - Daliborovo Granje – Balkan psychedelic rock from Medimurje
→ Read my review of Hainin - Svemirko – Nostalgic synth-pop blended with modern indie rock
Glossary / FAQ
What is Novi Val?
Novi Val means “New Wave” — the name given to the punk/new wave explosion in Yugoslavia in the late 70s and early 80s.
Why was Yugoslavia different from other Eastern Bloc countries?
It was non-aligned — meaning it wasn’t part of the Soviet bloc, so it had more openness to Western culture.
Why should I care about Ex-YU music today?
Because it’s some of the most original, emotional, and criminally under-explored music in European history.
I don’t speak the language — does it matter?
Not really. The emotion, sound, and production speak volumes. Many fans enjoy the music without understanding the lyrics.
Listen to our Curated Playlists
Ready to listen? These playlists are updated regularly with new finds, fan favourites, and deep cuts.
- Ex-YU 101: Starter Pack
- Post-Punk & Novi Val Essentials
- Coastal Sounds: Split, Rijeka & Dalmatia
- Modern Ex-YU Rock (2000–Now)
Explore More
Consider engaging with these external lists, documentaries and books to further explore the scene:
- Sretno Dijete – Rockumentary featuring the emergence of Yugoslav punk and new-wave
- Prica o Subi – Documentary on the interesting life of producer extraordinaire, Suba
- Ex-YU Rock Encyclopedia – Book featuring information regarding most of the important rock acts from the time
- Ex-YU 100: Best Pop and Rock Albums – List of the top 100 pop and rock albums from the time
- How Rock n Roll in Serbia (Didn’t) Come to an End – This book features 100 of the greatest Serbian rock records released after the breakup
- Seventh Republic – pop culture in the collapse of Yugoslavia – A journey through Ex-YU music, politics and history
Stay Connected!
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- Contact us at: [email protected]
