Saška Janković

Not to be confused with Saša Janković.
YANX, Sashka Yanx
Birth nameAleksandra Mirjana Mona Janković
Also known asYANX, Sashka Yanx, Miss Jukebox, Saška Janković
Born (1988-04-29) 29 April 1988 (age 36)
Smederevo, Yugoslavia
GenresPop, soul, R&B, electro-pop, dance-pop, pop rock, jazz
Occupation(s)Singer–songwriter, composer, producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano, violin
Years active2004–present
WebsiteOfficial Website

Aleksandra Mirjana Mona Janković (Serbian Cyrillic: Александра Мирјана Мона Јанковић; born 29 April 1988), professionally known as YANX, Sashka Yanx (Сашка Јанкс) and Miss Jukebox, is a Serbian singer-songwriter, producer and more. She was previously a backing vocalist for numerous other artists, including Milan Stanković at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, Nina Radojičić at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 and Bojana Stamenov at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. In 2012, Janković participated in Prvi glas Srbije, a musical talent show similar to The Voice.

Life and career

Early life and career: 1988–2009

Janković was born in 1988 in Smederevo (Yugoslavia then, Serbia now). When she was a child, she started playing the violin, but later switched to the piano.[1] Janković cited jazz, pop and rock music as her musical influences.[2] As a teenager, she participated in the RTS talents competition 3K dur.[1] Janković then on to compete at the SunFlower Festival in Zrenjanin in 2006 and 2007, the 2007 Art Zone Festival in Bulgaria, and the 2008 PAN Music Festival, where she was honoured as the Best Newcomer.[3]

Career development: 2009–11

In March 2009, Janković took part in the Beovizija 2009, Serbian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, with the song "Nauči me" (English: Teach Me). The semifinal event was held on March 8.[4] In the final, Janković performed the fourth and finished the eighth with six points.[5] On 18 April 2009, she performed at the humanitarian concert "Darujte život" (English: Give Life) in Smederevo.[6] On 1 July, Janković performed "Bože pravde", the national anthem of Serbia, alongside two more singers at the opening ceremony of the 2009 Summer Universiade, which was held in Belgrade.[7] She would also sing the "Bože pravde" at the reception of Serbia national basketball team who had won the silver medal at the EuroBasket 2009.[8]

In May 2010, Janković sang backing vocals for Milan Stanković at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010.[9] Along with Nikola Sarić, she took part in the Sunčane Skale Festival in Herceg Novi, Montenegro, with the song "Uhvati dan" (English: Seize the Day).[10] In December, Janković performed "Bože pravde" at the celebration honouring the Serbia Davis Cup team's win of the 2010 Davis Cup.[11] In 2011, she once again sang backing vocals at the Eurovision Song Contest, this time for Nina Radojičić.[3][12] In June, Janković acted as a member of the jury at the talents competition Staropramen.[13] She also performed along with the pianist and composer Aleksandar Saša Lokner at the Summer at Gardoš Festival in August.[14]

Upcoming studio album and Prvi glas Srbije: 2011–present

In December 2011, Janković officially adopted "Miss Jukebox" as her artistic name, and announced the release of her new single "Nikome nije lako" (English: It Is Easy to No One).[15] The video for the song features popular Serbian musicians such as Dragoljub Đuričić, Vukašin Brajić and Nikola Sarić.[15]

In 2012, Janković participated in the second season of the talent show Prvi glas Srbije (The First Voice of Serbia), adapted from The Voice.[16] She successfully went through the blind audition and the battle phase to progress to the live performances. However, Janković was eliminated in the sixth round of live performances, having received fewest public votes.[17] She had previously once been nominated for elimination, but was saved by the judges Vlado Georgiev, Aleksandra Radović and Saša Milošević Mare.[18] While on Prvi glas Srbije, Janković performed live the following songs:

On 25 December 2012, three days after Janković had been eliminated from Prvi glas Srbije, Jennifer Hudson tweeted, "@Miss_Jukebox great job", praising her performance of "One Night Only".[24] In January 2013, Janković released her new single "Ćošak" (English: Corner).[25]

In February 2013, Janković took part in Beosong 2013, Serbian national election for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013, with the song "Duga u tvojim očima" (English: The Rainbow in Your Eyes). In the competition she reached third place.[26]

In 2018, she once again tried to represent Serbia at Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song "Pesma za tebe". She came 2nd at the preselection, Beovizija 2018. She returned to Beovizija in 2019 with her song Da Li Čuješ Moj Glas and got the 3rd place.[27]

On 21 December 2023, she was announced among the participants of Pesma za Evroviziju '24, the Serbian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, with the song "Kolo".[28] The song failed to qualify for the final.[29]

Personal life

Janković's father, Dobrica Janković, was a member of the Serbian parliament from 2004 to 2007.[30][31]

Janković stated she was "very attracted" to learning foreign language and that she would like to study Portuguese.[1] She eventually enrolled journalism at the University of Belgrade.[12]

Discography

Singles

  • 2009 — "Nauči me"
  • 2010 — "Uhvati dan" (feat. Nikola Sarić)
  • 2011 — "Nikome nije lako"
  • 2013 — "Ćošak"
  • 2013 — "Duga u tvojim očima"
  • 2013 — "Ono kad"
  • 2014 — "Ponekad"
  • 2014 — "Spavaj"
  • 2018 — "Pesma za tebe"
  • 2019 — "Da li čuješ moj glas"
  • 2020 — "Ali ali"
  • 2021 — "Udahni" (as member of O2)
  • 2021 — "Sori not sori"
  • 2023 — "Bejbi bejbi"
  • 2024 — "Kolo"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category City Result
1998 Festival for young talents Winner, Best vocals Smederevo, Serbia Won
2006 Sunflower Festival Finals (Pod maskama) Belgrade, Serbia Nominated
2007 Sunflower Festival Finals (Poslednje pismo) Belgrade, Serbia Nominated
2008 PAN Music Festival Best Newcomer (Bolesni od ljubavi) Pančevo, Serbia Won
2008 ArtZone Festival Special guest (Pod maskama, Could you remember me, Arrogant sea) Sofia, Bulgaria
2009 Beovizija Best Song (Nauči me) Belgrade, Serbia Nominated
2014 STARI GRAD Festival Best lyrics (Spavaj) Novi Pazar, Serbia Won
2013 Beosong Best Song (Duga u tvojim očima) Belgrade, Serbia Nominated
2018 Beovizija Best Song (Pesma za tebe) Belgrade, Serbia Nominated
2019 Beovizija Best Song (Da li čuješ moj glas) Belgrade, Serbia Nominated
2024 Pesma za Evroviziju Best Song (Kolo) Belgrade, Serbia TBA

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Aleksandra – Saška Janković". SD Cafe (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  2. ^ Janjić, Stefan (11 April 2011). "Saška Janković govori za naš sajt". ESC Serbia (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Podrška Nininoj čaroliji". Radio Television of Serbia (in Serbian). 30 March 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  4. ^ Paxton, Steve (8 March 2009). "Serbia: Beovizija Semifinal". Eurovisionary.com. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  5. ^ Paxton, Steve (9 March 2009). "Marko Kon & Milan Nikolic Win Beovizija". Eurovisionary.com. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Darujte život – humanitarna akcija u Smederevu". Tračara.com (in Serbian). 16 April 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  7. ^ J., M. (20 December 2011). "Miss Jukebox – novo ime na našem estradnom nebu". NC Magazine (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  8. ^ "Doček "srebrnih" košarkaša". YouTube. 21 September 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  9. ^ Kulović, Jelena (25 May 2010). "Milan Stanković u finalu Eurosonga". Story (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  10. ^ Ahel, Antonio (9 July 2010). "Dado Topić i Anita Popović najbolji na Festivalu". Atastars.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  11. ^ "Saška pevala himnu na dočeku tenisera". SD Cafe (in Serbian). 7 December 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  12. ^ a b Todorović, Slobodan (30 March 2011). "Poznat srpski tim za evro-scenu". ESC Serbia (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  13. ^ "Počelo Staropramen nadmetanje glasova za Zlatni Prag". Story (in Serbian). 22 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  14. ^ "Aleksandra Saša Lokner svira na Gardošu". Story (in Serbian). 2 August 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  15. ^ a b "Upoznajte Sašku Janković". Tračara.com (in Serbian). 20 December 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  16. ^ "Saška Janković". Prva Srpska Televizija (in Serbian). Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  17. ^ a b "Prvi glas Srbije – 18.epizoda". Prva Srpska Televizija (in Serbian). 22 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  18. ^ a b "Prvi glas Srbije – 18.epizoda". Prva Srpska Televizija (in Serbian). 25 November 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  19. ^ "Prvi glas Srbije – vikend dueli". Prva Srpska Televizija (in Serbian). 10 November 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  20. ^ "Prvi glas Srbije – 13. epizoda". Prva Srpska Televizija (in Serbian). 17 November 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  21. ^ "Prvi glas Srbije – 15. epizoda". Prva Srpska Televizija (in Serbian). 1 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  22. ^ "Prvi glas Srbije – 16. epizoda". Prva Srpska Televizija (in Serbian). 8 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  23. ^ "Prvi glas Srbije – 17. epizoda". Prva Srpska Televizija (in Serbian). 15 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  24. ^ "Jennifer Hudson pohvalila Sašku Janković". Tračara.com (in Serbian). 25 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  25. ^ "Poslušajte novu pesmu Saške Janković". Večernje novosti (in Serbian). 6 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  26. ^ Списак извођача и аутора на "Беосонгу 2013". Radio Television of Serbia (in Serbian). 6 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  27. ^ "Serbian National Final 2018".
  28. ^ "Serbia: 'Pesma za Evroviziju' details announced!". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  29. ^ Marín, Marc (1 March 2024). "Pesma za Evroviziju '24: seleccionados los 8 finalistas de la preselección serbia" [Pesma za Evroviziju '24: the eight finalists of the Serbian preselection have been selected]. ESCplus España (in European Spanish). Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  30. ^ Sahranjen dr Boca Janković, sdcafe.rs, 9 June 2014, accessed 25 October 2022.
  31. ^ Olivera Milošević, "Smederevka svetskog glasa", Politika, 2 May 2018, accessed 25 October 2022.