Sergej Ćetković for HEDONIST: Exotic destinations mean little if you have no one to share them with

We escaped the scorching Herzegovinian sun in the shade of plane trees. With the very first sip of local Žilavka wine, the conversation began with a singer widely known for performing with genuine emotion and soul. From the very start, it was clear that the celebrated singer-songwriter Sergej Ćetković primarily wishes to promote family values.

“I try to be a hedonist. Some people see hedonism through food and drink, others through beautiful travel - and all of that is wonderful - but I believe that hedonism first and foremost requires company, true and good company. As a family man who always puts family before everything and everyone, I prefer to experience hedonism together with them. That’s why we are always together on beautiful journeys, events, and concerts. For me, that is the most important and greatest thing in life,” says the Podgorica-born artist for Hedonist magazine.

The south of Republika Srpska is an ideal destination for a family holiday, the regionally popular singer emphasizes, adding that a glass of wine from Trebinje’s cellars pairs perfectly with his timeless ballads.

I’m someone who enjoys a good glass of wine, and it tastes even better when shared with good company - and then a good song naturally happens. Where there is good company, there is good wine and good music.

He adds that the same applies to travel, noting that even the most exotic destinations lose their meaning if there is no one to share them with.

We should be aware of life’s transience and believe in something greater than ourselves.

Ćetković believes that everything is learned from an early age. What he learned from his parents, he says, he has passed on to his children - and even taken a step further. Together with his wife, he created the animated series Lola and Mila.

“I’m very happy about that project. It started as a small family initiative in which all of us were involved - Lola and Mila, of course, and the two of us who originally conceived the idea. We received very positive feedback and praise, and we make sure it remains educational and similar to the cartoons and programs we watched growing up, which unfortunately are becoming increasingly rare today,” Ćetković says.

At the end of the conversation, he reminds us that no material possessions can replace the happiness of moments spent with loved ones.

“We should be aware of how fleeting life is and believe in something greater than ourselves. We should strive for balance in everything, appreciate true values and the people around us, and work every day to become better human beings. That is the point - to be the best person you can be. Everything material is temporary,” Ćetković concludes.

I always put my family first - before everything and everyone.

The singer notes that this was not his first visit to Trebinje and that he gladly returns to the south of Srpska. With a smile, he adds that his songs sound especially beautiful beneath the plane trees.

Lola and Mila

Sergej is also the creator of the animated series Lola and Mila, which has been broadcast since May 2018. Inspired by his daughters, he named the main characters after them.

The cartoon has since evolved into a regional project, gradually expanding into other markets, resulting in versions produced in Spanish, Greek, and Bulgarian.

Interview by: Bojan Nosović / HEDONIST
Photography: Jovan Vidaković
Originally published in HEDONIST Magazine, Issue 07 (2021)