What is the best thing that I love about my work?

The freedom to transform emotion into sound and to connect with people beyond language. Music allows me to turn lived experience into something meaningful and healing, especially through the lyrics that I write. The same applies to my cosmetics brand: I create products according to my needs and personal sense of aesthetics and quality, always infusing emotion and dedication into everything I work on.

What is my idea of happiness?

Inner peace, family time, creative flow, and the ability to live authentically while doing work that aligns with my values. If I were to give examples, they would be mornings with my partner filled with pure love, gentleness, and laughter; cuddles with my dog called Love; spending quality time with my mum, my sister, and my niece Delfina; having fun with my closest friends; working on a new song; and creating a new cosmetics product. In general, it are the small things in everyday life that hold the greatest value for me.

Picture credits: Mihajlo Trajkovski

What is my greatest fear?

Losing my closest people—family and friends. I know exactly how that feels, especially after losing my father. My life completely changed in one moment. Another fear of mine is losing touch with my inner truth and intuition—losing myself. Losing motivation for life, for everyday habits. Losing enthusiasm for work.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?

Being too self-critical at times; it doesn’t let me feel joy and happiness in the things that I do.

Which living persons in my profession do I most admire?

Artists who reinvent themselves with integrity and longevity, such as Madonna, Rihanna, and Adele. They know how to live and work in balance: they work hard for a few months and then disappear for years, working on new ideas while also living and enjoying their private lives. They are not victims of the music industry, so it can’t destroy them. I admire the business mindset that Rihanna has; she is using the popularity and the name she built in the music business to make profit in other businesses and different fields of work.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?

When creativity is reduced to numbers and expectations instead of authenticity, especially when people don’t know how to accept experimentation in music. In my opinion, if you are not revolutionaly creative, then you are not a musician who can write music history. I hate the comfort zone that most musicians tend to choose; instead of doing what they truly love in music, they satisfy everyone else’s expectations. If I calculate and make strategies when I create music, then I am not an artist, but only a businesswoman who cares about numbers and profit.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work?

Always in the moments on stage, when I feel a genuine emotional exchange with the audience. I also love spending time with my fans after my concerts. One unforgettable moment that I will always remember as the best moment in my 23-year career is my performance at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006, in Athens, Greece. Another was performing as a pre-group artist at a Rolling Stones concert in Montenegro. In cosmetics, it has always been the moment when a customer buys a product and writes a review or a message directly to me saying they love it, and of course when they come back and buy it again. It is about creating a community and loyalty, not one-time buyers. That says a lot about the quality of the products.

Picture credits: Mihajlo Trajkovski

If I could, what would I change about myself?

I would trust myself sooner and worry less about external validation.

What is my greatest achievement in work?

In a few words: building a lasting career while staying true to my artistic identity, and expanding into entrepreneurship with my own cosmetics brand. Of course, there is a long biography of 23 years filled with countless concerts, festivals, and charity events; a great number of awards and achievements for singer of the year, best vocal performance , song of the year; more than 100 songs; many duets with local and Balkan stars; more than 100 written lyrics for myself and other artists; countless cover pages and interviews for Macedonian and foreign markets; and a huge number of advertisements and campaigns for local and global brands like Toyota, Opel, Miss Sixty, Oriflame, Samsung, T-Mobile, etc. For those who don’t know me, everything started in 2002, when I was a 16-year-old kid applying for an audition called “M2 – Search for a Star,” where I won among 2,000 candidates. I released my first album in 2003, had my Eurovision performance in 2006, released my second album the same year, experienced the Rolling Stones concert in 2007, had my first big concert in 2008, released my Serbian album for the Balkan market in 2007, and everything else followed as mentioned above.

Where would I most like to live?

In a place that balances culture, beauty, and calm —close to nature and inspiration. Maybe some part of Italy by the sea, or maybe Miami. 🙂

What is my most treasured possession?

My voice, my life experience, my family and friends, and of course my fans. I am not attached to material possessions in my life.

What is my most marked characteristic?

My loyalty and the unconditional love that I give, with no expectations of receiving it back. Also, my professionalism.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city?

Quiet places near nature, where reflection and creativity come naturally. That kind of spot is Vodno, the mountain near Skopje—my favorite place. Skopje is the capital of Macedonia and my birthplace. No matter how small my city and my country are, they offer very beautiful places to visit.

What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city?

Intimate, soulful places with character—where conversation matters more than noise. I have a few favorite restaurants in Skopje: Vodenica Restaurant, Three Kitchen Bar, Ria’s, Matto Napoletano. Whichever you choose, you should know that Macedonian food is amazing—maybe one of the best cuisines in Europe.

What books influenced my life and how?

Books on personal growth and spirituality that taught me self-awareness, responsibility, and inner strength. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy is the book that changed my life. It teaches that habitual thoughts and mental imagery shape reality, creating destiny through the subconscious. Visualization, which is the foundation of all the techniques in the book, is still a form of healing for me today. Not only that, it helps me visualize everything I want to achieve in my life before it comes true.

Picture credits: Mihajlo Trajkovski

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen to on my last day?

“I Was Here” by Beyoncé Knowles. Just read the lyrics or play the song—you will get the point. 🙂

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?

Honestly, I am not a big fan of fiction, and if I had to choose, I would point to strong female characters who transform adversity into wisdom, like Lara Croft, for example.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?

In general, my heroines are women who remain authentic and courageous despite the challenges that the modern woman faces while fighting for equality. My all-time favorite hero and heroine are my mother and my father. I was lucky to have the best parents in the world. My father passed away in 2016, but he fought all his life for justice and for my sister’s and my well-being and a better life. My mother is a heroine simply because she had a tough life, being without a mother since the age of 11. I can say that she dedicated her entire life to taking care of us as the best mother one could have, despite her great talent for singing and fashion design. She is still our biggest support and is always unconditionally there for us. During the first 10 years of my career, she was always by my side, protecting me from the cruelty of the show business.

Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime?

A film that speaks about the opposite transformation that every human being goes through —aging: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a 2008 film starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. Benjamin Button is born old and grows younger as time passes. This story resonates deeply with people who reflect a lot on life and destiny. It is a movie that stays with you long after it ends.

What role play stories in my life and work?

Stories help me understand myself and others. They give meaning to experiences and allow transformation. In my profession, stories from movies and other people’s lives help me write more genuine and authentic songs and lyrics.

What do the words “You are the storyteller of your own life” mean to me?

They mean that I choose how my experiences shape me, and that everyone is the creator of their own life through the decisions we make and the paths we choose.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?

The people who believe in me unconditionally and walk with me through growth and change. I have very few people whom I can call “partners in crime” and truly close people.

Which people or companies would I like to work with?

In general, I only want to work with great professionals with strong work ethics—loyal and honest people. I can’t stand people who say one thing and do another. I want to find a good production company with ambitious managers to work on the global development of my music career. Even more importantly, I want to connect with a music producer who knows how to use my greatest potential as a singer and songwriter, someone who can sense my emotions, aesthetics, and sensitivity without me having to explain them. The purpose is to create revolutionary projects together that will leave an important mark on the history of world music. In cosmetics, I want to find a good factory capable of producing high-quality and unique products that will expand my business worldwide.

What project am I looking forward to work on?

Music is my main focus at the moment. I am looking forward to creating new songs and creative projects that merge art, storytelling, and personal evolution, as well as developing new products for my cosmetics brand with natural ingredients. I am also working on fusion products that can be used for different purposes. I want to make a difference in the cosmetics industry by creating innovative solutions.

Where can you see me or my work?

Through my music, public appearances, and creative ventures. I am active on all social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, as well as on my official YouTube channel under the name Elena Risteska ERA.

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?

True passion evolves—it doesn’t fade. It deepens with experience and wisdom, and it changes depending on the challenges I face in different periods of my life.

Which is creative heroines should Peter invite to tell their story?

Women who have transformed their challenges into creativity, leadership, and inspiration. There are many successful women from the Balkans who are true heroines and whose stories deserve to be heard.

How can you contact me?

Through my official channels, email, and social media under the name Elena Risteska ERA.