Rave against the regime: Serbia’s club scene is helping to fuel a revolution

Amid some of the largest protests in Serbia's recent history, the feeling of revolution is tangible in the capital. Bars are filled with political conversation and dancefloors have resumed their position as a space for organising, rebuilding and resisting. Long intertwined with politics, Belgrade's underground music scene is once again playing a role in mobilisation.

Since last year, Serbia has seen mass demonstrations and nationwide university strikes, against the autocratic rule of President Aleksandar Vučić, in what is being labelled as the biggest protests in Serbia since the mass demonstrations against President Slobodan Milošević in 1997. Leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), Vučić was elected as President of Serbia in 2017 — since then, his government has been accused of creating an increasingly centralised and authoritarian regime which has led to accusations of corruption. The most recent snap election in 2023, which saw the SNS reelected with a vote count of 46%, resulting in allegations of “unjust conditions” including the registration of “phantom voters” in Belgrade and “harsh rhetoric, bias in the media, pressure on public sector employees and misuse of public resources," according to the OSCE.

Current protests have been spurred on by the Novi Sad Railway Station collapse in November; concrete awning above the supposedly newly-refurbished station fell onto passersby, killing 15 people and injuring two more. Demonstrators are demanding accountability from Vučić’s regime for the tragedy, which they claim was brought about due to corruption and incompetence — accusing officials of forgoing safety regulations and handing infrastructure contracts to those close to the government. Prosecutors have charged 13 people, including some former ministers, in connection with the collapse and Vučić has offered an advisory referendum on his leadership amid polls that suggest 60% of Serbians support the protests. The regime has reached breaking point, with Serbians calling on international bodies such as the European Union to take note — many demanding not a regime change, but a complete reset on a system that is “rotten to the core.”

The feeling of disquiet can also be felt within Serbia's underground club scene, an entity that has consistently acted as a hotbed for activism — in Belgrade, clubbers don’t just see nightlife as an escape, they see it as an act of defiance. From the raves of the 1990s, when Belgrade’s youth used electronic music as a means of escape and defiance during the Yugoslav Wars, to today’s underground scene, music has provided both refuge and resistance. “Clubs have always been a place of acceptance and community building, and in my experience, you cannot take one from another,” says Andjelija Radakovic, a student at the Academy of Arts Novi Sad in sound design.

“The underground music and arts scene in Serbia came from the pressure for change, which happened in the 1990s,” says Igor Radosevic, AKA Cosmic G, a Serbian DJ and producer. “The biggest festivals and clubs were raised in the fight for freedom. Young people today need to feel that same spirit and connection between people that was happening in the ‘90s. We are missing this because of the oppression from the environment and distortion between people.”

Since November, figures from the club scene have focused efforts on supporting the resistance movement; Belgrade-based label Bunt released the compilation 'Rhythms of the Revolution' earlier this month, with all proceeds going to independent fundraisers on Telegram helping to pay for food, supplies and set-up costs for student protests — while venues such as Drugstore, Karmakoma Club, and more, have donated profits from tickets to similar fundraisers or closed their doors in solidarity with strikers. Similarly, artists and others involved in the club community in Belgrade are organising via a Telegram group entitled “DJs for Students,” and documenting their participation on the streets.

“Nightlife in Belgrade is an act of political activism because it is rooted in our culture,” says DJ Nevena Jeremic. “It’s a form of escapism because you do not want to think about the situation you are living in, but it’s also a rebellious act. What you are trying to live through music is connection, community, freedom, and love.”

This rebellion isn’t just about the club scene, it’s about a broader cultural shift. For many, the protests feel like the first real moment of solidarity since 1999, when Serbia last experienced mass upheaval. “We are speaking about something way bigger than nightlife; this is a broader sense of community,” says Edin Omanović, DJ and social media voice of Karmakoma and Drugstore nightclubs.

"This is the first time since 1999 that I felt like someone would help me in the streets. They made us bark at each other for decades." During the Yugoslav War, politics caused neighbours to turn against one another, fueling nationalism, and leaving wounds that never fully healed. The breakup of Yugoslavia wasn’t just about war—it was about decades of distrust, political manipulation, and a generation raised in division. The scars of that time still show, whether in ongoing tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, the denial of the genocide in Bosnia, or nationalist rhetoric that continues to surface across the region.

But today, Edin continues, "The students are showing us that they are not afraid. They are rejecting the imposed divisions of the past, refusing to inherit the conflicts of their parents. We need to start saying sorry to each other—not in empty words, but in real acknowledgement of the pain and harm inflicted. Because despite borders, grievances, and history, we are all one."

"In nightlife, that unity has always been there. On the dancefloor, those divisions don’t exist. There are no nationalities, no old disputes—just people moving together, sharing space, energy, and rhythm. We all drink water from the same fountain. Even though we may not think the same, we dance to the same music. It’s bigger than us."

As a result, artists and key industry figures are being called upon to use their platforms to support the protests — with those who are seen as forgoing an active enough role receiving criticism. "In today’s climate, social media presence is essential, but artists also feel immense pressure—everyone is waiting for them to make a mistake," booking agent Aleksandra Nastić explains. "However, we are witnessing a historic moment in Serbia, and the student movement is gaining momentum. It’s important for artists to be brave and rise to the occasion, to speak truth to power, because in the end, we all want to live in a free society.”

Criticism has been levelled at Serbia’s biggest festival, EXIT — which receives financial support from Vučić’s government. Having started itself as part of student protests in 2000, the festival has been accused of working in conjunction with pro-government protestors in Serbia, an allegation owner Dušan Kovačević has strongly denied. In a statement to Mixmag, EXIT said it “unwaveringly supports” the student movement and recognises that “in the midst of recent confusion and misunderstandings, it’s important to clarify our position and the actions we’ve taken.”

“Our commitment to the students and their movement has never wavered, and we want to ensure that our support is fully understood and acknowledged. EXIT fully respects the students' wish to keep their movement independent of political and organizational influences, and we have supported them in the way they’ve asked, without any external branding or attempts to influence their cause.” A spokesperson for EXIT went on to detail that the festival is joining calls for the resignation of Minister of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić, and is donating to fund essential supplies for protesters and to support families of the victims of the Novi Sad Train Station collapse.

Protesters have similarly called on the international music community to help amplify what's happening in Serbia, particularly from within the European Union — where institutions have been accused of refraining from expressing support for the movement. “The global music scene can help these protests by researching the Serbian music community—learning what they’re about, how they tackle problems, and how their unique culture contributes to change,” says Branislav Jovancevic, Program Manager at Drugstore. “Through music, they are spreading what’s happening here and making the world aware of the situation.”

For artists like Marko Nastić, DJ/producer and owner of Easy Tiger Records, supporting the protests is about ensuring a better future. “Of course, I'm going to support students because we are fighting against the regime, and we always get stopped. Now students have found a way to make protests work, and I support them so my kids can live normally. It’s what we all deserve.”

While onlookers in the West remain largely silent on the movement, Serbia’s youth continue to prove that change is possible. Their fight is not just about politics—it’s about reclaiming a sense of community, about rejecting division, and about using music as a force for unity. For now, Serbia is proving something radical: revolution is possible, and the underground is once again leading the way.

Kelly Projects is a freelance videographer and journalist, follow her on Instagram