Daily Inspiration: Meet Sara Zelenika

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Zelenika.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hi I’m SZÁRA !I’m a Bosnian refugee who was raised in New York, and creativity has been part of me for as long as I can remember. When I was little, I was constantly singing, making up dances, and creating little performances on my own.
I started out in performance art and dance over a decade ago, using movement as a way to express emotions and experiences that were difficult to put into words. When I was 22, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue my creative path more seriously and immerse myself in the artistic world I had always dreamed about. Being in LA pushed me to grow, collaborate, and fully commit to developing my identity as an artist.
Over time, my work evolved into music and multidisciplinary performance. My project, SZÁRA, blends dark pop, electronic influences, ritualistic visuals, and emotional storytelling to explore themes like transformation, identity, love, healing, and reclaiming power after adversity.
A lot of my work is shaped by my background and personal experiences — navigating displacement, survival, and rebuilding yourself while trying to stay connected to humanity. I’m inspired by contrasts: ancient symbolism and futuristic aesthetics, softness and chaos, vulnerability and strength.
Today, I’m focused on building an immersive artistic world through music releases, visual art/videos, and live performances that feel emotionally raw, cinematic, and transformative. My goal is to create art that not only moves people emotionally, but also makes them feel seen, empowered, and connected.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Recreating yourself is a journey.A lot of my journey has involved rebuilding myself through difficult experiences and learning how to turn pain into something meaningful. Growing up as a refugee shaped the way I see the world from a very young age, and I’ve had to navigate feelings of displacement, instability, and not always feeling like I fully belonged anywhere.
When I moved to the west coast to pursue my creative path, I was stepping into an industry that can be incredibly challenging emotionally, financially, and creatively. There were periods of uncertainty, self-doubt, toxic relationships, and moments where I questioned whether I should keep going at all. Trying to stay authentic while also finding your place in the music and entertainment world can be difficult, especially when you’re creating art that’s deeply personal and unconventional.
At the same time, those struggles became a huge part of what shaped my artistry, and hopefully will inspire others as well.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist, musician, and performer creating under the project SZÁRA. My work blends alt pop, electronic music, cinematic visuals, dance, and performance art to create immersive experiences centered around transformation, empowerment, vulnerability, and rebirth.

I started in dance and performance art over a decade ago, and that background still shapes the way I approach music and live performance today. I’m known for creating emotionally raw, visually cinematic work that combines futuristic and ritualistic elements with deeply personal storytelling.

What I’m most proud of is building a project that feels authentic to my experiences and creating art that helps people feel seen and empowered. I think what sets me apart is the fusion of music, movement, and visual storytelling, along with the emotional depth and world-building behind everything I create.As well as my cultural background as a bosnian refugee.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Authenticity and being able to experiment. As well as resilience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://szara.bandcamp.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/szaraaziz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialszara
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SZARAOFFICIAL
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0c24PBomgADy5TVvwJxCoV?si=E895k7aYS7mGngdPJhXOsg