The Zagreb-based audiovisual collective Lovačka Srca emerged from high school friendships, deep conversations, and shared „likes“ on Instagram. They came together through passion for unconventional music events and a desire to build up the local scene. Formed organically by Živina, Seretkrzmal, Hantaro, purikulo, and Šakon_ćute, the collective was established with the goal of creating a unique space within the Croatian underground scene. Their work – which blends maximalist internet aesthetics with deconstructed basslines, experimental club music, and immersive visuals – is driven by pure intuition, a DIY spirit, and genuine creative synergy.
How did you get to know each other? When did you start as the Lovačka Srca collective, and what was the first impulse?
Živina: Rebeca (Seretkrzmal) and Hana (Hantaro) knew each other from high school days. They even had the same ex-boyfriend. I met Rebeca in college, and that’s how the three of us met. When thinking about who the other members of the collective should be, we just thought about people from Zagreb who like the same stuff on Instagram as we do. That’s why/when we asked Ana (purikulo) and Dora (Šakon_ćute) to join.
Purikulo: I met HANTARO through my college friend, but I didn’t really know her until we worked on an exhibition in tunnel Grič a few years ago. Sitting for hours in a huge, damp ex-atomic shelter/transport tunnel in the middle of Zagreb, we got to chatting and really hit it off. Thanks to her, I met Šeretkrzmal and ŽIVINA, while šakon_cute and I go further back. OG seasiders. Before we became Lovačka Srca, we were friends who went to the same obscure concerts abroad, and that’s how our tastes connected. Little-known fact: we also have shadow members @davidbakaric and @ivorlapic who are the masters behind the camera for promo and event doc, and sooo much more. Without them we wouldn’t have made our first promo reel that helped us catch the local scene’s eye so quickly and help us gather such a supportive crowd for our first event together.. It really is an insane boost of confidence to have them in the group. They’re min-max masters, and without them I don’t think we would have managed such great strides in such a short time as a collective.
What can you tell us about the Zagreb underground music scene? What about clubs, DJs, and collectives active in the nightlife scene there?
Živina: Zagreb has a lot of people trying; it is a small city, so there aren’t enough people to “fill up” a niche scene. So sometimes people have to compromise and mix their taste with others. It’s kinda a blessing in disguise; you don’t get only what you want to listen to and see served on a platter, but rather you meet people where you have some differences but also overlap in taste.
It introduces you to new things and also makes you dig for what you really want. And it can also inspire you to build the scene yourself, out of necessity.
Purikulo: A lot of us are friends and work together, @heartskomerc @prirodaidrustvo, or worked together and then became friends with @_onkraj_. In Zagreb, there is a yearning, I think, in a lot of us, for “alternative folks,” for something cool to exist and happen. And at a point you stop hoping and decide to take up the cause and suddenly meet others with the same mindset who have been doing wow stuff. I know we’re talking Zagreb, but I feel that @gomilanajjace, @sutra, @nimas.izbire and @hungarianjuke deserve a mention considering how much they contribute to their scenes back home and how important it is to mix and mash underground cultures across the region. It’s the synergy and inspiration that flows out of it that inspires more people to get into it, and hopefully some of those people can, like, open up some cool new venues in Zagreb v_v
Do you have a difficult time organizing parties in Croatia?
Živina: For the most part, no. Ever since we started, things have been going smoothly, luckily! There is some stress about picking the right venue, as we didn’t have the funds in the beginning, and Zagreb has a limited number of venues with a good sound system and a good vibe. But as we started, people recognized us and have been inviting us for collabs, and we couldn’t be happier.
“Their ear stands on the cusp of different contemporary aesthetics and subcultures where they mix underground internet influences with their personal, intimate hymns.” Love this official description of yours. What are some of these subcultures, labels, or art movements that inspire you in some way?
Živina: For me, I draw my influences from many things. As I now do both VJ and DJ, I really have the freedom to introduce all of my influences to each other, both musical and visual. It started with hyperpop and internet culture and grew with the community of both. I really love the Dariacore microgenre, and I know the hyperpop train has sailed a little as it turned into more electroclash, but I really fuck with not only the sound, but also with the approach and attitude of the genre. It’s maximalist and at the same time stripped bare. Maximalist production-wise and stripped ideologically, both done with no holding back, with no fear of being seen as cringe or shallow. You can also see how the energy of 2020 is woven through it. It’s for people who have no interest in being nonchalant, and have no shame if they shed a tear when they hear a vocal sample from a 2014 radio hit. I am also really inspired by the aesthetics and approach of “Sex Magazine” by Lola Dement Myers. I have to admit I even faked their shirt because they don’t ship to Croatia and I was so desperate, I hope they forgive me… The record label Lorem Ipsum Records (my favourite being Sacred Holes) is also something that I resonate with; they kept the soul and the genuineness in the electroclash genre that, for instance, Snow Strippers didn’t. And of course A.M.180 Collective and everything they do in Prague is a really big inspiration for our collective, not just me personally.
I also take a lot of inspiration from fashion, as I believe it is the most all-encompassing medium. I love how it’s possible to worldbuild within it. I love Junya Watanabe, Comme des Garçons, Thom Browne, Gareth Pugh… I don’t even know if I need to mention Margiela, McQueen, Galliano, Ann Demeulemeester, or Enfants Riches Dépressés.
purikulo: I like rabbit-holing on the internet and building procedural systems. Nothing inspires me more than not keyframing by hand.
Seretkrzmal: Sometimes I feel like my purpose in life is to be a messenger between opposing concepts or groups of people because my whole life I’ve been a subject of opposites, and therefore had to learn to adapt on both sides. That used to frustrate me because I felt like I belonged nowhere strongly and that it meant I was an artist of poor identity. But it has turned out to be a big advantage — both in my musical and design endeavours. I feel like I’m constantly building a unique amalgamation of tastes, where I take what I resonate with from every social, geographic, artistic, (…) experience and build worlds that are unique to me. It has turned out to be a gratifying process. I draw a lot of inspiration from physical archives, film, sport, and anime. But I’d say most of it comes from being outside!! Oh, and internet archives! I saw a quote recently that went along the lines of: “Too many people these days are trying to do the cool thing instead of doing their own thing and convincing others it’s cool.” Of course, being affirmed by your community is a natural need, but it’s such a freeing feeling to stop having tens of types of people and what they like on your mind as you work and put out work. Nothing is cringe if it’s genuine to you, and it has shown that there will always be people who appreciate that.
I’m an NBA YoungBoy\Julia Holter\The Beatles\Jala i Buba lovechild and proud…
Hantaro: I think for me it is always the same. I love everything through what I can grasp as some part of God. Then I just follow that feeling, and it takes me where I need to be. Then I see nothing else. Recently I’ve really been into monker178 and his landscapes, Curtis Roads and his microsounds, Yvu with the unbelievable sound design, and Andy Stott ofc. Also, jsa (jasia) is crazzzy! For visual stuff, I adore Ultima Oportunidad and Dark Red.
You bridge both music and visual arts. With DJing from šakon_cute, HANTARO, and Šeretkrzmal, and VJs purikulo and ŽIVINA. How do you handle creative direction when preparing an event? Do visuals respond to music, or do visual concepts influence the track selections?
Živina: It happens very intuitively; we overlap in a bigger vision for the event, so I wouldn’t say one influences the other. Most of the time, the sound and the video meet for the first time at the event, like a blind date. I think the music and the visuals represent us personally, so it kinda draws a parallel; if we are good friends, for sure the things that represent us will be friends as well.
Can you share a little bit of what you will play in Prague? What can people expect from your immersive audio-visual performance in Fuchs2?
Seretkrzmal: A lot of bass-heavy music. I think that’s the common denominator. Some grime, deconstructed, dubstep, jungle, jerseyclub, footwork…
Živina: I don’t really know yet; we will see. I can promise rust, scars, deterioration, the feeling of sun/light being burned into your vision, but on a chill level. After all, it’s gonna be a Thursday night.
Hantaro: Mostly left-field music, but with enough rhythm you can dance to.
What are your plans or dreams for the future with Lovačka Srca?
Živina: The plan is to continue. We have another event two days after this one with Etheralmolds! Shoutout!!! We want to keep working and collaborating on events with people. To take it easy and have fun, meet others who also like to build the scene and make art.
Seretkrzmal: I agree with Lucija! We never started off wanting to build a corp music empire or change the world; I actually really enjoy this optimal space we’re in now where we get to create some meaningful movement. But it’s still friendly fun at the end of the day. Shoutout to Hungarian Juke once again; those boys made me feel such a strong purpose in all of this, because club life can get a bit dark, gloomy, and hopeless, but normal and genuine folk like that, who come from similar backgrounds and sacrifices, really make it feel like it’s worth staying around!
Hantaro: I want to rest and not do anything for like a month.
Favorite songs at the moment?
Živina: Ark Patrol – “Let go”.
Hantaro: Hmmmm, I’ve finally been getting into Drake, but besides him I’ve been listening to Gway Lo – From Triad God a lot.
Seretkrzmal: Prof. Stranger – “Found Me Edit” by Madjestic Kasual (I listened to it for 5 hours on loop when I was drawing; it does the best things to me, I swear).
purikulo: “Ride ‘em, Cowboy” by David Allan Coe, shoutout @mc.young.buck!
Šakon_ćute: At the moment, “789” by b7anket.
Favorite food of Lovačka Srca members?
Živina: Only meat, only what we catch/hunt!! I also learned that my name means nutrient in Czech?! Makes sense, I really do focus on nutrients, fibermaxxing and protein in the second place, but also don’t forget the carbs…
Purikulo: Canned sardines for breakfast.
Seretkrzmal: VARIVOOOO!!! (Any kind of stew). Or hearty home-cooked Croatian grandma meals, also Mediterranean food native to our coastline!!
Hantaro: PIZZA.
Favorite film?
Šakon_ćute: “Point Break”, “Cabaret”.
Živina: “City of God” (2002) and “Lux Aeterna” (2022).
Purikulo: From Beyond (1986), The Dirties (2013).
Seretkrzmal: “Where Is the Friend’s House” by Abbas Kiarostami or “La Cienaga” by Lucrecia Martel. Or “Grizzly Man” by Werner Herzog, orrrrrr…
Hantaro: My life… I can’t remember what my favourite of all time is, but the last movie I watched was “Marketa Lazarova”, and it was beautiful.
Magdaléna Vašáryová in the movie „Marketa Lazarova“ from 1967
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【 Questions: Krištof Budke / You can follow the Lovačka Srca collective on Instagram 】
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