Raiven

Sara Briški Cirman, widely recognized by her stage name Raiven, is a renowned Slovenian mezzo-soprano, pop singer, songwriter, and harpist. Born on April 26, 1996, in Brežice, Slovenia, she has made significant strides in her musical career, distinguishing herself in both the classical and pop music arenas.

Raiven first gained widespread recognition in Slovenia’s music scene during the national final Evrovizijska Melodija (EMA) in 2016, where she competed to represent Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest with her song “Črno bel.” She achieved second place in this highly competitive event. Following this success, Raiven continued to participate in EMA, securing third place in 2017 with “Zažarim” and returning in 2019 with “Kaos,” again placing second. Her talent and persistence paid off in 2024 when she was chosen to represent Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest with her song “Veronika.”

In 2017, Raiven released “Magenta,” her debut album, to critical acclaim. This release earned her an award from Zlata piščal, a Slovenian cultural and artistic association, in the record of the year category. Later, Raiven expanded her horizons by collaborating with songwriters and producers at London’s Metropolis Studios. This partnership culminated in the release of the EP album “REM,” which garnered both critical and public acclaim.

Raiven’s stage presence and performance skills were further highlighted at the Exit Festival in Novi Sad in 2019, where she performed on the Fusion Stage to an audience of over 56,000 people. She also showcased her versatility by performing with several esteemed orchestras, including the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra and the Slovenian Police Orchestra. In 2020, she delivered a memorable performance with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra at the Ljubljana Slovene National Theatre Opera and Ballet.

Her achievements in 2021 were notable, winning the Grand Audience Award at the Popevka 21 festival with her song “Vokovi,” earning the title Popevka 2021. That same year, Raiven completed her master’s degree in opera solo singing at Ljubljana’s Academy of Music.

Raiven’s innovative approach to music was evident in her electro-opera concert project in 2022, where she skillfully blended classical opera arias with electronic pop. This project, titled “Doloroso,” was showcased in a sold-out concert at Cankar Centre. In 2023, Raiven hosted the Popevka festival and introduced her new song “Ikona,” signaling the upcoming release of her EP “Sirene,” which includes her Eurovision song “Veronika.”

Raiven’s education in music began early, enrolling at the Ljubljana Music Matica at the age of four. She pursued harp lessons at the Music School in Ljubljana and later attended the Maribor Conservatory of Music and Ballet, where she majored in harp, jazz singing, and solo singing. Her talents were recognized early on, winning several awards in classical music competitions. She graduated in solo singing from the Ljubljana Academy of Music in 2015 and completed her master’s degree in 2021.

In opera, Raiven dedicated herself to artistic development, performing in various roles, including in the world’s first tamburitza opera “Ambrož and Katarina” and as a scholarship holder of the Berlin Opera Academy. Her performances in significant roles, such as Rosina in Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” and the title role in Händel’s “Agrippina,” demonstrate her versatility and commitment to the opera genre.

Raiven has also made her mark in theater, performing in plays like “Trojanke” and musicals such as “Povodni mož,” showcasing her multifaceted talents. Her dedication to her craft and continuous development as an artist have established her as a significant figure in both the Slovenian and international music scenes.

On December 12, 2023, it was announced that she was going to represent Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Veronika”. The song managed to reach the Grand Final on May 11.