Vlatko Ilievski

Vlatko Ilievski was a Macedonian pop rock singer and actor.

Born in the capital city of Skopje, then part of Yugoslavia and now in North Macedonia, Ilievski discovered his passion for music at the age of 12. He began his musical journey playing guitar and singing with local bands in his hometown. His talent was evident early on, leading to his performance at the Macedonian Rock-Fest in 2000 with “Made in Macedonia,” where he claimed two awards.

In the year 2000, Ilievski was approached by the rock ensemble Moral to become a member. This collaboration led to the creation of their album “Koga Patuvam” by 2003, featuring tracks like “Panichno te sakam” (I Panic Love You), “Skopje,” “Ti si” (You Are), “Ova e Makedonija” (This is Macedonia), and “A ti me ubivash” (And You Kill Me). The band gained significant recognition, even opening for Deep Purple during their Skopje concert in 2005.

Ilievski embarked on a solo career in 2007, producing hits such as “Nebo” (Sky), “Ushte si mi ti” (You Are Still Mine), and “So Drugi Zborovi” (In Other Words). Notable performances included his appearances at Ohrid Fest 2008, Skopje 
Fest 2008 (the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest) and Makfest 2008, amongst others. His songs like “Najbogat na svet” (Richest in the World) and “Gushni me” (Hug Me, with Tamara) further solidified his place in the Macedonian music scene. He also participated in Skopje Fest 2009 and 2010.

His debut solo concert took place on June 5, 2010, at the Boris Trajkovski Hall, drawing a crowd of 10,000. This event highlighted his popularity, featuring duets with Tamara and support from local bands. In 2011, he won Skopje Fest with the song “Rusinka” and represented North Macedonia with his song. Unfortunately, he didn’t manage to reach the final. His continued participation in music festivals, including Skopje Fest 2015, demonstrated his enduring appeal in the industry.

Ilievski released two albums, “So drugi zborovi” (In Other Words) and “Najbogat na svet” (Richest in the World), each containing ten tracks that range from love ballads to unplugged versions, illustrating his dynamic as an artist.

Tragically, Ilievski passed away on July 6, 2018. He was found deceased in his car in Skopje, with the cause of death attributed to combined drug intoxication, marking a sorrowful end to the career of a promising Macedonian talent.