Nataša Bekvalac Says Stage Fright Still Follows Her After Nearly 30 Years

Nataša Bekvalac says performing for an audience still brings nerves, even after almost three decades as a professional singer. Speaking to reporters while taking part as a mentor on IDJ Pepsi Show, she described that anxiety as something she has never managed to leave behind—and not necessarily something she wants to lose. Bekvalac said the pressure and uncertainty an artist feels can help create a connection with the audience. She pointed to her own experience as an example, explaining that there is no simple cure for stage fright, even after years of work in music. The singer also discussed how she guides contestants choosing what to perform. For her, emotional feeling matters more than a strict focus on vocal technique or musical genre. She said she believes she can help a contestant singing folk music just as effectively as fellow mentor Seka Aleksić, despite Bekvalac’s pop background. “Music is a feeling,” Bekvalac said, describing folk music as something she can sense emotionally. She added that the way mentors speak to young performers matters, especially when contestants are still finding their confidence and identity. Asked about Aleksić’s description of her as a particularly skilled “manipulator” when it comes to winning contestants’ affection, Bekvalac rejected that characterization. She said she is deliberate about how she communicates and approaches people, and believes mentors should be careful not to hurt young contestants’ feelings. Her comments offered a glimpse of the balance she says she tries to strike on the show: encouraging emerging performers while recognizing that nerves and vulnerability remain part of life onstage, even for an experienced artist.