Metal Maiden of the Month · August 2026
Jelena Rupić
Belgrade, Serbia
From discovering Uriah Heep on her mother’s vinyl at six years old to heavy metal, painting, acting, cinema and music videos, Jelena follows whatever stirs emotion and sparks inspiration.
Follow @jelena.rupic
The complete conversation
Jelena: The Full Interview
Eleven questions spanning the records, concerts, art, cinema and creative experiences that have shaped her world.
Photos by @fotografikumstudio
How did you first get into metal music, and what was the first band or album that hooked you?
I had my first contact with rock music thanks to my mother’s old vinyl records. The first record that caught my interest was Look at Yourself by Uriah Heep; I was six years old. As for metal, in the seventh grade of elementary school, I became just as passionate about Megadeth, Black Sabbath, and W.A.S.P. Those were my first steps into this wonderful world that I know today.
What was the most memorable concert you’ve ever attended, and why did it stand out?
For personal reasons of my own, one of the best concerts I have ever been to was King Crimson in Paris back in 2015.
I have many memories and wonderful times spent with artists. I couldn’t single out just one event, but I will mention the music video shoot for the song “Vanila i Znoj” by Divlje Jagode.
Do you have a favourite metal subgenre? If so, what draws you to it?
If we had to label it, it would be heavy metal. Generally, though, I don’t divide music into genres and subgenres; the only thing that matters to me is that it stirs emotions and inspires me. Right after heavy metal, I would also single out thrash metal, power metal, prog metal, and glam metal.
What’s your go-to metal anthem when you need a boost of energy?
There are too many metal songs that instantly boost my mood! I could think about it for five days and still wouldn’t be able to single out just one. “The Number of the Beast” is definitely up there, especially with that Dickinson scream. Right now, I also have to single out Firewind—for example, “Destiny Is Calling” and “Ode to Leonidas.”
If you could attend any metal concert from any era, which one would it be and why?
Tough question—you caught me there. I would single out Deep Purple on the Made in Japan tour.
On Instagram, we saw that you’ve appeared in several rock and metal videos—including one where you act as a bartender. What was it like appearing in those videos?
That is the music video for the heavy metal pioneers of the former Yugoslavia, Divlje Jagode. The experience was fantastic, and it is always wonderful to work with such legends. My role as the bartender was to seduce both singers and, in the end, leave the pub with bandleader and guitarist Zele Lipovača—a humorous theme in a Quentin Tarantino Western style.
I also took part in directing the music video for “U Polutami” by the band Rok Bulevar, so that was another wonderful experience.
Painting is another hobby featured on your Instagram. What do you enjoy most about it?
When it comes to painting, I love complete freedom; everything depends on my current feelings. I love surrealism, expressionism, impressionism, and abstraction. I can’t really boast about being a professional, but I also enjoy simply absorbing the works of nineteenth-century world masters.
What’s a metal album you think every fan should listen to at least once in their life?
Master of Reality by Black Sabbath just turned 55, yet it sounds as fresh as the day it came out!
Outside of metal, what are some of your other hobbies and interests?
We have already mentioned two—painting and acting, as well as modelling. Besides those, I am deeply interested in cinematography, art films such as those by Ingmar Bergman and Andrei Tarkovsky, literature, and science. I would also single out the FCK metal community, where I work as Head of Customer Experience.
Thank you for being our Metal Maiden of the Month. Is there anything you would like to add?
Thank you for having me! Find your Ataraxia, and keep rocking. 🤘🏻
“Find your Ataraxia, and keep rocking.”
Jelena Rupić
On screen
Jelena in Music Videos
Contents
- 1 Jelena
Rupić
- 1.1 Jelena: The Full Interview
- 1.1.1 How did you first get into metal music, and what was the first band or album that hooked you?
- 1.1.2 What was the most memorable concert you’ve ever attended, and why did it stand out?
- 1.1.3 What’s your favourite metal-related memory, whether it’s a concert, meeting a band member, or something else entirely?
- 1.1.4 Do you have a favourite metal subgenre? If so, what draws you to it?
- 1.1.5 What’s your go-to metal anthem when you need a boost of energy?
- 1.1.6 If you could attend any metal concert from any era, which one would it be and why?
- 1.1.7 On Instagram, we saw that you’ve appeared in several rock and metal videos—including one where you act as a bartender. What was it like appearing in those videos?
- 1.1.8 Painting is another hobby featured on your Instagram. What do you enjoy most about it?
- 1.1.9 What’s a metal album you think every fan should listen to at least once in their life?
- 1.1.10 Outside of metal, what are some of your other hobbies and interests?
- 1.1.11 Thank you for being our Metal Maiden of the Month. Is there anything you would like to add?
- 1.2 Jelena in Music Videos
- 1.1 Jelena: The Full Interview