Bio

Dejan Zmijanjac was born in war-torn Bosnia and Herzegovina on November 11, 1984. As a child he spent much of his life on the move with his family, often narrowly escaping advancing enemy troops. His one saving grace during those tumultuous years, he says, was music. He discovered his love of singing at age 9 when he began watching and imitating his favorite singers on his 13-inch black and white television. "I would watch Andrea Bocelli or Celine Dion and sing along with them. I cried with joy when they sang. It made me feel free." Dejan and his family emigrated to the US and were granted asylum as war refugees nine years ago, when Dejan was just 17. "I had always dreamed of coming to the United States. We almost didn't make it here, but I was determined, so I told my family that I was coming with or without them. I knew I had to come to the US. Since we arrived it has been everything I hoped it would be, and more. I love America." Since coming to the US, Dejan has been singing only for his family and friends. He has had no formal training and has been singing karaoke for the past few years as his sole creative outlet. Now he is ready for more. "I have wanted to sing since I was a small boy," says Dejan. "Music was such a big part of my life growing up and it was the only thing that made me feel better during the hard times. Now, I want to share that joy I felt with others with this debut original song entitled, “Una”