Lake Cowichan musican hopes to inspire through new music videos

Lake Cowichan musican hopes to inspire through new music videos

Published 5:45 am Monday, January 26, 2026

The true beauty of music is that it connects people.

It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and Lake Cowichan musician Natasa Jovanovic will be sharing her song lyrics through three original music videos shot in the area, and on the island.

Jovanovic will soon be celebrating a decade of island life, as she moved to Victoria from Serbia in 2016 to study music at Camosun College. Her musical journey first began at the tender age of three upon enrolling in classical piano at a local music school.

“The education was very demanding and high-pressure since I had to do tests, performances and competitions regularly,” said Jovanovic. “At age 11 I started to write music in English and joined my first metal band when I was 13, but I had to keep it a secret so my parents and teachers wouldn’t find out that I am pursuing other kinds of music besides classical. My training was difficult, but it taught me so much about perseverance and my commitment to the art. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be closer to the source of today’s most popular music and since I had some family members in Victoria, I decided to take my chance here on the island.”

Jovanovic said that coming from a country that suffered the consequences of a civil war has had a great impact on her artistry.

“There is trauma that each person is holding and my wish is to transform it through empowering music,” said Jovanovic “The biggest remedy I found for the pain is that love radiates from within. I have so much love to share and singing is my best outlet.”

While Jovanovic likes to mix genres with her music her main style is pop. The first of three original videos she is releasing is titled ‘I Hope Ur Okay’ which she wrote while living alone in Toronto. It will be released on all streaming platforms on Jan. 28, and is a message to all the people Jovanovic has lost contact with but who still remain in her heart. Jovanovic’s friend Grace shot a video of her singing on Victoria’s Mount Tolmie, while she recorded some scenic shots herself in Lake Cowichan near where she lives.

“It was basically coming back to all of the people that I had to leave behind for this or that reason,” said Jovanovic. “I’m still thinking about them and hoping they are OK even though things between some of them may not have ended on the most friendly note. It’s really about still having those people in your heart even though your paths are not together anymore.”

Jovanovic says she continued the same process for her follow up song titled ‘Frankly’ which she recalls writing at 4 a.m.

“I was really upset over the immigration process and how it has impacted others who shared their stories with me,” said Jovanovic. “It kept me up, and I wrote it immediately. I heard in my head exactly how the song needed to go and it was a very fast process for me.”

‘Frankly’ is comprised of an array of shots of her singing on Hornby Island taken by a videographer she had just met the same day. Also included in this video is a short and very cute clip of one of her vocal students singing from Shawnigan Lake’s Sitka Music School, where she began teaching voice and piano in 2017 and after a short hiatus returned in 2021.

Jovanovic’s third single titled ‘Alive’ was written shortly after Jovanovic first immigrated to Canada, during a time she felt isolated. It is actually a very uplifting song, she said, and was exactly how she felt as her friend Irwin Adrian recorded her in a myriad of Victoria locations as she was all done up in the fashions of local designer Nicole Mandryk, complimented with local make up brand Jourdie Cosmetics.

Both ‘Frankly’ and ‘Alive’ are set to be released sometime in February.

“’Alive’ is about me envisioning my future and being with friends and not feeling confused anymore and are just full of peace in our hearts,” said Jovanovic.

“Creating my own music videos is something I had always fantasized about doing even with my students or other musician friends. We have so much talent on the island and I just kept my eyes and ears open for artists who are ready to create and take a break from their regular jobs. These videos are made voluntarily as a learning process yet I’m still happy with the results since they capture the essence of my songs. Creating videos was such a beautiful and fun expression for me, so merely being in front of the camera was my favourite part, but shooting on Hornby Island was especially magical. I feel that the island is alive and was supporting me throughout the whole process.”

She is available for live show bookings as well as both personal and group singing, piano, and music artistry lessons. Jovanovic’s music can be found both on YouTube as well as her website at muzajovanovic.com/muza; she can also be followed on Instagram @muzajovanovic.

“With music and arts in general there is this strong conditioning that it’s a waste of time, so even though you are keen and passionate about it, you can’t help but feel trapped in those thoughts and conditions even though it’s simply not true,” said Jovanovic. “Accomplishing this is like proving to myself that I was right, and I hope my story inspires people to pursue their dreams.”