Sandra Sagena is one of those names on the Croatian music scene that carries both artistic weight and a distinctive creative identity. A lyricist, composer, singer-songwriter and versatile artist, she has spent years shaping sounds and words that endure.
“Sandra and I have known each other for a very long time. We’ve been through so much together – professionally and personally,” says Katja Restović. “We worked on many music videos together, and one of the very first videos I ever directed was hers, for the song ‘Ne želim biti dama’ (‘I Don’t Want to Be a Lady’), which she performed at Dora. From that moment on, our deep friendship and mutual understanding began.”
Over the years, they collaborated on numerous projects and music videos, but Restović especially highlights two that she filmed and edited herself for Sandra – ‘Gejša’ and ‘Meridionale’. Some of those collaborations have remained permanently etched in her memory.
“One of my most cherished memories is the song and video for ‘Gejša’ and ‘Meridionale’. That was something truly special between us,”Restović recalls. “And then there was the song for Massimo Savić, Ljubav kao miris puta (‘Love Like the Scent of the Road’), for which I wrote the lyrics. When I sent her the verses, she was thrilled, and a beautiful melody was born almost instantly. Her then-partner Marko, who left us far too soon, created the arrangement, and Massimo performed the song in his unmistakable style. The song was presented at the Dalmatian Chanson Festival, where it received the Šansonijer Award, and that same year it also won a Porin Award for Best Male Vocal Performance.”
Two versions of the music video were recorded for the song, and the entire process remains remembered as one of those collaborations where creative energy simply aligned.
Sandra Sagena (born in Šibenik) established herself as the author of numerous songs for well-known Croatian performers. A songwriter of strong sensibility, she is known for lyrics and music that blend emotion, depth, and a recognizable artistic signature. Her body of work includes hundreds of compositions, and she has collaborated with many prominent names on the national scene. A Porin Award winner, her oeuvre reflects continuous and dedicated creative work.
Yet beyond professional credentials lies something far more personal.
“What has always fascinated me about her is her aesthetic – that particular feminine sensibility she brings into everything she does. And her voice… I adore her voice. When she sings accompanied by piano, it becomes this refined, layered tone. I like to say it’s a voice that holds multiple voices within it – like strings that aren’t perfectly polished, but slightly ‘dusty,’ just as they should be. That’s what gives it warmth and character,” Restović says.
Beyond professional achievements, their friendship has outlived both spotlights and projects.
“We’ve been through so much together. We have countless anecdotes. But what matters most to me is this – in every life moment, both beautiful and difficult, she was always there for me. And I believe I was there for her as well,” concludes Katja Restović.
In a world where collaborations often remain purely professional, the relationship between Katja Restović and Sandra Sagena has grown into something deeper – a lasting creative partnership and friendship that carries both art and life within it.
