Perseida: Skopje shoegaze band born after a League of Legends night — 'Apatija' out and live on July 22

In central Skopje, amid the summer heat, the young band Perseida is quickly gaining traction among fans of textured, effect‑driven guitar music. Though they formed only last August, their debut single "Apatija" took off a few weeks ago, positioning the group strongly on the local alternative scene.

From a gaming night to the rehearsal room

The lineup consists of Georgi Nikolchov (guitar), Gjorgji Jakimovski (guitar), Nikola Ristovski (drums), Nadja Dimitrova (vocals) and Iva Romevska (bass). The name Perseida came after several nights of brainstorming — while searching constellations and comets they landed on Perseida; for Nadja it also echoes a childhood nickname from her father.

Nikola: "Now, literally we'll just go to rehearsal and sit, eat, smoke cigarettes and nothing else."

The band's origin has an unexpected twist: Nikola and Georgi were playing League of Legends late at night when they started talking about music — and decided to form a new group. They posted an Instagram story looking for a singer; Nadja responded when she saw Georgi's name in the lineup.

They describe their music as a blend of classic and modern shoegaze, drawing inspiration from bands like Fleshwater, My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, with touches of Cocteau Twins. Their sound also borrows elements from metal and hardcore depending on the song.

The debut single "Apatija" was chosen because it hooks listeners immediately and contains multiple layers — a full listening experience, they say. Recording moved surprisingly fast: "it took us three or four takes" to finish the track.

Georgi: "That's why it's perfect as a single. The song has many parts and evolves. It's an experience to hear the whole track."

Live, Perseida performs material not yet officially released — they say every gig is an opportunity to hear new songs. Their first major public appearance was at Pirit Fest, where they played with only five prepared compositions and even improvised a piece for the festival. Playing abroad brought them closer and earned warm reactions and praise.

Their next planned single is called "Zhad" — according to Georgi, it features a catchy chorus and a gentler vocal approach, focusing more on effects and guitar layers. They don’t want to limit themselves to a single genre and already plan collaborations, including with Alembik and other local acts.

For those who want to hear them live: Perseida will play on July 22 at La Caña as part of the multi‑day event Alternative Skopje 5 — another chance to hear "Apatija" and new tracks that have yet to be released officially.