Spasen Siljanoski: from taxi driver and soldier to TV host and folk star

Spasen Siljanoski, a well-known name on North Macedonia's folk scene, opened up about the hard work behind his rise — a past that included odd jobs, military service and night-club security before music and television brought wider recognition.

From necessity to stage

Siljanoski said the variety of work he did taught him the value of honest labor and humility. “I have worked all sorts of jobs in my life. I am not ashamed of anything as long as I work honestly,” he told the interviewer.

Among the lesser-known chapters of his life, Siljanoski worked as a taxi driver, served in the Macedonian Army and at times provided security in night clubs. Today he balances his music career with a presenting role on the show "Vezilka" while often returning to his roots to work the fields in his native village of Popolzhani.

He recalled that one of the hardest moments came just as he was due to enroll at university: his father lost his job the same day. "I grew up in an environment where we literally struggled to feed ourselves. There were hard moments when, at the time I finished high school, I was supposed to enroll in university, the same day my father was dismissed from work. We came home, we had no bread. They told me, 'you go, we'll manage, we'll work the land, we'll gather forest fruits, mushrooms or I don't know what'," Siljanoski said, describing how his family adapted to make ends meet.

His story is framed by patriotic songs and energetic performances that made him a favorite on the local music circuit, but Siljanoski emphasizes that the years of hard work remain central to who he is — a reminder that success for many artists is built on years of perseverance and practical effort.

Photo: press material from the event