Helicopter
takes off!

Linz TikTok Star Fazlija becomes official Cultural Ambassador for Upper Austria

Have you ever heard of Fazlija? No? That can change. Because the Linz native with Bosnian roots is not only the most famous singer in the Turbo-Folk scene of the Western Balkans, but thanks to his hit “Helicopter”, he is also one of the biggest international TikTok stars. Britney Spears, the Kardashians and even the Real Madrid team dance to his music. Since we want to culturally engage people where they truly are in this Super Cultural Year 2024, which is on the internet, we present Fazlija as the International Cultural Ambassador for Upper Austria.

Der Künstler Fazlija steht auf einem Steg am Attersee, hinter ihm ein Schiff der Attersee Schifffahrt.

What is culture? A question we asked ourselves in the year leading up to the Super Cultural Year 2024 with Bad Ischl Salzkammergut as the Cultural Capital of Europe. Anton Bruckner is culture. Certainly. High culture even. And the two Gustavs — Klimt and Mahler — have left their indelible marks on the region as well. Culture takes place in many locations. At courtyards, in monasteries, in concert halls and on small stages. But also out on the street, in backyards, and of course, on social media platforms.

Upper Austria’s newest star

On social media, people already know Fazlija. Or rather, the whole world knows the Linz native. Thanks to his hit “Helicopter”, he is one of the most celebrated social media stars of our time, and the biggest actors, singers and athletes count among his fans. In private, however, the singer is rather quiet and down-to-earth. A true Upper Austrian. Because when he’s not on one of his celebrated tours, he spends time with his wife and two children at Lake Attersee. He soaks up the atmosphere, chats with his fans and sometimes takes the boat out onto the water.

Der Musiker und Oberösterreich Kulturbotschafter Fazlija blickt auf den Attersee.

Everything here is art and culture. There is no place in the world that is more beautiful, cleaner, and more relaxing than this. I could spend hours just looking at and into the water.

Back home in Linz, you’ll usually find him in a town-centre café. “The quality of life we have here is also unique. I enjoy my espresso, watch the people and get inspiration for my music.

Helicopter, helicopter

“I can remember my mother always saying that I would make people all over the world happy with my music.” Fazlija likes to talk about his childhood and his homeland in the former Yugoslavia. Even back then, he already stood on the stage and made a name for himself as a singer. First tours in ever larger venues followed. One of them took him, along with his wife and their very young daughter, to Germany and Austria in 1992. When war broke out in their homeland and they could no longer return, everything changed overnight for the young family.

Der Musiker und Oberösterreich Kulturbotschafter Fazlija sitzt lachend im Heck eines beschleunigenden Motorboots auf dem Attersee.

In the greatest misfortune of our lives, we were very lucky to end up in Upper Austria and to find a new home here.

All of this was almost 32 years ago. Fazlija never turned his back on music here either. Countless concerts and tours have since taken him to all the continents of the world, making him a celebrated star of the Turbo-Folk scene thanks to his catchy songs and the ability to get people dancing.

Der Musiker und Oberösterreich Kulturbotschafter Fazlija spaziert auf einem Steg am Attersee, im Hintergrund Schloss Kammer.

In 2016, he wrote the song “Helicopter”. However, it would take until 2021 for him to become one of the biggest musical stars on TikTok with it. “I believe that every person has a few strokes of luck in their life. And then it’s up to them to seize that opportunity and make something out of it.” What exactly happened? No one knows for sure. An American who wanted to sing the song in Bosnian triggered a wave on which suddenly the whole world was surfing. And it has not subsided to this day.

Der Musiker und Oberösterreich Kulturbotschafter Fazlija steht tanzend auf dem Achterdeck eines Motorboots auf dem Attersee.

First, the Kardashians danced to his song on the internet, then Britney Spears, Real Madrid and even the great David Guetta. To this day, people use the song and have made it one of the most successful in history with over 100 million clicks. “What has changed for me as a result? Even the younger generation knows me now. People travel from far away to see one of my concerts. It’s amazing!”

International Cultural Ambassador of Upper Austria

But why is Fazlija our new international cultural ambassador, out of all people? The task we set for ourselves in the Super Cultural Year 2024 is to reach people, especially the youth, where they really are. And that’s on the internet. Because they are the future, and they deserve our full attention. For this reason, there could be no better ambassador for Upper Austria than Fazlija.

Der Musiker und Oberösterreich Kulturbotschafter Fazlija steht auf einer Plattform des Sprungturms im Strandbad Seewalchen am Attersee, im Hintergrund das Schloss Kammer.

He is someone who lives our values of multiculturalism, openness to the world and diversity like no other and has remained a completely normal, down-to-earth Upper Austrian despite his success. “Just as in my music, there are no cultural boundaries in Upper Austria, and that’s why I’m incredibly excited to represent my second home from now on.”