Serbian-Danish-Swedish gypsy accordion player and composer Lelo Nika has won two world championships in accordion playing, as well as the Djembe Prize at the Danish World Awards in 2002. He was born in the Romanian-speaking village of Nikolinci in the multi-ethnic region of Vojvodina in Serbia, near the Romanian border. As a one-year-old he moved to Denmark with his family, and has lived in Sweden since 1997. Lelo Nika did not grow up in a "traditional" gypsy family, and it wasn't until later in his life that he made contact with Serbian and Romanian gypsy music; at first he played mainly Romanian and Yugoslavian folk music. Lelo says that in his youth he never practiced less than three hours a day - preferably five, or even many more. So while he may have been a musical prodigy, he also worked hard to develop his talent. He had a number of teachers representing different traditions and approaches to the music. From the Serb Branimir Dokic he learned to play correctly and stylishly, while Ionel Corneanu taught him the importance of discipline. Later, in Denmark, he met the Romanian gypsy Andrei Mihalache, who became his teacher and almost a second father. Through him, the young Lelo finally satisfied his thirst to learn to play Romanian gypsy music properly. Lelo also studied under Mogens Ellegaard, Jeanette Dyremose and later, in Malmö, Lars Holm. He draws inspiration from more or less all genres. "Even bad music contains something good," as he says. Over time, he has undergone a massive development – from being a talented and technically impressive player of Yugoslavian and Romanian music to a musician with a universal musical language that can enrich almost any context. Things really took off for Lelo Nika in 1996 when he joined the 'One Song' project organised by bassist Bo Stief. He still performs with Stief in Denmark, in a trio with the Italian pianist Paulo Russo. He also features in the band of Danish-Israeli guitarist Dalia Faitelson, and has performed on four of their CDs. Lelo Nika has been in demand as an exotic guest musician with, amongst others, the band TV 2, the singer Lis Sørensen and the dance group Infernal, and on the international level he has played with – and impressed – such well-known names as Joe Zawinul. In his new home of Sweden, he has performed as a soloist with the NorrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra in music by Tommy Andersson, and in a duo with the female national troubadour Tuva Härdelin. There are in other words no limits to the range of music that Lelo Nika is prepared to take on, with infectious enthusiasm. Lelo Nika has several CD releases to his credit, of which the two latest are devoted to Romanian and Serbian music, respectively. However, his reputation as a master of his instrument has mainly been created in front of live audiences. By Mikkel Hornnes This article was produced in co-operation with the periodical Djembe: www.djembe.dk

Lelo Nika was born in Nikolinci, Serbia in 1969 Latest album: Beyond Borders (2005) Other releases:  Beyond Virtuosity (2000) With Bo Stief and Paulo Russo, in the trio 'One Song III': First TIme (2002) Short Story (2006) Web: www.lelonika.com