Siddharta

Siddharta is a Slovenian rock band formed in Ljubljana in 1995 and named after Hermann Hesse's novel Siddhartha. Its music runs from alternative and progressive rock to alternative metal, and after some thirty years on stage it is one of the most popular bands in Slovenia.

The core of the band is the singer and guitarist Tomi Meglič, the guitarist Primož Benko and the drummer Boštjan Meglič. Primož Majerič played bass from 1995 to 2002, when Jani Hace took over, the saxophonist Cene Resnik was a member from 1996 to 2008, and Tomaž Okroglič Rous played keyboards and programming from 1999 to 2023, followed by Nejc Škofic in 2025.

In 1999 Siddharta opened for Liquido and Dog Eat Dog at Rock Otočec and released their debut album, Id, which went platinum with about 13,000 copies. It won the Zlati petelin awards for debut, rock album and album of the year, and the band was named breakthrough of the year at the Bumerang awards. Nord (2001) sold about 30,000 copies; that November they sold out the Kodeljevo hall in Ljubljana, and on 16 June 2002 they played Križanke with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra. Silikon delta (2002) was a remix album.

After Rh- (2003) came the concert that defined them. On 13 September 2003 more than 30,000 people saw Siddharta at the Bežigrad stadium in Ljubljana, with the RTV Slovenia orchestra and 60 dancers, widely called the event of the year. The band won the Viktor for performer of the year in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007, and in 2005 the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Adriatic Act.

Petrolea (2006) began its tour at Ljubljana Castle and won the Viktor for album of the year. On 5 October 2007 the band played Maraton in Hala Tivoli, about five hours of music with guests, and that year brought the live albums Maraton and Izštekani. After Saga (2009) they kept the promise made at Bežigrad and played the new Stožice stadium in 2011, recorded as VI. Later records are the compilation Songs (2012), Infra and Ultra (2015), Nomadi (2018), ID20 (2020) and X (2024).

Siddharta have made 22 music videos, most of them also in English versions. Their best-known songs include "Pot v X", "Lunanai", "B Mashina", "Samo Edini", "Klinik", "Platina", "Ring", "My Dice", "Male roke" and "Ledena".