Serbian indie band Bitter Blue is back with a captivating new single, “Port Wine Blood,” offering listeners another taste of their highly anticipated debut album, set for release in September 2026. Built around shimmering, reverb-soaked guitars, dark pop textures, and an instantly memorable chorus, the track highlights the band’s ability to balance emotional depth with infectious melodies.
At the heart of Bitter Blue is songwriter Luka Nikolić, who created the project as a way of turning life’s challenges into something meaningful and hopeful. Influenced by artists such as Foals, The Smiths, The Strokes, The Neighbourhood, and Bloc Party, Bitter Blue has developed a sound that combines introspective songwriting with the kind of hooks that stay with listeners long after the music ends.
“Port Wine Blood” continues in that direction, exploring themes of love, fear, and learning to overcome self-doubt in an uncertain world. The song feels both deeply personal and widely relatable, showcasing a band that isn’t afraid to wear its emotions openly while still delivering music with a sense of scale and ambition.
The single arrives following the success of Bitter Blue’s debut EP, Levity, which was released in 2024 through Tribal Rajber. Written by Luka Nikolić and produced by Stefan Mark Milojković at Buzz Box Studio, the EP introduced audiences to a group comfortable embracing the complexities of human emotion. Alongside Nikolić, the band features Milan Mirić on vocals, Miloš Dabetić on bass, and Milojković on drums and production duties.
Reflecting on the making of the upcoming album, Nikolić describes it as the first time he truly felt he was creating art rather than simply making music. After more than two decades of writing and performing, he has come to see beauty in the act of creating, even when life feels overwhelming and the world appears chaotic. He likens the experience of making the record to “meditating on the top floor of a burning skyscraper,” calling it a colourful collection filled with life, a little death, and everything in between.
The forthcoming album is shaping up to be Bitter Blue’s most ambitious and fully realised project yet, with every song, lyric, and visual element serving a larger artistic vision. “Port Wine Blood” stands as a powerful introduction to this new chapter.
Since the release of Levity, Bitter Blue has earned praise from music publications around the world, including Happy Mag, V13 Media, Spill Magazine, Obscure Sound, Rock At Night, Ink 19, and Conversations About Her. Their growing reputation is built on a distinctive blend of emotional honesty and indie-pop accessibility.
With “Port Wine Blood,” Bitter Blue continues to establish itself as one of the most exciting emerging acts in the Balkan alternative scene, delivering music that feels deeply personal while speaking to emotions that listeners everywhere can understand.
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