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Background

Maya began work on Girl from the South upon returning from a month-long vacation in January–February 2012 on an Australian cruise ship near Sydney and spending ten days in Dubai. She left BN Music and signed a recording contract with the record label City Records.

Berović soon began work with composer Damir Handanović who has produced hit songs for artists such as Ceca, Dara Bubamara, Elvira Rahić, Darko Lazić and Mile Kitić, among many others. Songwriting duo Atelje Trag co-wrote and produced the title song.

Release and artwork

Girl from the South was first released in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia through City Records on 17 October 2012. It was released on 20 October in neighboring countries such as Croatia.

The photo-shoot for the cover and promotion was done by Dejan Milićević, who also directed each music video for the album. The shoot lasted 18 hours and had to be paused when Maya became ill from hunger.

Singles

The ballad "Leti ptico slobodno" (Fly Bird, Freely) was released as the album's lead single on 25 June 2012. Following promotion for the single, Maya and her boyfriend Alen vacationed in Varadero, Cuba for two weeks prior to the release of the album. The music video was planned to be filmed on the Croatian Brijuni Islands, but was instead filmed in a studio. The video had its premiere on Maya's YouTube channel on 20 October 2012.

"Mama mama" was released as the second official single in October 2012 shortly before the album's release. The music video, directed by Dejan Milićević, was filmed in early September and released 10 October 2012.

Critical reception

Girl from the South received positive reviews and comments from the press and public on how her music and style differed from that of her overtly-sexual colleagues. She replied:

I entered the world of show business with the intention to prove myself with quality songs and I think this is the only way to build a successful and long-term career. This was and remains my only goal.

Tour dates