Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria

Artist Information

Instrumentation
18 female folk singers from Bulgaria. The singers represent different regions of the country and have been selected to join the choir by numerous castings.

Biography
Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria are the most popular bulgarian Folk choir today, the choir was founded in 1994 by the producer Emil Minev and conducter Vania Moneva. Today this unique choir includes 18 female singers carefully selected by numoereous castings in different regions in Bulgaria. The characteristic sound of the singers is typical for the Balkan culture. The choir has released its first CD "The Choice" in 1994. Since then followed Jazz festival in Split - Croatia, Concert tours in Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Belgium, tour in Austria - Voice mania Acappella Festival, Klangwolke Music Festival in Linz, and concerts in the two bigest cathidrals in Vienna, Festival in Budva - Montenegro, Concert at NATO base in Sarajevo,tour in Israel, Concert for the UN Mission in Vienna, Jazz festival Apolonia in Sozopol, Bulgaria, Concerts in Chisinau - Moldova and opening the European Musical Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The choir has worked on numerous CDs productions with internationally acclaimed artists such as Vesselina Kasarova - BMG Classic/Red Seal - her CD with Cosmic Voices "Bulgarian Soul" earned the ECHO Award for World Music, Christian Kolonovits, Ikuko Kawai - JVC Victor Japan, Yoko Kanno - JVC Victor Japan. Documentation-Films for Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria were shown on international channel such as ARTE, ZDF ( Germany), the english composer Howard Goodall made a presentation for the choir on Channel 4 - U.K. Cosmic Voices recorded also some music for the Italian Film Production of "NOMAD II 2005", music by Carlo Siglotto and the japanese cartoon - "KIBA", music by Jun Miyake.

The two volumes of "Bulgarian Choral Folk Songs" belong definately to the biggest musical achievments of this unique choir - not only because they have been incredibly arranged by the composer Krassimir Kyurkchiyski, but because the Bulgarian Folk Music is a real musical treasure making a cross over between the european musical tradition and the east-european one,collecting in itself numerous cultural and ancient Balkan tribe influences - Thracians, Great - Bulgarian Tribes and the ones of the Slavonic Tribes. Cosmic Voices of Bulgaria is surely the best export cultural project of Bulgaria today and a real delight for the years. Two new CD releases - "Bulgarian Choral Folk Songs - Vol.1 and Vol.2" by "Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria" are already available on www.itunes.com

Interview:

1. How did it feel to hear your song played all over the airwaves?
That would be great, recognition is what every solo artist or formation expects.

2. Did you have any pre-conceived ideas about the music industry?
Yes, it is very hard to break through and not always the best acts get the best exposure.

3. Do you write your own songs? What's your inspiration?
Our songs are traditionals and we work also with composers such as Kyurktchisyski, Kaufman, Spassov, Kutev for the vocal arrangements of the songs. Recently we recorded some film music for Jun Miyake and the japanese cartoon KIBA.

4. What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?
There are so many of us in the choir to pin point one - various.

5. What's next? Tour/Album/Single?
We have 2 tours - in Japan and in China in 2007. And KVZ Music will release internationally this year our new CDs 'Bulgarian Choral Folk Songs - Vol 1 & Vol 2.

6. Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?
It has been very difficult and still is to sustain an ensemble of 18 - 21 singers, but it has paid off the effort - we have brilliant recordings and we are gaining more and more international recognition.

7. Do you prefer performing live or recording?
Both. Recording is less fun though.

8. What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?
The incredible beauty of the bulgarian folklore music.

9. What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?
Hmm, may be the recordings from BMG Classic with Vesselina Kasarova - they were a special mixture of classical and folk singing which demanded an extra concentration and more subtle work from us and our conducter Vania Moneva. And the responsibility of working with Kasarova was great - after all she is a world superstar at the moment.

10. What's a typical day like?
While on tour - just sleep enough and not catch a cold, eat properly and relax and give our best during the concerts in the evening.

11. What has been your favorite part of becoming a music artist?
Performing - every time we sing together it feels as if it was the first time, the songs - although sung often - never sound the same, each concert has its own life and its own way of development. And it is great to feel the approval of the audience.

12. If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?
Sting - a great musician and he has got a thing about world music. Also Bobby McFerrin or Take 6.

13. Do you have a website fans can visit?
Yes www.myspace.com/cosmicvoices

14. Can you tell us 5 things required for a happy healthy & enjoyable life?
Healthy food, enough sleep, inner happiness and balance, spirituality, sport.

15. What message would you like to say to your fans?
We want to thank all of our fans worldwide and tell them that it is great to know that people all over the world appreciate and love our music. That motivates us to work further together as a choir.