-2.jpg)
Magnetic singer Theodora has been successfully manifested, both in folk music and in the pop folk genre. She was born in Burgas, where she graduated from the Music School, and from a very young age she fell in love with Bulgarian folk music. For two years he sings in people at the Neftochimik ensemble in Burgas, and then he was accepted into the Strandja ensemble. In 2004, she became one of the stars of the Range Records. In 2005, she was awarded the Debut of the Year Award after making her first album, a desire for sin. Just a year later, he won a contribution award to the development of Balkan music by Ohrid Fest – Ohrid Trubaduri in Macedonia. In 2007, Theodora won the most prestigious distinction for “Singer of the Year” by “Fan TV”. The following are a number of awards, as well as successful duets with the Greek stars DJ Pantelis and Giorgos Yanias, as well as with her Bulgarian colleagues Tony Storaro and Tanya Boeva. The newest duet of the beautiful singer is with Krum – “ambulance”. After returning from America, where she gave birth to her two daughters, in 2023, Theodora also won the Award for the “Most Successful Return on the Music Star” by Music Star Awards.
In America, I missed home, music and meetings with people
I planned my return to Bulgaria for several years, but something stopped me
After 8 years in America, in our country I literally started at first
– Theodora, you returned to Bulgaria after eight years lived in the United States. Has it difficult to make this decision and how did you manage to revive your career so quickly?
“I thought this return for several years, I even collected my luggage, but something that stopped me was happening. After my second daughter was born, I wanted her to be at least an hour before we returned. We finally decided it and got home. I thought that when I came, it would be easier for me with participation and everything else, but it turned out that eight years were a long period and it was very difficult for me – I literally started over! The good thing is that for these years they have not stopped broadcasting me on fan TV and fan folk and people have not forgotten me, but at first they did not know that I was back. I think I was already catching up and making a lot of new songs. Now I emphasize more on folk music, which I love very much, but I had left it a little in the background. I am happy that today folklore is on the rise and there is an opportunity to create songwriting. I live with this music and this is the music I studied – I graduated from a folk singing music school.
“And in America, did you continue to do music?”
– There I was entirely focused on raising my daughters and caring for my family. In the United States, music also, but for pleasure, I did not have professional engagements. Most of the songs I created were my author’s ballads.
– What did you miss the most from your homeland when you lived in the United States?
– There we had a house with a pool in a small town – very tidy, clean, enjoyable and peaceful to raise children, but here I was used to a different rhythm of life and it was a little difficult for me. When you indulge in the family, you already live differently, not that it was bad for me, but you start to miss your home, music, scene, songs, meetings with people … After a certain period of time, you experience more nostalgia in Bulgaria. When I got in touch with my mother and my father on Viber, sometimes they started crying and I also cried with them, all the more so that for eight years, I neither I came to Bulgaria, nor did they come to America. That’s why the first song of my music I wrote there was “I’ll see you soon.” This is a gurbetchi song, not only for my life, but also for the fate of many children to whom their parents are in Bulgaria, and they are out and are unable to see. Quite a heavy song, with truly painful lyrics. I do not sing it for performances because many mothers and fathers are crying and I cannot bear it, because I know how I have experienced it.
The singer with her two daughters.
– Your new folklore album is called “Libe le”. Are there any of the songs in it that is especially personal to you?
– “Ruske, Mom” is a song for my mother Russian. For my father, it is St. George, but it is not included in this album. It has some more naked songs, as well as one for a wedding – I am glad to like and listen. Some of the songs on the album are by the great Nikola Vaklinov, others are my author, there are also folk songs that are well known to fans of Bulgarian folklore. The first song is Murray Velichku, which is the basis of my love for folk music. She is in my blood – my brother plays Kaval, like my grandfather, my mother was a soloist in the choir and played folk dances, and my grandmothers also sang.
– How did the summer go for you?
– Summer for me went to work, not so much like performances, but because I was creating the new folk songs that are my music and I have already made a rich repertoire. Recently, I started rehearsals with the dance formation “Mi-Ra” and we go together for participation. With them, we created a folklore program that I like a lot and we are already quite recommended for all kinds of fairs, anniversaries, holidays … I found some time for rest and went to Pomorie. I like it because it is very calm and relaxing.
– Your impactful ballad “You will see” is about how to proceed after a separation. Is there anything autobiographical about it?
– There is – yes! There is such an element in most of the songs I wrote. There is no way, after all, my husband and I were together for 15 years. It was the most beautiful-my great love, as well as the greatest pain after love. So, this is a song experienced. I speak through my songs and lyrics and so I heal my soul. The music saves me from many states.
“And is Theodora in love at the moment?”
– No, I don’t have such strong and hot love at the moment.
– Was your parting with your husband your hardest period?
– Yes, it was my most difficult time, during which I created 15 ballads and I will release a double album next year if I succeed. In December, one of these experienced ballads is expected. It is that not every Christmas can be beautiful and there are many people who are alone and there is no one to celebrate with. I hope to touch the listeners with her. In difficult times, my mother also helps me a lot – she is my best friend, but sometimes you have to experience it yourself. Apparently I had to go this path, live and sing it and move on. The experience unlocked my talent and all the new songs are in my music. I already have about 100 folklore demons!
“Are your two daughters musical?”
– Little Anna is 4 years old and is very musical – he sings, dances and loves Bulgarian folklore. When he gets a little bigger, he wants to appear at Pirin Folk and now he tells me: “Mom, I’ll sing to Pirin Folk” and dance! ” (Laughs.) The big mimi is already in fourth grade. She is more relaxed and loves to sit down and paint while Annie is a rather violent child. She is super naughty, but she is also very organized and tidy, which is typical of her zodiac sign – Virgo. He gets up in the morning, prepares clothes, shoes, tiara, tights and a bag – she wants everything in tone. It is very neat, so everything is arranged in us.
“Did your daughters quickly adapt here after so many years in America?”
“It was more difficult for my big daughter, however, for seven and a half years she lived and studied there. When we moved, she started second grade and needed time to adapt, especially with the language. There were girlfriends in America with whom she grew up with a child, and she had to find new ones here, but now she is in fourth grade and her best friends are from school. We both created “Cute Books” with her. Mimi was born the idea of cards – we have a series of butterflies and all kinds of animals. The good thing is that they are created by a child. Then we also made sketches with her cover drawings, as well as cups, T -shirts, hats, pens, hand -knitted babies … I’m also comfortable sitting and coloring what Mimi painted – it acts very soothing and brings me to the nice baby and pure. Our slogan is: “We create not only for children but also with children.” We already have a site. I hope in time our brand will become a favorite of children. I love them very much, so I turned to do something nice for them and I am happy when a child chooses our cards, or books that are entertaining. There, the drawings make them a professional artist.
With Krum, they made a spectacular video for their new duet.
– Do you have a favorite place in the United States and what do you teach your stay there?
– Las Vegas is where I have the most memories. There was my wedding – in Bellagio, as well as the first birthday of my older child. I know almost everything in Vegas, but it is as if every time it is so different and exciting and there is a lot to see. In America, I learned patience because I was more emotional before and wanted everything to happen right now. Besides, when you have a family, the children are first and you become more responsible. The important thing is to educate children to be good – in the United States, upbringing is different and there is more respect for parents and teachers. There you can’t see a child hit another child and have a conflict – teachers and parents intervene immediately and explain to him that this is not a good act. Everyone has respect for the other and things are getting better.
“Did you manage to make friends in America?”
– In the town where we all lived were equal and I had a lot of friendships – it was not important who lives in what a house he lives, but what he is in my heart, until I could brag about the same here. Honestly, I don’t have time to go out and I don’t deal with gossip and intrigue. I want to live peacefully.
– What did you like the most in the mentality of Americans and what not?
“One of the things is that they don’t make fun of you when you don’t know something, but they help you.” At first, I didn’t speak English at all, but no one makes fun of you about it – I learned the language with the time of listening. Also, the people there are very smiling – everyone congratulates the other and behaves respectfully, everyone makes you a compliment … When I get home here and congratulate someone with a “good day”, or tell a lady that she was very nice hairstyle and looked at me a little strange. Seeing something nice, there is nothing wrong with a compliment. Otherwise, in the United States I did not like the fact that in a smaller city like ours, there was no social environment. We only gathered as there were holidays or birthdays for children. I missed that here when you call someone: “Hi, do you want to drink a coffee!” And we immediately get along while everything is scheduled there and we can only be able to drink coffee in three weeks! You feel lonely there if you don’t have a big family.
– You are close to Mika Stoichkova. What kind of friend she is and do you know her father Hristo Stoichkov?
– Mika have known for many years. She is a great person and friend – she is very sweet and kind, but now everyone is with her commitments and we do not have so long to communicate, but seeing each other is very nice. Her daughter Mia plays a lot with my two children. I am glad that now Mika is marrying the person who is in the heart – they have a great love – to be healthy, in love and happy! I met Stoichkov and I was very happy – he is a legend.
– What is the best compliment you have received?
– That my eyes are very beautiful! This is the first thing they tell me, especially if they don’t know what I’m doing as it was in America. In Bulgaria I also often hear, “Aunt, what beautiful eyes you have!”, Or: “Your eyes are piercing, unique!” Only then they tell me that I have a nice voice and songs.
– You are one of the few singers with natural beauty and without face adjustments – how is it not tempted?
“I just put Botox. They tell me that I look the same as 20 years ago – I didn’t make my nose, cheekbones, or lips. I like what I am – I have a nice chip nose, and now everyone wants to have one and he does. I was born with one as my father and my brother.
– What is the most valuable lesson you have learned?
– One must have dreams and purpose in life – to follow them and not give up. It’s not easy, but it has to be tried because until you try you can’t understand. Especially in the beginning everything is very difficult, so it was when I was interrupted with music for eight years, so it is with Cute Books, but the difficulty of ambitions much more. I tell myself there is no way there is no way – there is always, but you have to find the right approach. Today everything is very expensive and costs a lot of money, but if one has an idea and purpose that comes from his heart and does it with love it comes to!
– Many of your colleagues are also worried that the script from Greece with the euro will not be repeated in our country. What do you think about this topic?
– I’m also for the Bulgarian lion! I love my homeland and Bulgarian folk songs about our beautiful country, lakes and nature. We are rich in this and we must be proud to be Bulgarians.
– What do you believe and have you ever had wonders?
– I believe in the Lord. For me, that I started to hear and create music and have already made so many folk music, as well as a whole album with children’s songs, is a miracle, magic and gift.
