10 Questions For: Victoria Georgieva

INTERVIEW

We have been watching her talent blossom and grow since 2016, making her one of the best artists from Bulgaria. It's a pleasure to listen to her music – always touching and profound. And now, we are enjoying even greater pleasure, as we have the opportunity to talk to her about her work. These are our 10 questions for Victoria Georgieva:

Sounds European!: We like to start our interviews talking a bit about the artists' music backgrounds. What are your first memories with music? What artists did you enjoy listening to when you were growing up? And do you feel they have influenced, in any aspect, the artist you are today?

Victoria Georgieva: My first music experience was when I was 12 years old. I started singing lessons in my home town of Varna and the reason for that was Hannah Montana. I really loved that TV show and I wanted to be like the character of Miley Cyrus and live her double life.

SE!: You took part in the 2015 edition of The X Factor in Bulgaria. What made you decide to participate in the show? How was your experience in it? What did you learn from your participation, that you carry with you for the rest of your career?

VG: My participation in The X Factor was a really important moment for me – it allowed me to gain fans in Bulgaria that still support me to this day. I learned a lot and, through the journey, I met important people that forever changed my life. One of them is my manager Genoveva Christova from Ligna Studios, who supports me a lot and made my Eurovision participation possible.

SE!: You were chosen to represent your country in Eurovision in 2020. How did you find out about the invitation? What was your reaction to it? And how did you face the cancellation of the contest, especially knowing that your entry, "Tears getting sober", was considered one of the favorites for the trophy?

VG: Only few artists have had the opportunity to be part of Eurovision for more than two years. It's crazy to think I was announced as the Bulgarian artist for Eurovision back in November 2019 and I was able to perform on the stage in May 2021. I was really happy when I learned I would represent Bulgaria and also a little bit scared of what lied in front. I knew there was a lot of work but I didn't know that there would be so many sleepless nights. I wouldn't be able to have done all this without the support of my team. For me, it was really hard to find the song to follow up "Tears getting sober", which was the first track I could fully express myself as an artist with.

SE!: What can you tell us about the period between the cancellation of the 2020 edition of Eurovision and the confirmation that you were returning in 2021? How did you feel, and what did you have in mind during that time?

VG: The cancellation of Eurovision allowed me to finalize my first EP, "A little dramatic", and release it just before Eurovision. The release included five songs that I wrote with my team between the summer of 2018 and the summer of 2020 – "Imaginary friend", "Growing up is getting old", "Dive into unknown", "Phantom pain" and "The funeral song". Finalizing all the tracks wasn't easy because we needed to work online because of the travel restrictions. For me, this was a challenge at first, but I guess this will be the new normal for songwriters and producers around the world.

SE!: After you were confirmed for Eurovision 2021, there was a new challenge, a new step for you: selecting your new entry. How was this selection process?

VG: Selecting the song for Eurovision 2021 was also a hard task. We decided that one of the songs from my album would represent Bulgaria in Rotterdam, and we asked music experts and the Eurovision fans for feedback for all five songs. In the end we decided to go with "Growing up is getting old" – a song that holds a special place in my heart and represents me as an artist in the best way possible.

"I am happy that I have the freedom to express myself artistically and to share the stories I care about with the world" (Picture: Lora Musheva)

SE!: When we listen to your songs, they sound very deep and relatable. We feel that you take special care of the melodies and instrumentation, and that your lyrics carry strong and sincere emotions. What can you tell us about your songwriting process? What topics do you like to talk about in your lyrics? And where do you draw inspiration to write from?

VG: My goal with my music is always to write songs with meaningful stories. Tracks that people can relate to – and songs like "Tears getting sober" and "Growing up is getting old" really impacted a lot of people, who wrote to me that they could relate with them so much. The topics in my debut EP are quite dark and obviously dramatic, but in the end I always want to bring a little light and positivity to the songs. I am writing new material with my amazing team of songwriters and I am excited to share the music with the world.

SE!: You have been receiving a lot of attention and praise in recent years, not only in your country, but also internationally. And your career is just beginning! When you think about the long-term future, what are your professional aspirations? What do you still dream to achieve with your music?

VG: I have always dreamed to be the artist I am right now. I know there are still things that are in development. I started writing music just two years ago. I am happy that I have the freedom to express myself artistically and to share the stories I care about with the world. Releasing music is a dream come true for me and the release of "A little dramatic" was something I dreamed of for a long time.

SE!: Returning from the long term to the short term. Now that the Eurovision frenzy is over, what are your professional projects for the near future? What can your fans expect from you?

VG: I am working on my next single. I can't tell you much, but I am quite excited to share new music with the world.

SE!: If you could choose anyone, who would be some Bulgarian and international artists you would like to collaborate with?

VG: The artist I would choose is definitely Moses Sumney – I love his style, voice and the emotion he puts in his music and performances.

SE!: We would like to finish this interview with a song of yours. What is your favorite song by Victoria Georgieva, and why?

VG: I really can't choose one! So let's finish with "A little dramatic" and let's dive into the dramatic world of the EP. :)