I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth in a family of musicians. The year was 1970 and the day in March — warm and sunny, making me an Aries. I first used to live in Denkoglou Street — in the heart of central Sofia — in a house full of music, guests coming and going all the time, and mouth-watering smells wafting through the air.
My childhood continued in one of Sofia’s most romantic tiny little streets called Elin Pelin where my grandmother’s house was. Mornings would start with a bunch of brightly shining sunrays, the fragrance of blooming linden trees, the sounds make by amorous doves, and the smell of warm milk with a touch of rosehip marmalade.
This is when I first started singing. The first song I ever performed in front of a microphone (I was about 5 years-old) told the story of a bunny with a thorn in its paw — I still feel sorry for the poor thing! Singing was so much more fun than the endless painful hours learning to play the piano. My parents always listened to music — Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald … (I learned the names much later, of course). Their songs were my lullabies. When I wasn’t listening to music composed and performed by others, I was making my own.
I took up the piano at five. Several years later, I went to study percussion instruments at the Sofia School of Music. It was then that I met Professor Dobri Paliev from whom I learned a lot about music, but also life in general. He became one of the most important people in my life. While I was in secondary school, I played in several symphonic orchestras. I was the soloist of a youth big band and lucky enough to travel half the word with it. While I was a student at the Music Academy, I went to Italy to specialise chamber music.
Not long after, I began working with my cousin — Hristo Yotsov — one of the most talented musicians I know. We have recorded six albums to date and continue to work together.