Singer/ songwriter/ dancer Dyana Dafova is one of the Bulgarian music artists with the most international recognition. Her unique music mixture of different styles, cultural backgrounds and languages have earned her fame in the USA, Europe and Asia. Dyana has performed in different cities all over the globe, from Aichi, Japan, to New York. The music from her CD "Sounds of the Earth" was utilised for the launch of the NASA shuttle "Columbia".
The Song "Taliesin" from her latest album "Charisma" won 1st Prize "World" and overall 3rd Prize (out of 15 categories) in the "USA Songwriting Competion 2000".
Two songs from the album were chosen for a compilation CD of the United Nations Refugees Agency (UNHCR). All income from worldwide sales of the "Voyces Unite for UNHCR" album will be donated to help the Worldwide Refuge Problems.Dyana is the official European representative of the project.
Dyana was involved in the official New York presentation of the album at the famous Knitting Factory concert hall in Tribeca. Other participants who also provided their music for the album made their artistic presentation.
Dyana wrote herself the music for the album "Charisma", as well as some of the lyrics. Eleven different languages can be heard in the CD.
The celebrated musician talked to Sofia News Agency Deputy Editor-in-Chief Petya Bondokova about "Charisma" and the album she is now working on, and about her artistic self.
Q: How would you describe your latest album, "Charsima"?
A: The album consists or entirely original content. I have written all the music myself, as well as some of the lyrics. I sing in eleven different languages, including Sanskrit, Aramaic, Hebrew, Arabic, Celtic, as well as English and Bulgarian.
This album has brought me an enormous spiritual satisfaction, because it's the first project that I have entirely created myself. It's not something that I did intentionally, but it was the only way to express myself and my idea of a mixture of different styles, different cultural backgrounds. I created a combination of classical and folklore sounds, of different music styles - from jazz to pop and even hip hop.
I discovered myself in this musical mixture.
The new album that I'm now working on, "Equinox", has the same concept, because I believe that this is my own unique style. This is also what many people like internationally.
Only a month ago, I came back from Japan where I staged a concert on Bulgaria Day at the international expo in Aichi. The interesting thing is that I have a song where I sing in Bulgarian and in Japanese. Its title is in Japanese-Shin Koto, and means "Instrument of God". That song had brought me international success, but in Aichi I had the chance to perform it for the Japanese audience. Their reaction was amazing, extremely spontaneous.
Q: When did you discover this style of multilingual, multicultural music?
A: That was the result of my personal and professional growth. I believe that one should always go for new things and development. I like to experiment and create my own presence in the artistic arena. It is shown in all of my projects. They are different and inspired from the real values in life.
I had this inspiration after a very long period - nearly three years - of creative quest. The album "Sounds of The Earth" was recorded in Holland with a Dutch team. The main song in the album, named in ancient Arabic "Universe", gave me a strong belief that I was on the right path, doing something different.
That song was also utilized for the launching of the NASA space shuttle "Columbia" in 1998. I was the official guest of the launch in Florida.
I also received a personal congratulations letter from late Pope John Paul II last year, because of my song "Charisma."
Q: Where was the album released first?
A: It was released in India first, by the Times of India corporation. A year later it came out in Bulgaria. Some of the songs in the album were included in the Italian compilation "Queens of Music".
The album was released in Holland as well, and is also being offered online by a US company.
Q: Have you ever wanted to make mainstream music?
A: I am not prone to doing cheap commercial stuff, because I think it is very quickly forgotten and it does not have the right spirit. I have this need of doing quality music, songs that bring me deeper satisfaction and I can communicate with the audience on a more cultural and meaningful level.
A year ago, however, I wrote a song that was somehow commercial. The track "Equinox" was in Bulgarian and featured Bulgarian folklore sounds as well as two US hip-hop artists. It had a more dynamic beat, and we also shot a very original video.
Q: Who are the musicians that worked with you for "Charisma"?
A: The album was partly recorded in Holland, partly in Bulgaria. A lot of authentic musical instruments can be heard in it. Opera singers as well as vocalists from the Bulgarian "Phillip Coutev" ensemble took part.
Q: Many music celebrities also try to introduce a mixture of different cultures. Is that what is hot at the moment?
A: Yes, there are definitely such artists but they are doing it for commercial reasons. I discovered for myself that music style long before it became a hit.
Q: Do you think you are making music for an "elite" audience?
A: I think this kind of music could reach anybody. There are people from all kinds of professional backgrounds, with different tastes, but they all meet me on the streets and congratulate me for my music.
In Bulgaria there is this cliche - "music for the elite." But when did professionalism and good taste become something that's "for the elite"?
It would be so easy for me to make commercial music. But that would in no way bring me a deeper satisfaction.
For more information about Dyana and her projects go to http://www.dyana-dafova.com
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Dyana sings in 11 different languages in her latest album. She wrote the music and some of the lyrics for “Charisma” herself. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia News Agency)
