BULGARIA– In the land of Orpheus
Bulgaria, the country of ancient culture, scenic beauty, friendly people, beautiful landscapes and beaches; the warm soul of the Balkans – still an unknown world for a many people. Welcome to "the land of trance-roses"!
It’s hard to define where and when exactly the virus ‘trance’ infects the country, but what leaves a track is the solar eclipse in 1999. It is the reason a festival at the Black Sea is organized – a mixture from different genres of electronic music, including psytrance. The first trance organisation [formation] ‘Vortex’ begins by organizing a number of parties. That way, Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria, older even than the oldest cities in the world like Rome and Athens, almost as ancient as Troy, built over the remains of a lot of past cities, comes out as the ‘trance capital’ of the country. There guests like Mark Allen, Zoo-B, Astral Projection, SunShy, Chakra , Cyan, Holymen and many more please the audience. Gradually, a Techno and House scene develops in Sofia. The first steps have been taken – parties with artists like X-Dream, Electric Universe, Darshan, S.U.N. Project, Atmos, Shakta, Synchro, Tsuyoshi Suzuki, Bushava Azbuka, Mike Maguire & Navigator come after. In the end of 2001 a misfortune in the biggest club for electronic music happens and this leads to its closing. Bad days for the developing trance scene follow.
In the past two years the scene develops very fast, concentrated in Sofia (where the more progressive sound dominates) and Plovdiv (which is a backer of the harder [darker] sound). In 2004 one of the most valuable events for the trance culture in Bulgaria happens: the three-day open air festival Mati Zemlya, organized near Plovdiv by PsyTech Team. The event goes off with unexpected success, and the best Bulgarian DJs and live acts played [gathered] on the stage. The fairy decoration, done by Andonasty, Pastora, Lexia, Rachel & friends together with the music contributed for the beauty of the event.
A year later, in August, with a lot of effort and energy, Mati Zemlya is carried out for the second time, this time with an international character. More than 1000 people from all over the world gathered in the outskirts of the Rhodopi Mountains. The place is not chosen by accident. The vast mountain massive accounts for a labyrinth of peaks and hollows, which have even inspired the Roman writers. That is where Orpheus had been born! The mystic got even stronger with the ritual, which Goa Gil carried out at the beginning of his 16-hours long set. The people danced under the rays of the glowing sun spellbound by the music of Penta, Kemic-Al, LevSoboLev, Psychoz, Gain Reduction and many other artists.
Mati Zemlya is the most successful open air done so far [in Bulgaria]. It was the reason people started thinking of Bulgaria as one of the most preferable new destinations for trancers over the world, who are looking for the pure psychedelic music, running away from the commercialism and clichés.
For the development of the contacts between the Bulgarian and East European artists with the world trance scene, contributes and the organization Headoneast, established in 2004. It introduces Bulgarian, Hungarian and other Eastern European artists, music producers, DJs, VJs, designers and performers. Thanks to Headoneast, Son Kite, George Barker, Triptych, Peter Didjital, Stefan Ludely, Edoardo, Korai Öröm come to Bulgaria.
Among the trance-activists [supporters] in Bulgaria are PsyTech Team; the offset of their teamwork dates in 2001, when they start the first Bulgarian internet portal for trance music ( http://psy.cult.bg ). Two of the team members, Angel Dimitrov and Venzislav Stoev, start producing music under the name Gain Reduction and become one of the most popular projects in the country. Another way to introduce their favourite music (psychedelic trance) to the people are the parties they organize.
An interesting formation is as well Magrathea – five boys, who play different genres of electronic music – from the good old goa to tech-trance. All parties that follow in the development of Magrathea have a meaning of their own, and this gives the main direction in the deco, atmosphere and music of the party.
In fact, Bulgaria has already given to the world trance scene artists like Vataff Project and Disham (Kliment Dichev & Filip Tarnovsky), known for their participation in Boom Festival 2004 (Portugal), No Man's Land Festival 2004 & 2005 (Hungary), Easter Sunday 2005 (Germany), Transylvania Calling 2005 (Romania), Ozora 2005 (Hungary), and also in the compilations Ambient planet vol.1 (Vagalume records, Brazil), Beat om Beat (Mindsound records, Germany), Goa 2005 vol.3 (Yellow Sunshine Explosion - Millenium records, UK), Cosmik Chill " Red " (Electrik Dream Rec, UK), etc.
Naria Inri Magaria already have a year-long experience in the scenic and street performance, and have taken part in events in Turkey, Boom Festival 2004 in Portugal, Ozora Festival 2005 in Hungary, Samothraki Dance Festivals 2001, 2003, 2005 in Greece, Kosovo, and others. They work together with other artists, including designers, stenographers, musicians, VJs and performers from different countries.
In 2004 the next internet portal ‘Ouim.org’ is born; its aim is to unite people and ideas, generating sympathy and creativity. Founders are Poli (Aluin) & Simeon (Omi), who also set the first Bulgarian online label ‘Ouim.net’ – in which many local artists are presented.
This doesn’t end the list of people who intensively contribute to the expansion of the trance culture. I will need a lot of space to list their names, but whoever is interested can check out one the addresses listed in Contacts.
Though small, the country can offer parties with a variety of trance music playing. The Bulgarian parties and festivals are full of beauty, gaiety and healthy love of life. Melodious tunes and beautiful voices, fiery dances and brightly coloured costumes - Bulgarian trance scene has to be seen, felt and experienced!
Facts
Links
Contacts
Text
Lexia
Member of PsyTech Team; freelance journalist; deco artist;
in short- psyfairy
petjas@gmail.com
“The Life is an endless journey!”
Support by theivo and pure_energy
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