Sevi (singer)

Svetlana Ilieva Bliznakova, born on November 11, 1983 is a Bulgarian singer, musician and songwriter. She started solo music career in 2005 and since 2010 she fronts the Bulgarian rock band Sevi.

Svetlana Bliznakova Sevi
Birth nameSvetlana Ilieva Bliznakova
Also known asSevi
Born (1983-11-11) November 11, 1983
Sofia, Bulgaria
GenresAlternative rock, hard rock, pop
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, piano
Years active2005–present
LabelsIndependent
Associated actsSevi (band)
Websiteseviband.com

Early life and arts

Svetlana "Sevi" Bliznakova was born on November 11, 1983[1] in Sofia, Bulgaria. Raised by a family of history teachers, she was unexpectedly drawn into arts at an early age. Sevi began singing when she was two years old and eight years later, she went to "Philip Koutev Folklore Ensemble" and started learning national Bulgarian folk singing for two years. After, she began studying opera singing, and in 2002 she entered Sofia University in an opera class in order to develop her music skills. A year after, she found herself in the pop and rock music and decided to start over and entered the class of Etien Levi, a famous bulgarian pop singer of the 1980s. In ten months, Sevi started performing on stage, and soon after she started to write her own songs. Later, due to her visits in Italy, she began writing songs in Italian, along with the English ones.

2004–2010: Solo music career and the italian period

In 2004 Sevi won the first prize and the special award of the jury, participating at the "National Competition for Singers", Sofia. In 2005 she participated with two original songs and won the first prize at the "International Belozem Festival". These two songs were published in the Festival CD compilation for 2006. Again in 2005 Sevi was invited by the Italian producer Rocco Milano to take part in a CD compilation with her song "On My Own", co-written with Pino Biaggioli and recorded with the Italian rock band "Eldritch". The compilation was edited by the organization "Art's Planet". In 2006 Sevi participated with an author song on the "International Pop-Rock Competition for Singers and Composers" in Veliko Turnovo. By now she has written more than 50 songs in English and Italian. She has been the only Bulgarian singer to sing in the show of Sky Italia in "Club Lost" during the Sanremo Music Festival in 2007. She co-written many new songs with Rally Velinov (musician and songwriter, who is also author of the arrangements of many of her recordings, and later became a bass player in the band Sevi). In summer of 2008 Sevi recorded 11 new songs in collaboration with Rally Vellinov and the guitar player Peter Bratanov. She presented six of them on one hour live interview on "WSF Radio Chicago" on July 4, 2009. In August 2009 her song "Fighter For Happiness" was presented on "Many More Radio UK". In January 2010 in order to develop her career and popularize her music, Sevi together with Rally Velinov, formed a band also called Sevi.

2010–present: Formation of Sevi band

The band Sevi was formed in January 2010 by Svetlana Bliznakova with the musicians Valentin Nikolov – drums, Tania Apostolova – keyboards, Rally Velinov – bass guitar, Todor Todorov – guitar and Vladimir Donkov – guitar. In August 2010 the two guitar players were replaced by the former guitarist of the alternative rock band "Awake" – Peter Bratanov. In March 2011 lead guitar of the band became Ivan Angelov, who left in the middle of 2012 and soon after, on May 30, 2012 lead guitarist of the band become Bobby Zasheff. Two weeks later, on June 14, 2012 Sevi released their first official album "What Lies Beyond".[2] Right after, the same month, the band started a national summer tour to present the album.[3] On December 9, Svetlana "Sevi" Bliznakova presented her collaboration with two DJ' s. – "Sevi feat. Sugar Dj's" with their featuring track "Shocked".

Discography

Awards and nominations
  • 1st place at Sonic B.A.N.G competition Bulgaria with "Fighter For Happiness"[4]
  • "Band of the Week" at Rock Symphony Radio, Lima (Peru)[5]
  • "Hip Rock Look" at Hip Rock Magazine[6]

References
  1. Talant Box
  2. What Lies Beyond official album promo, , June 14, 2012
  3. Mika Magazine Archived August 1, 2013, at Archive.today
  4. Sonic B.A.N.G.
  5. Rock Symphony Radio, Lima Archived November 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Hip Rock Magazine, November 2012
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