Desi Slava facts for kids

Desislava Ivanova Doneva (born March 7, 1979), known as Desi Slava (Bulgarian: Деси Слава) or DESS, is a famous singer, songwriter, and producer from Bulgaria. She was born in Radnevo, Bulgaria. Desi Slava started performing at a very young age. She won awards at children's festivals. Soon after, she became the main singer for the "Radnevo" orchestra.

A famous Bulgarian folk singer, Valkana Stoyanova, noticed her talent. Valkana taught Desi Slava and even said that Desi Slava could be her musical successor.

Desi Slava's Music Journey

Starting Her Singing Career

When Desi Slava was 18, the biggest music company in Bulgaria, Payner Music, offered her a contract. She released her first album, I Got No Problems (Нямам проблеми). She helped write five of the eleven songs on this album.

The next year, she released her second album, Ези-Тура (Heads or Tails). This album was very popular and sold so well that it reached "golden status." Her third album, Завинаги (Forever), came out in 2003. It was also very well-liked by fans and the media. This album included the super hit song Beli Noshti (White Nights), which is still one of her most famous songs today.

In 2002, after spending a year in the U.S., Desi Slava released Мистерия (Mystery). This album surprised everyone because it showed a new musical style and look for Desi Slava.

Creating Her Own Music Company

In 2003, Desi Slava announced she was leaving "Payner Music." She felt that the company limited her musical and creative freedom. In early 2004, she started her own company called New Music Stars.

She then released the album Любовта е само чувство (Love is just a feeling). This album had songs in many different styles, like pop-folk, dance, R&B, hip-hop, and ragga.

New Albums and Collaborations

In 2004, Desi Slava released two more albums. One was The Best of Desi Slava, and the other was a duet album called Together with another artist named Azis. In 2005, she released Гореща следа (A Hot mark). This album featured pop, dance, and Latin songs in Bulgarian, English, and Spanish.

Her 2006 album, Сладки сънища (Sweet Dreams), is considered one of her best. It included various music styles such as folk, pop, R&B, reggaeton, and rock. These songs were in Bulgarian, Spanish, and English.

Desi Slava also toured with "The Comedians," where she sang and acted in comedy shows. This showed her fans a different side of her talent. She was the first star invited to MAD SECRET CONCERT, where she performed cover songs by famous artists like Sade, Michael Jackson, and Madonna.

International Projects and New Sounds

In 2007, Desi Slava released an unofficial Spanish-language album called Estoy aqui. She had worked on these Spanish pop songs for two years. The album had a slight Caribbean and reggae feel. Unfortunately, the album was leaked online before it was officially released, so she decided not to put it out. However, some of the songs became popular internet hits.

In 2009, her album Послушай сърцето си (Listen to your heart) was released. Critics and musicians liked it because it focused on deep emotions rather than just commercial sounds. In the same year, she released the dance-pop duet "Agapi Mou / Loving you" with Kostas Martakis. This song was officially released in Kostas's album in Greece.

From 2009 to 2010, Desi Slava helped two young talents, Dzhemile and Nadia, start their music careers.

In 2010, Desi Slava launched her own independent music TV channel called DSTV. This channel gave new Bulgarian artists a chance to show their music. About a year and a half later, in June 2011, she sold the channel to focus more on her own music.

In 2011, she released the single Калино моме (Boy George, Marc Vedo ft. DesiSlava). The music was written by Boy George, and Desi Slava wrote the lyrics and sang the vocals.

Also in 2011, an experimental album called Slavatronica was released. It combined electronic music with traditional folklore. Musicians from London and Bulgaria worked on this project. The album was sold only online through platforms like Amazon and Spotify.

In the same year, Desi Slava started working closely with a Romanian team. This led to her hit single "I like." She decided to use the name DESS for her dance music projects. "I like" became a summer hit, reaching number one on pop charts and bringing DESS recognition in the pop music world.

Eurovision and More Duets

In 2012, Desi Slava participated in the Bulgarian Eurovision contest. She was chosen as number one by a jury and the audience in the semi-final. In the final, she came in second place. She helped create the music for her song "Love is alive."

In the same year, she and Toni Storaro released their new duet, Не искам без теб (I do not want without you). She also released her second single as Dess, called "Only one." This song was very popular during the summer. After "Only one," Desi Slava was nominated for both pop-folk and pop music awards.

In 2012, Desi Slava won the special "Radnevo Award" for her significant contributions to her hometown.

She also released her first duet song, "It ain't over," with singer and composer Alek Sandar. The music video was filmed in Berlin, and this song marked the beginning of many projects between Dess and Alek Sandar.

New Hits and TV Appearances

In 2013, Desi Slava released "Baby," a pop single. She performed this song at a charity concert and later allowed it to become the anthem for Sofia Pride 2013. In the same year, she bought a song called Play it again (Bulgarian: Пусни го пак) from a famous Albanian composer, Alfred Sula. This song became a summer pop-folk hit. On her birthday, she released her new song Усещам (I feel), which featured the famous Greek musician Mako.

Also in 2013, Alek Sandar released a song with her called "You and me," which also has a Bulgarian version called Az I ti.

In early 2014, Desi Slava released her song Моето зайче (My bunny). The music video was filmed in the Seychelles Islands while she was on vacation.

In July 2014, Desi Slava became a coach on the third season of "The Voice of Bulgaria" TV show. Her team's singer, Kristina Ivanova, won the show. Desi Slava was praised for her natural reactions, powerful performances, and dedication to her team.

In the same year, she released a duet with German rapper Nana called "Cotton Candy."

On November 20, 2014, Desi Slava signed a new contract with Payner Music. She was introduced at a concert on December 1, where her live singing and amazing look received a lot of applause. This marked her big return to Bulgaria's largest music company.

In 2015, she released her first song after rejoining Payner, called Не го прави (Don't do it). In the same year, she released the song and music video В твоите очи (In your eyes), featuring Galena. On June 11, for Payner's 25th anniversary, she joined Galena, Preslava, Emilia, Anelia, and Tsvetelina Yaneva to perform a new version of the popular folk song Лале ли си, зюмбюл ли си (You Are a Tulip, You are a Zymboul). A month later, a video for this folk song was released. That summer, she presented the song Започваме на чисто (We Begin Clean). In early September, she took part in Konstantin's song От утре ще е друго (Tomorrow Will Be Another). On December 12, her last song of the year, Смени паролата си (Change Your Password), was released. Desi Slava also entered the house of Big Brother All Stars and won the show.

In early 2016, she released the ballad В друг живот (In Another life). In the autumn of 2016, she released И на всички като тебе (And to everyone like you), which became a super hit. At the end of the year, Desi Slava presented the ballad И това ще преживея (And I'll Survive).

On February 27, 2017, Desi Slava participated in the fifth season of the imitation show Като две капки вода (Like Two Drops of Water). She reached the finals and finished in second place.

Desi Slava has two sons. Her older son, Mayki, was born on July 22, 2000. Her younger son, Boris, was born on December 28, 2017.

Awards and Achievements

International Recognition

• 2007 – Desislava was the first Bulgarian singer to perform at the famous Jazz Club "Soho Revue" in London. Her show was called "Cabaret Desislava."
• 2008 – She was the first Bulgarian singer to perform on stage at the MAD Video Music Awards in Greece.
• 2008 – Her dance single "Never End" was released by Universal Music Spain in a best-selling summer dance music collection.
• 2008 – She participated in "Let’s Duet," a reality show where she performed many different music styles, including Bulgarian folklore, disco, rock, R&B, and opera.
• 2009 – Her single "My Pleasure, My Pain" was recorded in London by producer John Themis, who has worked with many famous artists. This British rock ballad was shown on MTV.
• 2010 – The famous Turkish pop star Mustafa Sandal invited Desislava to sing with him at his concert in Bulgaria.
• 2012 – Desislava was the only performer from Bulgaria invited to sing at the important Balkan Awards – Media Music Awards. She performed on the same stage as top Romanian stars.

Movie and TV Appearances

• 2005 – Desislava’s song “Лъжа” (Lie) was part of the soundtrack for the Bulgarian film "Lady Z," which won many awards.
• 2010 – The French TV channel "M6" made a documentary about "pop folk" music and featured Desislava prominently.
• 2011 – Desislava lent her voice to the Bulgarian version of the 3D animated movie "Rio" for 20th Century Fox.
• 2011 – She had a main role in the film "Small – Large," which won a Golden Rose award.
• 2012 – She had a main role in the TV series "Столичани в повече” (Capital Citizens and More).

Other Notable Achievements

• 2007/2009 – Desislava was the face of the large internet betting company Sportingbet. When she signed with them in 2007, their website was temporarily blocked due to huge interest in a poker game featuring her.
• 2010 – Desislava was the only pop-folk singer in Bulgaria invited to sing with the Ruse’ Philharmonic Orchestra and Burgas’ Philharmonic Orchestra. She also took part in a "FAN TV" tour that aimed to bring pop and pop-folk music together.

Awards List

• 1994 First prize at the Folklore Festival "Slaveyche"
• 1995 First prize at the folk festival "Petko Zaharieva"
• 1996 Grand Prix of Folk Festival "Valkana Stoyanova"
• 1999 Award for live performance at the festival "Golden Mustang"
• 2000 Award of the "World Arts Festival" in Hollywood (USA) for pop music
• 2000 Award for the hit of the year – “Мъжете всичко искат” (Men want everything)
• 2000 Audience Award at the festival "Trakia Folk" – “Бели нощи” (White Nights)
• 2000 Jury Award at the festival "Trakia Folk" – “Бели нощи” (White Nights)
• 2000 Annual awards of Hit Cocktail – Singer of the year
• 2000 Annual awards of Hit Cocktail – “Ези Тура” – Album of the year
• 2000 Annual awards of Hit Cocktail – “Мила моя, мили мой” Hit of the year
• 2000 Annual awards of ‘Nov Folk’ magazine – “Ези Тура” – Album of the year
• 2000 Annual awards of ‘Nov Folk’ magazine – Best hit singer of the year
• 2000 Annual awards of ‘Nov Folk’ magazine – “Бели нощи” (White Nights) Song of the year
• 2002 The audience chart of ‘Planet TV’ – Singer of the year
• 2002 Annual music awards of ‘Planet TV’ – Best singer
• 2002 Annual awards of ‘Nov Folk’ magazine – Singer of the year
• 2002 Annual awards of ‘Nov Folk’ magazine “Мистерия” (Mystery) – Album of the year
• 2002 Annual awards of ‘Nov Folk’ magazine – “Две сърца” (Two Hearts) Best Video clip
• 2004 Annual awards of ‘Nov Folk’ magazine – “Жадувам” (I Crave) – the best video clip of the year
• 2004 Annual awards of Melo TV Mania – “Бъди добро момче” (Be A Good Boy) video clip of the year
• 2005 Annual awards of ‘Nov Folk’ magazine – Best duo for “Казваш че ме обичаш” (Say you love me)
• 2005 Annual awards of ‘Nov Folk’ magazine – Best clip
• 2006 ‘Nov Folk’ magazine – Music Video of the year – “Някой ден” (Some day)
• 2006 Annual awards of ‘Bliasuk’ magazine – Body of Bliasuk
• 2013 Radnevo Award – For significant contributions to the town of Radnevo.

Discography

• "No Problems" – 1998
• "Heads-Tails" – 2000
• "Forever" – 2001
• "Mystery" – 2002
• "Love Is Just A Feeling" – 2004
• "Together" – 2004
• "Hot Trail" – 2005
• "Sweet Dreams" – 2006
• "Listen To Your Heart" – 2009

See also

In Spanish: Desi Slava para niños