Music is a beautiful freedom of expression and as Bulgarian artist Gabriella Vergilov would put it ‘an abstract description of our emotions’. Having released her first EP in 2016, Gabriella’s music has captured the attention of tastemakers across the globe and there’s no wonder why – her productions are powerful and rich, filled with her fiery attitude and genuine love for music. Classically trained and born into a creative family, Gabriella was always destined for a career in music but it wasn’t until she experienced the diverse wonders of Sofia’s nightlife that everything changed and electronic music became her world (alongside her obsession with skincare of course). In only a mere two years, Gabriella has ticked off so many boxes with her debut festival performance at Laundry Day, Antwerp recently (after a cancelled flight got in the way of her Dimensions performance), featured on DVS1’s fabric mix and even soundtracked a short video campaign for PRADA – where can Gabriella possibly go from here? With her new EP ‘Termosfera’ out on THEMA earlier this week and a forthcoming project on PALINOIA, we caught up with Gabriella to discuss how growing up in Bulgaria has influenced her life and music, the importance of creating a story within her DJ sets, how she stays healthy on the road and what she is looking forward to for the rest of the year.
Growing up in Bulgaria, how do you think the country has influenced your music and perhaps perspective on life?
Bulgaria has a rich history, dating since 681 and despite its 500 years of Ottoman governance, it managed to keep its beliefs, its authentic alphabet and traditions untouched. Its profound folklore in tales, literature, dance and music is what makes me feel proud of my roots. The biggest impact my country has on my artistry lies in its folklore music though colourful, rich, multi-layered, very sentimental and loud. Search for a YouTube video of 333 bagpipes playing. You’ll get goose bumps and you might even shed a tear of joy and admiration. I’m used to hear things like that where I come from all the time. That folklore stands for nothing but complex beauty. I have a very special project combining these roots with contemporary electronic music, coming out in 2019. I can’t say more at this point, but the project will be the precise answer to your question.
On the other hand, I was quite patriotic while living in Bulgaria and was convinced I won’t leave my motherland ever. Well, I did but I still carry that hot temper, in me and in my music, and that won’t change ever. I feel I’m a Bulgarian citizen of the world and I really like that. Sometimes I really get homesick, but I also believe one can make a change for their own country remotely. Today’s fast growing world and more progressive thinking allows it.
I’ve read that you still keep an eye on the scene there, how has it transformed over the years? Do you feel that it’s beginning to catch up with the rest of Europe?
I try to stay as up to date as my studio schedule allows me. The scene is still vulnerable. During the communist regime a lot of western art was either forbidden or restricted. Movies, books, music, magazines. After the change in ‘89 things were still not as bright as Bulgarians were hoping them to be. It took us a long time until we got that alternative with more highbrow and progressive art landing. We did try to catch up, not only with music but with everything.
I was not even a teenager when the first street parade in Sofia happened and I only saw it on TV. In my world that footage looked like a scene from a Luc Besson movie. I discovered that minimal house and minimal techno were quite a thing when I moved to study in Sofia, many years after that street parade. From then on things slowly headed towards a more “underground” and alternative direction for me. The “unknown” underground revealed itself to me when I moved to live in Copenhagen.
Back to Bulgaria, now you can see promoters bringing A-list DJs, but there is so much more of the niche to be explored and worked on. As a believer I do believe we will catch up with Europe, but as a realist I don’t think that is going to happen in 2019. This is a small country, wounded by its weird political system and money for art is a no go at this point. The state started shutting down big venues for noise presumptions, which unfortunately makes promoters a burden in the eyes of the elite. So if you ask me whether underground music can see the light in there, I tell you it can! Simply because Bulgaria IS real underground. On one hand it is charming to say that, but on the other one, as someone who lived that reality for her almost entire life so far it can be pretty discouraging. After all, I believe things will change when we, the people, lovers of this scene and artists change them. Example: Bassiani,Tbilisi.
Now living in Brussels, what drew you to the city?
Two things: the love for my partner, and the love for techno. There was and still is plenty of great techno music coming straight out of that region and so many stories about back in the days and all these illegal raves, spread by word of mouth, held in warehouses,somewhere in a small village, in the middle of nowhere. From all the capitals I have lived in so far, Brussels is a place that combines a dose of roughness with certain romanticism. Sea food is my thing so count that too in the list.
Logistically, it is super convenient to travel to any part of Europe. I like it that sometimes I can just take the train and go places without the hustle of catching a plane. They also have two wonderful racing circuits, which I always enjoy visiting when I can. It’s a lot of testosterone and adrenaline out there and I always get inspired. Racing is a male dominant world, just like the underground! So many men, few women– the fun is guaranteed. I still have to go get my drivers licence though!
Your next EP ‘Termosfera’ includes the track ‘Boring Shit’ which was featured in DVS1’s fabric mix – must have felt so amazing to be part of such an iconic series right? Did DVS1 get in touch with you for the mix?
Yes. I’m eternally grateful to destiny for bringing me these places. I met Zak back in 2015 when he performed in Copenhagen’s Culture Box, where I was living and breathing every single weekend for 6 years while I lived there. I gave him my very first demos on a USB stick. He took it, looked at me and said while waving it: ‘I’ll see you around’. A year and something later I was told by THEMA that he really liked one of the tracks from my upcoming EP and wants to feature it in his fabric mix. I couldn’t believe that my favourite DJ and artist picks such a “boring” track of mine for such an influential project as the fabric mix. Now, I often send him music to listen and he really listens. For me he is one of the best DJs technically and a great music selector, which makes him a mentor. And yes, obviously we did meet again 🙂
This is your second release on Thema Recordings after making your debut in 2016, how did your relationship begin with the Brooklyn label? What made it the perfect home for this EP?
I knew Lenny’s face but I didn’t really know where from till he told me about THEMA. We “accidentally’’ met two times in the same record shop in Berlin, while I stayed for a week of exploring Berlin clubs, eating sushi and spending money on vinyl. There was an indoor record store session where Levon Vincent played, and Lenny and I happened to be there and had a chat afterwards. He asked me for music, which I had ready at this point, but only sent him half a year later after we talked about it. So in 2016 we released my first EP with music kinda written one year earlier, including some of my first demos like “Her Beginning” and “Alabama Sweetheart”.
Now with four releases under the belt, do you ever see yourself producing a full length album?
An album is in the making, in fact. I’m planning to put out a lot of releases if life allows me, of course, as we Bulgarians say.
Your EPs have been released quite sporadically over the last two years, is that on purpose or is it a matter of life getting in the way of studio time?
Absolutely not on purpose. All of my releases for 2018 were actually scheduled for early 2017 instead of only now, but were delayed due to pressing plant issues! The Enemy release “One Step Ahead” was delayed with one year. The same happened with “TERMOSFERA”, the same is happening with my upcoming EP on PALINOIA, too. So instead of having zero EPs in 2017, I was actually supposed to have three out. I am very active in the studio and there is so much more material I would like to release that I could never intentionally stop myself doing it. Take into account my impatience and hot temper. On the other hand, I believe in the timing of my music and that is what kept me sane and relatively patient with all the delays. Of course, now I am very happy things are finally happening.
When it comes to your productions, do you feel that in order to go into the studio and create you need to have experienced or witnessed something that inspires the production?
In certain moments, yes. I am seriously influenced by films and sometimes like to recreate a story or a scenario that I have seen on the big screen in my own way: using sounds, beats, vocals, turning them into songs and tracks. For instance the last piece of electronic music that I listened to and got myself lost in the beauty of its abstract scenarios was Djrum’s new album on R&S Records. That kind of electronic music influences me, because it is cinematic, multi-layered, bold and very solid. I like to swim in different waters as well, which means I don’t ever stick with inspiration from just one genre.
I listen to everything and in fact I didn’t grow up with underground music. I grew up playing Tchaikovsky on my piano. I can sometimes get an idea for a techno track after listening to a splendid jazz album from Herbie Mann for example. And trust me, Herbie Mann has nothing to do with techno, which makes the general condition of my muse very alert and always ready for action. Ideas are born with work, I strongly believe that. Plus I dislike lingering when it comes to music composing. Things need to be done here and now, because there is this moment of ‘A-ha! Gotcha!’ that you need to actually seize.
And with your DJ sets and mixes, what do you hope to achieve at the end of the set? Is there an important aspect to you that you try to focus on when performing? For example, telling a story or building emotion?
Telling a story, it goes without saying. Music is an abstract description of our emotions. If at the end of my set I have people coming to tell me they enjoyed it, I would know I did a good job somehow. After all being a DJ means being a performer and sharing a part of yourself, your love and knowledge about music with people while doing exactly what you love and know how to do. Same here. I do only play the music that I love and the music I know how to play. And I hope that the people who paid to come and listen to my set leave musically satisfied and inspired.
DJing is a bit of a gamble. Not everyone will like what you like and not everyone will understand your style or your message. And stepping into that profession is a challenge. You need to stay cool and to be prepared you are not always going to be liked. This will only make the positive feedback and the understanding of the audience of your performance even sweeter. So there is no greater artistic goal for me than the appreciation of the audience.
I hope you don’t mind me asking, but I’ve noticed you’re quite the skincare lover (and so am I), I imagine the touring has a massive impact on your skin so what are your go-to products for when you’re travelling?
I’m vain, I can’t and won’t hide it.
Lotion P50, Biologique Recherche- it has a very unpleasant smell, really bad. A chemical exfoliant that basically repairs your whole epidermis. Its nickname is “Jesus in a Bottle” and works miracles. I’ll never change it for any other.
Emma Hardie Amazing Moringa Balm- dirt, makeup, dust, pollution goes away with it and it smells like heaven.
Oskia’s Renaissance cleanser to eliminate leftovers.
Eye serum with a lot of hylarion to fight the imperfections by Estee Lauder.
Facial Oil, Body Oil, olive oil. It works miracles. I use neroli scents at the moment for the body and drink every morning and night a spoon of olive oil to clean my liver and bacteria in the stomach.
Perfume- somewhere between a masculine and a femme fatale scent. A weird baby that is. Bottega Veneta, Miller Harris and L’Artisan Parfumeur do it for me.
I sometimes rub my face in my 303 machine. Joke.
What are your top 5 essentials for keeping healthy on the road?
Clean Mind: I have a simple rule I’m trying to stay true to: ‘Relax, if it’s not the end of the world, IT’S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD!’
Drinking a lot of water. Water is essential. We all know why.
I don’t consume coffee, cigarettes, or drugs. A lot of people still don’t believe me, which I think is weird. DJs beside being DJs are also individuals. Rarely do I drink alcohol so that really helps, too. I drink a lot of tea though. A LOT. A pot a day of tea a keeps the doctor away. Trust me. But you need to get the magic herbs.
No junk food for me. I appreciate quality local cousine, light meals and a lot of vegetables. My mood breaks if there are no vegetables in the meal.
I’m a VERY hyper person. Try to get a nap before a gig- if you are like me: struck by a stage fright 24 hours before every show, its a no go. But then after the gig I catch up. I love to sleep.
As we enter the last quarter of the year, what are you looking forward for the rest of 2018 and what have you learned from this year so far?
Off the record I learned that I like to start with the answer of the second part of a question, like I’m doing now.
Looking forward to making my debut at ADE this year. I’ve been there several times as a music lover, this year I change my game though. I’m happy I can celebrate my birthday this year with two gigs in the company of Joey Beltram, Funk D’Void, Surgeon, DJ Rush, Lady Starlight and more.
I’m also looking forward to another confirmed EP on Enemy Records. It includes a track of mine which was featured in fashion giant PRADA’s social media male campaign a couple months ago. Hopefully “I Can’t Stop” will be finally released on PALINOIA, but then again after so many delays I’m not giving a specific date. I also layered vocals for Marco Shuttle and DJ T-1000’s upcoming releases. And I am finishing my special project I talked earlier about. I’m gonna start dropping some of the tracks from it in my future sets. If you hear something unusual that would be it.
Gabriella Vergilov’s new EP ‘Termosfera’ is out now on Thema Recordings. Buy it on vinyl here.