Mihaela Fileva and her “incognito” stories

published on 7/15/15 10:05 AM

They call her the princess of Bulgarian pop. She first set foot on stage in 2011 when she took part in the X Factor TV show and her life was changed forever.

“Everything I wanted then was to make music the way I want to, music that would touch people,” says Mihaela. Starting out with this one wish, she embarked on a journey that would conquer the hearts of fans; today she is proud of her debut CD Incognito.

“Holding one’s music in one’s hands is sheer happiness for any artiste,” says Mihaela Fileva. “Many people worked very hard so this album could be released; recording a music album in Bulgaria is no easy thing. I worked with incredible professionals, people I have admired since I was a little girl. I would just like to mention performers like Zhivko Petrov, Roumen Boyadjiev Jr., the boys from Southwick… There are songs I wrote myself. In short, the album is a dream come true.”

Incognito featureseleven tracks, among them the singer’s first big hit Dangerously Close, the ballads Ups and Downs, I Am Also Here, as well as other compositions that have been all over the radio. The CD also has six bonus tracks with remixes and collaborations. It is the first song that gave the album its title. Mihaela Fileva explains why she chose this mysterious word:

“Incognito is something shrouded in mystery, something inscrutable. I wanted the album to be conceptual, to have one idea running through it. It is my way of revealing myself to listeners – as if I have sat down to coffee with them. I tell them my incognito stories – my most intimate experiences, the things I have cared about over the years, the things that have inspired me. Each song is an illustration of some specific instant in my life.”

In her debut CD, listeners will find an “expectedly good combination,” as Mihaela Fileva puts it. In the song Off Limits Mihaela is joined by Preya and Divna and the idea came up quite by accident:

“Together with Borislav Boyadjiev, better known as DJ Borche we had started work on the piece. We had planned it as my own solo project but I sensed there was something missing. Then Preya joined me and Iliya Grigorov as lyric writer. And I thought to myself: “This is a piece that needs more female power.” So, I suggested to Vladimir Ampov-Grafa, who is my producer to make the song as a trio. He, on his part, together with rapper Billy the Kid and VenZ came up with an answer – the song Reserved Seat. That was how we staged a musical duel.”

Mihaela Fileva is now on tour with The Voice music TV. Her last concert is in Varna on July 16.

English version: Milena Daynova