Biography

Desislava Ivanova Doneva or more popular as DesiSlava was born on March 7, 1979 in Radnevo. Her brother, Milen, is a year older than her. Her parents divorced when she was 6. She moves to live with her grandmother and starts school there. When her mother gets married for the second time, Desi moves to live with her in Hissaria, where she finishes primary school. She helps a lot in the upbringing of her two stepsisters - Ina and Nia. Thus, compared to other children she doesn't have 'real' childhood, enough fun and play. However, to DesiSlava this way of life has its advantages, too - it can help one become more responsible. After the 8th grade she moved to live with her father in the city of Gulubovo and studied at a technical school. As a child DesiSlava was quite naughty and wild, practsed karate and dreams to become a policewoman. When she was in the 5th grade, she found out that she could sing slow folk songs. At 14 she gets her first prize - at the competition 'Slaveiche' at 'Stara Zagora' radio station. She sings Dinka Ruseva's song and wins the first prize. At that time, she also attends many other song competitions and wins a diploma for first place at the big song competition in Koprivshtitsa as well as first prize at the competition 'Petkana Zaharieva' in Stambolovo. In the 9th grade, she starts attending a folk group in Gulubovo. A little later Mincho Atanassov, the leader of 'Radnevo' orchestra heard her sing, liked her and invited her as the vocal singer of the orchestra. Lateron, Vulkana Styanova heard her sing and in order to be able to go to the famous singer's classes, Desislava moves to Sofia. The biggest prize Desi wins in the field of authentic folk music is the grand prize of 'Vulkana Styanova' festival. Despite the strong competition with musical high-schools students from Kotel and Shiroka Luka as well as the best students from the Musical University in Plovdiv, DesiSlava manages to win again the first prize.

In 1996 'Payner Studio' releases the album 'Radnevo orchestra and vocals', where DesiSlava takes part, too. Her first pop-folk songs are compiled in 'Folkhit marathon' the next year - in 1997. Her first album 'I have no problems' was released by 'Payner Studio' in 1998. The dominant style is dance rhythm, carefree and optimistic. It compiles 11 songs - 5 are composed and written by DesiSlava herself. Here is also her first duet 'Dream Love' with Kosta Markov. The debut album in 1999 doesn't make DesiSlava a hit singer but the songs 'Blue Bird', 'Trouble by Men', 'Friends', 'I Swear you' are liked and appreciated by the audience. After the release of the album, the singer enjoys more and more fans and attends a considerable number of musical activities. In the June of 1999 Desi goes on a tour in South Bulgaria together with Petra and Reni. Although she's still at the threshold of her her professional career, she is admitted to have innate ear for music and excellent vocal abilities. These are evident also in the backvocals for the albums of Ekstra Nina and Kosta Markov. In November 1999, DesiSlava wins the first major prize for her as a pop-folk singer - at the Festival ' The Golden Mustang' she wins the first prize as a singer for the ballad ' I Swear You'.

Her greatest success comes during the following year. Her second album 'Heads or Tails' is released on March 2. It includes the hit song - 'Men Want it All'. The song is at the top of the charts for more than half a year. It's also at the top of the chart in the annual competition of 'Nov Folk' magazine for the year 2000. The album ' Heads and Tails' is among the most successful and a best-selling albums of the year. The audio collection includes 12 songs, the CD - 14. This album also includes a single in English - 'You are the Love'. Other hit songs are - 'Give me Back my Freedom', 'Hot Passions', 'It' s over', 'Heads or Tails', 'Devil's Magic', etc.

Due to the readers of 'Nov Folk' magazine she gets the reward best album of the year. The singer with angel's voice keeps demonstrating also excellent performance of folk songs. The album 'Heads or Tails' includes also her exceptional interpretation of 'So Young and Wild'. 'Kanarite' invite her to sing the folk song 'Tenyu Was Talking to Stanka' for their anniversary album 'We, the Bulgarian people'.

Her fan club in Sofia met on March 21, 2000. Many people gathered for the meeting but, unfortunately the electricity was cut off a few minutes after the beginning. The situation was rather embarrassing and forced Desi to take control of the situation by starting to sing withou background music and in the dark for about an hour. Her fans felt in awe by her natural talent and sing with her all the time. DesiSlava attracts more and more fans with her performances at big concerts, too - on April 12 she is the guest star of Reni's concert in Hall 1 in NDK, together with Gloria and Nelina, on June 8 she takes part in the megaconcert for the tenth anniversary of 'Payner', on July 6 2000 she sings at Gloria's concert again in hall 1 in NDK. The climax is when Desi and Gloria sing 'For you, mother'.

Despite her success, Desi says 'I hope to leave a memorable trace. I don't think I have reached the top, but would rather say that my top is higher'. Not long after this her words are confirmed at the festival 'Trakia Folk 2000' when DesiSlava sings 'White Nights' - and wins two rewards - the third prize of the jury and second of the audience. Very soon the song becomes an absolute hit while the readers of 'Nov Folk' magazine choose it for a song of the year 2000. In August, DesiSlava and Ruslan make the megahit - 'My dear, my darling' which turns into a megahit.

The year 2000 is especially successful for Desi. She leaves for the USA in October to take part in the arts championship in LA. She competes in two categories - for the performance of the folk song 'Jenala e dyulber Yana' and of one of Whitney Houston's songs. People from 30 countries take part in the competition. DesiSlava wins the bronze medal in the competition for pop music. After her success at the championship, Desi moves to Chicago to sing in 'Mario's Cafe' owned by the Bulgarian family - the Valkovs. There Desi falls in love with their younger son - Misho. She decides to come back to Bulgaria to let her family know she expects a baby. In March she goes back to Chicago to give birth of her baby. The months spent in her motherland are very hard for her. The end of the year 2000 she is at the peak of her career, with many engagements, recording a new album and takes part in the Christmas concert of 'Payner Studio' in hall 1 in NDK. She also takes part in Slavi's show on December 22 and after her live performance is applauded by all the staff and audience. She is also very busy at the beginning of 2001. At the end of January she is the MC for Ivana's promotion and they introduce their duet 'Hungry for Love'. Before she moves to the USA she manages to finish her album and even shoots 2 videos for the songs 'Forever' and 'Tear Traces'.

At the day when she gives birth, she proposes that their son Misho is named after his father - Mikhail. DesiSlava's son was born on July 21 a little after midnight. Mike is 50 cm tall and weighs 3.240 kg. The first months Desi and Misho take care of the baby with the help of the whole family the Valkovs. The megastar, however, thinks already of going back to Bulgaria. she misses not only her relatives, but also her fans. Desi never thought she would stop singing. Before she returns to Bulgaria Desi witnessed the rtagedy of 9. 11. During the incident she, together with Misho are on a holiday in Florida, while Mike is in Chicago with the Valkovs. Despite her fear of flying, Desi decided it was time to go back to Bulgaria, moreover together with the two men she loved - Misho nad Mike.

They arrive on November 3. The next morning DesiSlava is a guest of Dragomir Draganov’s show ‘Tea’ on Channel 1 of Bulgarian TV. After 8-month’s absence, her fans manage to see her live for the first time. Desi is in tremendous shape. On November 4 she is interviewed for ‘Nov Folk’ magazine. Immediately after her arrival, the megastar sets down to work. The same week she does the first photo session followed by her first performance in ‘Bulgari’ in Varna. At the end of November she has a recital at the festival ‘The Golden Mustang’. At the beginning of December she is at the stage of Hall 1 in NPC – for the concert at the promotion of ‘Planet TV’. Apart from this, After her coming back to Bulgaria, she starts working on a new album. Her absence does not influence her popularity, on the contrary. Her fans are eager to see and hear her, the interest towards her is tremendous. Obviously, this affects her personal relationship with Misho and they separate. If, on the one hand her personal life is not very successful, on the other, her career is more than successful. The song ‘Wandering Bird’ is released and at once becomes a hit. This is the first megahit in 2002. It’s very successful and its video is created by Petyo Kartulev and Nikolai Nankov. DesiSlava is again at the top. On May 24-5, she, together with Gloria and Slavka Kalcheva visit Athens. On 24th they are at the Bulgarian embassy while on 25th they have a concert in ‘Year Odos’ Hall. This is the official promotion of ‘Planet’ TV in Greece. During the summer, on July 13, 2002, DesiSlava’s extremely successful fourth album ‘Mystery’ is released. Hits are – ‘Mystery’, ‘Two Hearts’, ‘I Can’, ‘A Real Night’, ‘Between Yes or No’, ‘I’ll Bring You Back’ (music and text written by Desi herself), etc.

On July 6th, Desi leaves for Spain where she has two concerts – in Alkala de Enares and in Valensia. The following summer is a very busy season for her. Desi has two promotions of her album – the first one on August 7, 2002 in ‘City club’ in Nessebar where the 1000-seat hall fills up with 1800 people and the second one is on October 14, 2002 in ‘Prikazkite’. She also has numerous live performances – on July 24, 2002 she has her biggest and very successful sole concert in the Summer theater in Burgas. On September 1, she sings at the ‘Osogovo’ stadium in Kyustendil and on the 7th has a recital at the ‘Pirin Folk’ festival – Sandanski. On October 30, she makes her fans crazy at the mega dance show of ‘Payner’ in Plovdiv. Then she has two great performances on December 3 and 4 in NPC, Sofia for the first anniversary of ‘Planeta’ TV. At the beginning of November, Desi records a new duet with Ruslan – ‘Only One’ – the song becomes a hit from its very release.

On November 10, 2002 there comes the biggest prize for DesiSlava – during that year the audience of ‘Planet’ TV select her as a singer of 2002. Desi dreams of getting the prize for a singer of the year of ‘Nov Folk’ magazine. The following year, in 2003, the singer is full of new ideas and projects.

After the release of the album ‘Mystery’ Desi records several new songs ‘Two Words’, ‘You Are Not By Me’, which becomes a hit in 2003, and ‘Black Tears’.

In 2003 DesiSlava leaves ‘Payner’ and shows herself to be a very brave young lady. Having realized her potential as a star, she takes up her own way: ‘I’m on my own but I’m strong – I’m releasing a new album’ – says Desi after leaving the giant ‘Payner’.

In the spring of 2004 she triumphantly comes back at the top with her hit ‘Just Forget’. Her next album ‘Love is Just a Feeling’. In that project she has complete freedom to choose the type of songs she will record as well as the way to record them. This is her first album away from ‘Payner’, released by her own record company ‘New Music’. It includes many hits : ‘Be a Good Boy’ – The Game, ‘A lie’, ‘Forget About Me’, ‘Tender Drug’ which become some of the most loved songs of 2004.

In the autumn the two biggest stars in Bulgarian show business – Azis and DesiSlava realise a even greater project. The album ‘Together’ goes beyond all expectations. The two megastars record a piece together and after that come up with the idea of having a common album. Valeri Milev directs the video for the cover song ‘I Crave’. Later, in 2005, at the annual Nov Folk awards, her video wins the first prize for that year. Everything happens naturally but it’s also a fact that the album is recorded for a very short time. Desi and Azis have a common concert at the Winter Palace in the capital city where thousands of fans enjoy their wonderful live performances. After that, Desi has numerous performances around the country. The songs of the album ‘Together’ turn into tremendous hits with spectacular videos. Apart from the album ‘Together’ the singers release a DVD of the concert and the video ‘I Crave’ that became a hit in a very short time. In 2005 the singer’s sole DVD is released where DesiSlava reveals her new sexy-erotic photo session for ‘Playboy’. For that photo session DesiSlava shows tremendous shape and looks extremely beautiful and very very sexy. The DVD includes the promotion of the album ‘Love Is Just a Feeling’ as well as many of the videos from the album and the collection ‘Together’.

During the same year, 2005, the album with the hottest title – ‘Hot Trace’ is launched. It covers 12 songs, one of which is in English and another one is a duet in Spanish with Magdalena Sanches. The songs are very different from those recorded so far. The lyrics are written by a student from Veliko Tarnovo – Galina Koleva who the singer highly praises for her writing abilities, most of the songs are arranged by Yovko Petrov while a big part of the music is created by the singer herself. This album, like the previous sole project (‘Love Is Just a Feeling’) is done completely by the singer. The video for the cover song of the new album had its promotion at the Bulgarian TOP 100 on bTV. The song ‘You Are Not Urgent For Me’ has very fresh dance beat while the lyrics is very unusual, very different from the rest and is very well accepted by the pop-folk fans in the country. On September 24, 2005, DesiSlava marries her friend Galin. Only 8 months afterwards, they get divorced but keep friendly terms.

At the end of 2006, right before the holiday season after the long anticipation, Desi’s 7th new album ‘Sweet Dreams’ is released. It includes 12 songs, four of which are already well familiar to her fans: ‘It’s Impossible For Us To Stop’, ‘The Scheme’, her duet with Toni Storaro – ‘Shut Up’ and the duet with Niki Ankov which mysteriously showed up on the Internet, as well. Her fans especially liked the songs : ‘It’s Crazy’ which has heavy-matal beat, ‘It’s Not An Illusion’, ‘From Tomorrow’, the English ‘I’ll pray’, the duet with Alfredo Tores recorded in Spanish ‘No Soy Tal Mujer’ as well as the incredible ballad ‘Some Day’.

On March 26, 2007 DesiSlava takes part in the reality show – ‘VIP Brother 2’. Her presence in the show is memorable but for the disappointment of her fans she takes up the second place. After the show Desi shares: ‘I believed in my abilities and wanted to show my fans who believe and support me for so many years who I am as a person. I feel like I have won. That’s why, at one point, the formality of giving first, second or third rewards lose their initial meanings. Even if I had left the House at the sixth place, that wouldn’t change things. I am who I am, people like me, support me and nothing else matters… I am happy that I together with all people who support me lived through the adventure called ‘VIP Brother’ together. There were many moments when we laughed heartily, had fun, danced, sang…We didn’t, of course, miss the opportunity to cry a little, too. I made new friends at the House and learned a lot about myself. Now a few days after the show is over, I feel even more loved and I’m glad my music has reached even more people.