The Balkan is gently whispering stories about old battles. The spirit of memories is seen in archive photos. The voivods are only present in history books nowadays, but a Bulgarian band has found inspiration in the glorious past and the stories about Mitre Vlaha and Vasil Chekalarov. This is The Voyvoda.

“We are a post-punk, cold-wave band from Sofia with roots in Floridaр", Filip Filipov, founder of the band told Radio Bulgaria. "Our music sounds a bit strange in the Balkans. I play the guitar, bass and I also sing. Serge plays the drums, Mitsata is on the keyboards and Nikolai Gerdjikov - Niki G is our bassist. It is difficult to tell the exact date on which the band was born. While I was in the university in Florida I was already sick dealing with conventional styles and I wanted to do something alone. Then I got the idea for such a band and started moving in that direction. In 2007, we were offered to perform at a festival in Bulgaria.”

A few days ago Voyvoda returned from a tour after traveling over 6500 km across Europe.

“We had 10 concerts in 11 days,” says Philip. We used the bassist’s car to tour Central and Eastern Europe, having a concert in a different place each day. It was great. Since our album East was released in Germany this has been our third European tour. I think this one was by far the most successful; there were many good concerts and some of them gathered around 500 people.”

Usually Bulgarian bands performing abroad attract Bulgarian audience but the case with Voyvoda is different.

“Just one Bulgarian came to a concert. She was a professor in Bulgarian Philology in Poland. We receive invitations from people who know the band and have listened to our second album. Now it is easier than it was in the beginning. More people know about us now.”

What can we expect from the band?

“We are currently working on an album entitled Aramia that should be released in late spring. We are currently in talks with various companies abroad that release such music. We want to find the best one that will open new doors for us and promote well our CD. It's not about money, but the opportunity to perform in interesting places and other continents. I hope to accomplish this dream before the band falls apart.”

The uniqueness of the Voyvoda will probably not allow the band to fall apart soon. “There are bands that perform in the same genre, but I hope we do not sound like any of them,” Philip says.

Bearing the flag of music Voyvoda takes an oath of allegiance to the homeland.

English version: Alexander Markov