Maria Ilieva

Maria Ilieva is a Bulgarian singer and producer recognized by some as the most successful female vocal artist of the contemporary Bulgarian music scene. Judge on the first and second seasons of X factor (Bulgaria).

Early life

Maria Ilieva was born in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, in a family of renowned musicians. Her mother, Vanya Moneva, is the choir-master of the Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria choir and her father, Krasimir Iliev, is the conductor of Sofia Wind Orchestra. Trained pianist since the age of five, she developed her vocal skills as a member of the “Petko Stainov” Choir Academy.

Ilieva graduated from the elite Sofia High School of Mathematics. She proceeded to receive a Master’s degree in Insurance and a Master’s degree in International Relations. Her career as a performing vocal artist started in the late 1990s, when she was the lead vocalist of the Kaffe Band – best known abroad for representing Bulgaria at the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest.

Music career

2001: Moon Dream

The launch of Maria Ilieva’s solo career is marked by the release of her first single "Moon Dream" in the summer of 2001. The album (also titled Moon Dream) was duly released later on in the year, having been described by a Bulgarian website as a phenomenon in BG pop music.^[1] Singles released from the album ("Moon Dream", "Nothing") have gone straight to No.1 in all leading Bulgarian radio and television pop charts,^{[citation needed]} while "Alright" (produced in collaboration with the avant-garde soul-funk band TE), shot to fame by staying on the top of Bulgarian Top 100 chart for an unprecedented 13 successive weeks.

2003: Stereo Room

Ilieva's next project, Stereo Room, included remixes by Bulgarian DJs. The single "Stereo room" was the first completely animated Bulgarian music video produced.

2007: I Come To You

After establishing her own record label “MI Productions” in 2003, Maria Ilieva worked in collaboration with Bulgarian and American musicians, songwriters and producers to record her album I Come To You, including:

• "What Does It Take" - first single released in English /video produced in Los Angeles, USA/, went straight to No.1 as a new entry on MM TV’s TOP 20;
• "You Come To Me" – Ilieva’s first ballad single;
• "Born for Love" – duet single with Bulgarian male vocalist/composer Graffa, whose video went to No.6 on MTV Europe’s World Chart Express;
• "Off the Record" – Ilieva’s first collaboration with a hip-hop artist – Knas /Knas&Bacardi/ - 3 weeks at No.1 - Out of 5 chart of Bulgarian National Television;
• "Past" – a single that has gone to No.1 on "BG Radio’s TOP 20" chart and stayed there for 5 weeks;
• "On My Own" - a single dedicated to the fight against human trafficking and forced prostitution. Official world premiere - 24.03.2007, at The stars of Europe concert, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of EU, broadcast on 56 national TV stations worldwide;
• "Words" - went straight to No.1 on MM TV’s TOP 20 three weeks after its release. Premiered on MTV Europe on 24.11.07.

Stereo Room - the record label

In 2007 Maria Ilieva founded her new label to promote young Bulgarian talent called “Stereo Room”. This record label aims at producing and promoting young talented singers from Bulgaria. Special auditions took place in the beginning of 2008 and the first artist - Krista - was selected. Her debut single, "Tova, koeto iskash", went straight to #1 at all the national music charts and reached #2 on MTV Europe’s World Chart Express. The second artist produced by Stereo Room is B.O.Y.A.N. and his first single's ("It's Over") video premiere is on MAD TV on the 9th of February 2009.

Discography

Concerts

Billed as a top star at all established regional international music festivals, Maria Ilieva has performed as the opening act for celebrated artists such as George Michael, Simple Minds, Dannii Minogue, Atomic Kitten, Garaj Mahal and more. Ilieva has also performed alongside such greats as Simply Red, Scorpions, Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), UB40, Gipsy Kings, Zucchero, Kim Wilde, Spike Edney’s All Star Band and Lou Bega.^{[citation needed]}

Single

• I Like (2011)

Awards

2008

• Best Female Artist – MM TV Music Awards
• Most Stylish Woman Award - Bravo FM Group

2007

• Best Album Award ("I Come To You"/M.I.Productions) - MM TV Awards
• Most stylish singer as announced by Elle Magazine
• Golden Pen Award - for a Special Contribution to Bulgarian Culture - Classic Fm Radio/MAKTA

2006

• Best Female Artist Award – BG Radio Music Awards
• Woman of the Year Award – Grazia Magazine/Avon Awards

2005

• Best Female Artist Award – BG Radio Music Awards
• Best Style Award – Bravo FM Group

2004

• Best Female Artist – Melo TV Mania, BNT
• Best website of the year - International Media Festival Albena
• Best Hairstyle – Pantene Beauty Awards

2002–2003

• Best Female Artist Award – BG Radio Music Awards
• Best Female Artist Award – MM TV Awards
• Best Female Artist Award – Rhythm Magazine Awards
• Best Video Award (Nishto) – Rhythm Magazine Awards Най-добра изпълнителка – BG Radio Music Awards

2001–2002

• Best Debut Award – Melo TV Mania, Bulgarian National Television
• Best Debut Award – MM TV Awards
• Best Video Award (Moon Dream) – BG Radio Music Awards
• Best Video Award (Moon Dream) – Forte Top 100 Awards, Bulgarian National Television
• Best Female Artist Award – BG Radio Music Awards
• Best Female Artist Award – Forte Top 100, Bulgarian National Television

Movies

Maria Ilieva is also an accomplished actress, appearing in such Hollywood based films like:

• 2005 – “Undisputed 2”- A Millennium Films / Nu Image Production
• 2004 – “Submerged” – A Millennium Films / Nu Image Production
• 2004 – “Locust”- A UFO Production
• 2004 – “The Mechanic” (aka "The Russian Specialist") - A Millennium Films / Nu Image Production

Bulgarian movie productions include: •2002 – “Emigrants” – A Boyana Cinema Production

Social engagements

Apart from her music career, Maria Ilieva has been dedicated to a number of important social engagements and causes, such as:

• 2008 - Spokesperson for ICanToo foundation's campaign to help us raising funds for the needs of children with disabilities
• 2007 – Ambassador of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All
• 2006 - 2007 – Official Spokesperson for Face to Face Foundation’s Campaign Against Human Trafficking and Forced Prostitution
• 2006 – Official Spokesperson for Standard daily newspaper Fund-raiser Initiative for Talented Children
• 2005-2006 – Official Spokesperson for the Avon Cosmetics’ Campaign Against Breast Cancer, a part of the global initiative for Breast Cancer awareness and prevention.

Brand ambassador / spokesperson

• 2006-2007 – Official spokesperson for BMW
• 2005-2007 – Official celebrity spokesperson for Haute Couture designer NEVENA
• 2003-2005 – Official Pantene Pro-V Brand Ambassador and celebrity Spokesperson

References

External links

• Official MySpace
• Maria Ilieva on YouTube
• Maria Ilieva at the Internet Movie Database
• Stereo Room official website
• Krista