Bulgarian-born New York City based singer-songwriter Ruth Koleva is poised to announce a brand new release with the arrival of ‘Beyond Borders’ featuring US singer and composer Diggs Duke

‘Beyond Borders’ is a hazy, warm embrace crafted so immaculately by both Ruth and Diggs’ harmonies, presenting a musical and lyrical catharsis about a utopian world. Ruth says: “Beyond Borders is a project, which we started a few years ago with Diggs Duke and wanted to tell the story of how we could connect and feel close, even if we are far away apart. We started recording the song in the US and Amsterdam and ended up finishing it in a small Mexican village and filmed the video in Sofia, Bulgaria. It’s truly a song about the universal language of music and how art does not see any borders”.

Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?

It’s quite of a long story to tell, but last night I had this dream that I was with a childhood friend of mine, whom I haven’t seen in a while and he was telling me “Ruth I know how much you’ve sacrificed to be where you are right now, I just want you to know I feel you and I am sorry.”, and that pretty up sums up my answer, although it’s painful to admit – I’ve sacrificed so much to be here and I still feel so far away from where I want to get to. 

Not many people talk about this, but coming from eastern Europe and doing the music I am doing has opened my eyes to the large scale of cultural and geographical discrimination. The Balkan countries are recognized as “low life” in every sense possible within the EU. 

Ask a Balkan person and they’ll all give you the same answer – we are not treated equally, we are not given equal opportunities, we are not recognized in art & culture and our predominant representation in media (films and music) is of petty thieves, mobsters, “easy” girls and the so-called “Balkan” music, which to clarify, is only representing a very small portion of what the region has to offer as music in general. 

I remember my first major interview for a big jazz radio station in The Netherlands, I was 22 and super excited. I had just recorded an album with Richard Spaven, Sharlene Hector and was produced by Vincent from Flowriders. The first thing the host did when I entered the room was to play this wacky 80’s pop-folk song, which I’ve never even heard, and say “We are used to hearing this kind of music from where you come from, how come you do Jazz?”. 

It was humiliating, hurtful and I had to “defend myself” on the basis of my nationality, not my music. So I got to where I am with hard work, breaking stereotypes and being thick-skinned to all the injustice this industry has brought on.

What should a song or piece of art communicate in your opinion? 

I believe that art should move you. Be able to trigger an emotion in your soul or body. I could stare at a DaVinci work for hours and feel the world just stopping around me, or I watch Sophie’s choice and cry my eyes out. It’s not always about social standing or statement, art is medium and as Frank Zappa said “Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid.” ― Frank Zappa

Who were your top 3 artists last year?

Based on my Spotify 2021 year recap, and this is true, they are Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, David Bowie and George Michael. All gone, but timeless.

What do you do when you’re feeling uninspired?

I go to the mountains or near a lake. Nature has its way.

What are your 2022 projects and goals?

I have so much music to release this year it’s hard to predict. I have 2 fully recorded albums, one of which is a jazz tribute to Nat King Cole. I hope the whole pandemic situation will shift and we’ll be able to tour again.

Favorite movie or TV show?

The English Patient

Tell us about your latest release and how it came about.

The song “Beyond Borders” is a duet with Diggs Duke, whom I met 9 years ago. We started working on this song via Skype and our story was of people being able to create without the limits of their geographical location. At the time he was in the US and I was in Amsterdam. He later came over and we did a few sessions, but couldn’t finish the song in a way that we were all satisfied with. Fast forward to 2020, I was living in New York and when the pandemic struck I got stuck in a quarantined remote Mexican village on the gulf coast, while I was on a 3 day vacation. I ended up staying there for 3 months, with the nearest ATM and hospital being 3 hours away and almost complete lack of internet. On my birthday I accidently met a guy who turned out to have a fully equipped recording studio. We ended up recording a bunch of songs and “Beyond Borders” came out in one take. Later on we mixed it in Bulgaria and the song just truly stood up to it’s name “Beyond Borders”.

What is something you would want to change in the music and entertainment industry?

So much I have to say here, but in order to “save” music we need to restructure the way people consume music. In a few years time songs will be created by AIs and so much of it all will be totally worthless. I am honestly scared when I think about where things are going.

Can you outline your creative process?

I collaborate. I love being with people who inspire me and I have something to learn. I love learning and putting myself out of my comfort zone.

Who inspires your style and aesthetics?

So many people I could mention, but Yayoi Kusama, Vivienne Westwood, Helmut Newton, David Bowie, 60’s and 70’s fashion.

What is the achievement or moment in your career you are the most proud of and why?

I was 23 when I watched the movie Le Concert by Radu Mihăileanu. Such a brilliant film and such an amazing music performance in the end. I still cry every time I watch it and the Concerto for violin by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in D major is one of my favorite music pieces. Ever.

After that first screening of Le Concert I knew my next goal would be to do a concert with a Philharmonic orchestra. I started from scratch and went through the whole bureaucracy to pull this off, every single detail and step I did was driven by this dream which came from a movie. It was tough and the work was enormous and we were *understaffed* (which means it was pretty much…me) I even made sandwiches for the crew on the day and was bringing my own posters to city spots. 

The first concert got sold out in less than a month. I was 24 when we did it. It even got aired on national tv. I am so happy and grateful for all the support and success this project has brought me and my fellow band-mates. You can watch Ruth Koleva & Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra 2 full concerts on YouTube

What do you think an artist should sing about nowadays?

I don’t set boundaries, but anything that you feel you want to say or share – go for it.

Do you have any regrets?

“Non, je ne regrette rien”

What is some piece of advice you would give to yourself right now?

Stay calm, it will all pass.