Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgarian Boyana Trayanova – from New Orleans’ traditions to Bulgarian Mahala album

БНР Новини
Photo: courtesy of Boyana Trayanova




Boyana is born in Sofia, but went to the USA at a very early age. That was where she received her education and that was where she found the path to music or in her case – the path to New Orleans. Boyana is a drum player who now lives in the Mecca of Jazz, actively working with different formations. She usually comes to Bulgaria on a holiday only, but without missing any options for festival or club concerts.

СнимкаOver the last holidays here she studied thoroughly Bulgarian folk music and gathered impressions and recordings. She found it as a surprise to realize that despite of having grown up in a different sound environment our folklore brings energy to her and inspiration. In 2014 she collected 9 folk pieces and named the album Mahala /Neighborhood/. “I wanted Bulgarian and Balkan music to sound in New Orleans, as they had never heard it before,” she says.

Accordion player Matthew Schreiber and guitarist Georgi Petrov are the other two in the trio that recorded the music for Mahala. “We provoked great interest among colleagues and the audience. People overseas really like Bulgarian folk music,” Boyana says.

Boyana is also the organizational leader of the One Love Brass Band formation and saxophone player Kyle Cripps is the music director. The band was established recently but it managed to release an album, presented by Boyana to RB. “We play at festivals, in clubs, at private parties etc. In New Orleans there is always this strong demand for music and we can go into different styles,” Boyana says and then presents the band and its new album: (Full interview and music are featured in the audio file)

Снимка

English version: Zhivko Stanchev

Pieces in the audio:
Daychovo chain dance
.  Saint James Infirmary
.  Too Big to Fall
.  Working on Getting Right



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

"Sama" is the debut single of Maria Mateev and the KOYANGI band

Maria Mateev presents her band KOYANGI and their debut single "Sama". The song tells about the battles with oneself and the fear that each of us experiences at a certain stage of our lives. After more than a decade in South..

published on 4/24/25 11:01 AM

Funeral Mass for Pope Francis to be held in Sofia on 28 April

A special book of condolence was opened today at the Apostolic Nunciature in Sofia following the passing of Pope Francis.  “He knew how to engage in dialogue with people of our time with simplicity and sincerity, always seeking that which unites us..

published on 4/23/25 3:46 PM

130 years since the birth of unforgettable Gyurga Pindzhurova

On April 18, exactly 130 years ago, Bulgarian opera and folk singer Gyurga Pindzhurova was born in the town of Tran. Having sung her mother's songs since childhood, Gyurga Pindzhurova began studying at the State Music School in Sofia in 1917 with..

published on 4/18/25 11:05 AM