Tell us a bit more about you, anything you’d like to share with the world really.

Nikul Georgiev: Honestly? I’m just a music fan and not-that-good-musician with a camera! 😄 But seriously, I feel incredibly lucky to be documenting this vibrant scene in Bulgarian music. It’s more than just a job – it’s a chance to celebrate the talent, the passion, and the sheer joy of creating something new. The dream, though? To help bridge the gap. I want to share the incredible sounds coming out of Bulgaria with the world – to show everyone the raw energy, the genre-bending creativity, the stories that these artists are weaving through their music. So, if you’re watching and you hear something that grabs you, something totally unexpected – that’s my mission accomplished!

What’s the story behind Lampa Sessions?

Nikul: Lampa Sessions is an original Lampa Collective concept project that presents the creativity and inspiration of 5 experimental Bulgarian musical artists through video interviews and music sessions specially prepared for the series. We meet, see and hear interesting names from the current music scene, who boldly experiment with electronic sound and traditional instruments, synthesizers and loop machines, from calm ambient sound to “cheeky” breakbeat. Each session under the light of the “Lamps” promises to bring a spotlight on artists with unconventional approaches to music. The interviews with the musicians complement and give more context to their performances.

Petar Yordanov – Buny, a multi-instrumentalist and pioneer of the relatively new hand-pan musical instrument.

Nikul: For Lampa Sessions, we cast our net for the most exciting sparks in the Bulgarian music scene! We’re looking for artists who embody the Lampa Collective spirit – those who aren’t afraid to push boundaries and experiment with sound. The range is truly diverse, from artists crafting serene, ambient soundscapes to those who bring the energy with cheeky breakbeats. Each Lampa Session illuminates an artist with an unconventional approach, someone who’s redefining what Bulgarian music can be. And it’s not just about the music! The artist interviews add another layer of depth. They allow us to get to know the personalities behind the talent, to understand their inspirations and creative processes. It’s about truly shining a light on these talented individuals and the stories they tell through their music.

Georgi Bozhinov – Flying Person is an inspired Bulgarian ambient artist who incorporates real-life and nature sound recordings into his music. His compositions are fueled by adventures and moments of solitude in the mountains, where near-death experiences in nature ignite his creative process.

Tell us a bit about the choice of artists in your series and their story.

Nikul: For Lampa Sessions, we hunt for Bulgaria’s most exciting sonic explorers – independent experimental artists! Think of it like this: We’re not searching for standard lightbulbs – we want those unique, artistically crafted lamps that cast a truly captivating light. These are the musicians who are boldly blending electronic sounds with the richness of traditional instruments, experimenting with natural sounds in their music, pioneering and wanting to invent brand new music instruments, weaving synthesizers and loop machines into their creations.

Magdalena Petrovich electrifies Lampa Sessions with her vibrant blend of cello, loop machine, beatboxing, and diverse sounds. Her performances transcend genres, weaving jazz standards, pop hits, rock anthems, and her original compositions.

Why the name Lampa?

Nikul: The name actually comes from a bit of a two-pronged inspiration, both technical and artistic. In Bulgarian, “lampa” means “lamp,” and that plays a fascinating role in both music and video production. On the technical side, think about those glowing tubes in guitar amps – they’re the Lampas that literally amplify the sound, bringing the music to life. In video production, we have lamps too – stage lights, set lights – they illuminate the scene, set the mood, and focus the attention on the artist. It’s like the lamp acts as a spotlight for creativity, allowing the artist’s talent to truly shine.

Mirian Kolev – E.U.E.R.P.I. is a Bulgarian musician and multidisciplinary artist known for his experimental, electroacoustic, ambient, and improvisational music. His Lampa Sessions set is a mesmerizing, melancholic, and improvised soundtrack, even using the sounds, recorded in abandoned post-urban areas.

Nikul: Lampa Collective goes beyond the technical. We see the “lampa” as a metaphor for the artistic spark that ignites a project. Every artist, every filmmaker, every member of our team brings their own unique perspective, their own background and experience. They’re like individual lamps, each with a different hue, a different story to tell. Lampa Collective is about uniting these diverse “lampas” under one roof. We combine our skills, our creative energies, to tell a story that’s bigger than any one of us. It’s about collaboration, about the beauty that comes when different talents come together. In essence, Lampa Collective is about illuminating the artist’s vision, amplifying their voice, and showcasing their talent through the power of collaboration.

LTNC ignites Lampa Sessions with her infectious blend of improvisation and raw energy –  genres melt away as she seamlessly fuses the rich heritage of Bulgarian folklore with the driving rhythms of electronica and hip-hop, all infused with the infectious energy of rock and pop.

The Lampa Collective team, photography by Yulian Hristov

Your first music influences?

Nikul: I remember myself listening to some radio broadcasts when I was a kid. I still listen to a lot of radio broadcasts. They were playing mainly Blues music back then on that specific radio program. Then I went through different stages of listening to a lot of other stuff. Most of my friends in my teenage years, some of whom I still see, are representing the Bulgarian punk and hardcore scene, so I’ve been attending a lot of punk concerts back then. Meanwhile I got another friend who’s father introduced me to funk and soul music. We used to sit and just listen to records from Motown and also from Blue Note on his hi-fi stereo system for hours. Then I got into some electronic music. The Drum ‘n’ Bass scene was thriving all around the world at that time and in Bulgaria as well. Meanwhile my sister had a satellite dish and was able to catch some world music broadcasts, so she introduced me to a lot of folklore music from all around the globe, especially from Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. I think that now my friends are still my main sources of information about good music. I am lucky to have friends with such a good taste in music and the curiosity to find and share it.

What excites you most about the music scene nowadays?

The sheer audacity of it all! Bulgarian musicians are breaking down walls, fearlessly mixing genres, composing techniques and pushing boundaries. Witnessing a cellist like Magdalena Petrovich play the cello into a genre-bending powerhouse with a loop machine and beatboxing? That’s electric! Or take LTNC – she takes Bulgarian folklore, throws it in a blender with electronica and hip-hop, and emerges with something totally fresh and captivating. It’s not just the music itself, though. There’s this incredible spirit of collaboration. Artists are reaching out across genres, sharing ideas, creating these unique soundscapes. It feels like there’s a real sense of community, of artists supporting each other and pushing each other forward.

As someone who’s spent a lifetime immersed in Bulgarian music, it’s incredibly inspiring. It makes me want to grab my camera and dive even deeper, document this exciting moment in time. Who knows what incredible sounds we’ll hear next? That’s the beauty of it – the Bulgarian music scene is wide open, full of potential, and I can’t wait to see where it goes.

How did you get into filmmaking?

It’s funny, music has always been the soundtrack of my life. From playing the guitar since I was a kid, then in some hardcore and punkrock bands, later trying to play the accordion and trumpet in various music projects, I’ve always been drawn to the power of sound. But growing up in the Bulgarian music scene, it wasn’t just about playing – it was about the sheer talent around me. These incredible musicians inspired me to find a way to capture their energy, their stories. So, I grabbed a camera and dove headfirst into filmmaking.

It started small – music videos and behind the scenes, short videos about local artists. Then it took more and more of my time – live shows, recording sessions, even a full-length music documentary – I’ve been lucky enough to witness some incredible moments. Don’t get me wrong, editing it all together is a rush, but it’s also a humbling reminder of how much there is to learn. This is just the beginning, a chance to keep honing my skills and showcasing the amazing music coming out of Bulgaria. So, yeah, filmmaker by trade, music lover for life!

Check out Lampa Collective’s channel for future audio visual adventures.