Desi Slava

Biography

Desislava Ivanova Doneva (Bulgarian: Десислава Иванова Донева; born 7 March 1979), known by her stage names Desi Slava (Bulgarian: Деси Слава) or DESS, is a Bulgarian singer-songwriter and producer.

Personal life

She has been in a relationship with the Bulgarian boxer Blagoy Naydenov since 2016. They have one son, born in 2017. Desi Slava has a son (born 2000) from a previous relationship.

Career

Doneva's first stage appearances began at an early age, when she would win awards at festivals for children. When she was 18 years old Payner offered her a contract and she released her first studio album Нямам проблеми×Нямам проблеми6 November 1998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Нямам проблеми4:082Да, да, да3:453Покорителка5:204Заклевам те4:455Една нощ3:366Мъжки номера3:367Танц на любовта3:298Синя птица3:409Приятелки4:3010Обади се2:5411Любов на сън3:15 (I Got No Problems), in which she wrote/co-wrote five of the 11 songs. The following year she released her second studio album Ези-Тура×Ези-тура18 February 2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Мъжете всичко искат3:432Ези-тура3:553Дяволска магия3:404Обичам те4:085Без криле3:206Не идвай4:287Ела4:278Пустоно лудо и младо4:199Върни радоста ми2:5810До тук3:4311Горещи страсти4:1112Невъзможна среща3:3713Палаво момиче2:4514You're the Love3:27 (Heads or Tails), which gained critical acclaim. Her third studio album Завинаги×Завинаги15 March 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Завинаги4:002Жадни за любов4:063Страсти3:464Само тогава3:205Ти ще бъдеш4:016Бели нощи (ремикс)5:217Следи от сълзи3:508Тъжно сърце4:189Сестра брата кани4:11 (Forever) was released in 2003 and produced the hit-single Beli Noshti (White nights). In 2002 Doneva released Мистерия (Mystery).
In 2003 she left Payner, citing she felt limited in her musical and creative freedom by the company. In early 2004, she founded her own company New Music Stars, and released Любовта е само чувство (Love is just a feeling) and two albums The Best of Desi Slava and the duet album Together with Azis. In 2005, she released Гореща следа (A Hot mark).
In 2006, she released the album Сладки сънища×Сладки сънища5 December 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Не е илюзия3:242Подкожно3:263Кажи ми4:334Лудост е3:265No Soy Tal Mujer3:256Някой ден4:127Схемата3:288От утре4:269Сладки сънища3:4810Невъзможно е да спрем3:1411Замълчи3:5212I'll Pray3:50 (Sweet dreams).
In 2007, Doneva appeared on the cover of FHM Bulgaria magazine, and took part in Big Brother VIP edition. She toured with The Comedians on a national tour. Doneva was the first star to be invited to MAD SECRET CONCERT, where she performed cover songs of Sade, Lenny Kravitz, Christina Aguilera and Michael Jackson among others.
In 2007, Doneva released an unofficial Spanish-language album Estoy aqui×Estoy Aqui2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Te Juro2Escuchame3Esto Es El Amor ft Magdalena Sanchez4Bailando5Se Hace Tarde ft Alfredo Torres6Ficcion7Le Gusta Ami Corazyn8Por El Vino9Bailar Sin Final10Te Quedas11Es Mi Amor12Dimme Por Que. Before the album was finished, it mysteriously leaked on the internet, leading her to make a decision not to release it. However, some of the songs became internet hits.
In 2009, the album Послушай сърцето си×Послушай сърцето си8 June 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Слушам сърцето си2Катастрофа3Не можем без тях4Не издържам5Два магнита6Една лъжа7За първи път8Не спирай9Черен сняг10Най-добрия11Регетон и малко чалга12Само приятели13Любимата ми грешка14Черен сняг /Remix/ (Listen to your heart) was released. In the same year, single "Agapi Mou" (Loving you) (DesiSlava ft. Kostas Martakis) – dance-pop duet, created by "Symphonics" and produced by Desislava. In Greece, the song was released in the album of Kostas Pio konta, published by Universal Music Greece.
Between 2009 and 2010, Doneva produced two young talents – Dzhemile and Nadia.
In 2011, the single Калино моме (Boy George, Marc Vedo ft. DesiSlava) and an experimental album Slavatronica was released. She also started cooperation with Romanian team, resulting in I like a summer hit, taking all first places in pop charts. This provided DESS with recognition by her colleagues from the pop industry. Consequently, she change her name for dance projects to DESS.
In 2012, the song through which Desislava appeared on the Bulgarian Eurovision was released. In the semi-final, Dess was selected as number 1 by a jury and audience. At the final, she came second with the song Love is alive. In the same year, she and Toni Storaro presented a duet искам без теб (I do not want without you). She also released her second single "Only one" under the pseudonym Dess after which she became the only singer nominated for pop folk awards, Nov folk, and pop awards, BG Radio. In the same year, she released her first duet song "It ain't over×It Ain't Over4 October 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1It Ain't Over2:24" with Alek Sandar.
In 2013 her song Baby was the anthem of Sofia Pride 2013. In the same year, Desislava went to Tirana, Albania to meet composer Alfred Sula. She bought a song from him – Play it again (Bulgarian: Пусни го пак). On her birthday she released her new song Усещам (I feel).
In the same year, Alek Sandar's song with her "You and me". There is a Bulgarian version called Az I ti.
In 2014, Desislava released Моето зайче (My bunny). She was chosen to be a coach in the third season of the reality talent show The Voice of Bulgaria on bTV. The winner of the show was Kristina Ivanova, was a singer in her team. In the same year, she released her duet featuring German rapper Nana Cotton Candy. Also in 2014, Desi Slava signed a contract with Payner and appeared at "13 years Planeta TV".
In 2015, she released her first song after returning to Payner, Не го прави (Don't do it). In the same year, she released В твоите очи (In your eyes), featuring Galena. On 11 June, 25 years of Payner, together with Galena, Preslava, Emilia, Anelia, and Tsvetelina Yaneva, present a new version of Лале ли си, зюмбюл ли си (You Are a Tulip, You are a Zymboul). A month later a video of the Dobrudja folk song was released. In the summer, the singer presents the song Започваме на чисто (We begin clean). At the beginning of September, the singer appeared in Konstantin's song От утре ще е друго (Tomorrow will be another).
In the beginning of 2016, she released В друг живот (In Another life. In the autumn of 2016 she released И на всички като тебе (And to everyone like you). At the end of the year, Desi Slava presented the ballad И това ще преживея (And I'll survive).
In 2017, the singer participated in the fifth season of the Imitation Show Като две капки вода, where she reached the finals and finished second.
In 2023 she appeared on Your face sounds familiar for every child in aid of UNICEF.

International performances

In 2007 Desislava was the first Bulgarian singer to perform at London's Soho Revue in a show titled "Cabaret Desislava". Desislava was the first Bulgarian singer to appear at the MAD Video Music Awards in 2008, alongside Kostas Martakis. In 2010, when Turkish pop star Mustafa Sandal was in Bulgaria, he invited Desislava join him in his concert. Also in 2010 Desislava was the only Bulgarian pop folk singer invited to sing with Ruse Philharmonic Orchestra and Burgas’ Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2012 Desislava was the only performer from Bulgaria to sing at the Balkan Awards' Media Music Awards.

TV and film

2005: “Лъжа” (Lie) appeared on the soundtrack of Bulgarian film "Lady Z"
2007/2009: Desislava was the commercial face of the world's largest internet bookmaker Sportingbet. When she signed a contract the company's website was blocked for a short period because of a poker game with her, which caused unprecedented interest.
2008: She appeared in reality TV show "Let’s Duet"
2010: French television channel M6 made a documentary about "pop folk" including a large section about Desislava
2010: Desislava launched her own independent music TV channel, DSTV, giving new Bulgarian artists the opportunity to show their music. She sold it in June 2011, in order to focus more on her music career.
2011: Desislava took part in the Bulgarian sound of 3D "Rio" for 20th Century Fox.
2011: Desislava had a role in the film "Small – Large", directed by Yassen Grigorov, in partnership with the photographer Temelko Temelkov. The film was awarded a "Golden Rose".
2012: She had a role in the TV series "Столичани в повече”
2015: She won Big Brother All Stars