MD Network

We want to introduce you to Macedonian musician, Yova!

She grew up in Bogdanci, and her career as a singer started when she went to sing at the first year of the childrens festival “Kalinka” in Gevgelija where she performed the song “Da peeme za mir”.

At the age of 16 she took part in the “Tins Fest” in Prilep where she got the chance to meet and work with Macedonian hitmaker at that time, Tose Pop Simonov and she performed a song called “Ekskurzija”. She was also invited to take part at one of the band's “Zijan” concerts in Negorski Banji.

After finishing high school she went to the United Kingdom, where she got a diploma in popular music performance at the highly acclaimed “Vocaltech”. It was then when she started working on a project with two great songwriters and the album is now nearly finished.

One of her songs “Be happy” has been finding itself on the popular Billboard European quarterly compilation of 2004 and has been the “Record of the day” in March of 2004 on the record of the day website (a website that's launched some of the big names in the industry, such as Damien Rice, Keane & Nizlopi.

She even got a comment on her myspace from a member of the internationally known band “Dire Straits”. Mr. David Knopfler complimented her on her song “Here & gone” saying that it has the potential to become a movie soundtrack. She has had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Knopfler & finding out more about his latest solo releases..

Recently she has been working with top Los Angeles music producer, Ken Rose. And they have even spoken about a collaboration on a song to compete in next year's Macedonian eurovision songcontest! And Macedonia Daily has the privilege to bring out this news first!

Her album will be finished soon and now she is working on the artwork.


Hi Yova! Thank you for having this moment with MD.
We listened to some of your songs on your website and we must say they are really good. Most of the macedonian singers do R&B, HipHop and pop, so we were very delighted to see that there is a Macedonian who makes this style of quality music in english! Your album is coming up, what will it be like?
Thank you for your interest in my music.
I must say with living abroad it’s not always easy to stay in touch with what's going on back home, but I definitely didn't know that the style of music I do is not that present on the Macedonian music scene. Maybe.. we can change that in the future. The material on my album is pretty much acoustic, emotionally intense at times and I can even say it's looking to pull some heart strings.

Your song, "Here and gone" is beautifull and when listening to it we got some special feeling, maybe even emotional. Is that also what you wanted your listeners to feel?
I'm glad you like "Here & Gone", it has had a great response..As well as when performed live it's been greatly received on my "My Space" page too. (www.myspace.com/yovamusic). It is without a doubt a music piece that carries strong emotion and looks to connect with the listener. It has had quite a few comments saying that it would be perfect as a movie soundtrack. Maybe one day it will be :-)

Do you write the lyrics yourself? And are the songs about your personal life?
The material on this album has been co written with two other writers and some of the songs have definitely been influenced from my personal experience.

Which song are you most proud of?
I have to say that all of the songs are dear to me but.... "Growing Pains" seem to be the one I always go back to....Regardless I love them all.

You have been in the UK for a long time now, do you ever visit Macedonia? Just for vacation or do you also perform there?
I've been in the UK for about 8 years now and although I would love to visit Macedonia on regular basis it's not always possible. I try and see my family and friends at least once a year.......
As for performing, I haven't been on stage in Macedonia for a very long time, but I plan that to change in the near future.

Are you doing anything besides singing?
Although a lot of my time is taken by making music, I do Multimedia studies as well, that is Graphics & Animation. It is also a very creative. One can produce great results by combining the work from different programmes.

How does your typicall day looks like?
My days tend to be slightly different every day, but they mainly revolve round my Multimedia studies, making music of course, some part time work in a Music department of a Big Retail Company and going to the gym.

You want to compete in next year's Macedonia national eurovision contest, can you give us some info on what kind of song it will be? Are you also thinking to add folk elements as many previous Macedonian and foreign eurovision participators did?
The idea of entering the national Eurovision contest in Macedonia came about only recently. A friend of mine Ken Rose who is a very respected musician in the business recently suggested that we team up for such a project & it would also be a challenge for both sides. He would be working on something that will be interpreted in a completely different language, where on my part I would have to convey that message in the best way that I can by singing in my home language, and it's definitely been a while since I've had the chance to do that. Although it's still very early stages I will make sure I do my research & who knows maybe even add some folk elements. Whatever happens I'm sure it will be great.


Finally, what do you think of the Macedonia Daily website?
Brilliant idea! And great work on the website. Good design, easy to navigate and above all it does a great job to keep every Macedonian in touch with what is going on in Macedonia wherever they may be.


MD: Thank you Jova very much for this interview, we enjoyed it, and we want to wish you much luck and succes with your music career and of course with your proposal for the Eurovision next year! We hope you will create a great song, so Macedonia can have some real succes at the Eurovision sometime, we really need that!

Thank you very much!
It's been my pleasure! Hope I do everyone proud. :-)

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 3:10 AM | Permalink | Comments

MD Network

Dear Macedonia Daily readers, today we got you a Moment with, “Bitolcanka” , Emilija!

She was elected as Bitola’s, “Najpufla” where she won a trip to Greece and that news even made it to several newspapers!

Hi Emilija! First of all thank you for having this interview and we wish to congratulate you with your title as "Najpufla". But we are all interested in what is the exact definition of "Najpufla"? You already said to Vest newspaper that it's a typical word from Bitola right?
Thank you for showing interest to make an interview with me. I would be delighted to answer your questions. Well, the title "Najpufla" is almost the same as miss, but in Bitola girls willing to get this title have to meet extra criteria in addition to being beautiful and smart. The potential "Najpufla" has to live in the urban city area, to be a stylish girl even on beach and to have good manners.

How did you end up at that contest anyway?
There is no criteria to enter this contest, all girls in
Bitola take part by being monitored by a jury that consists of three members secretly chosen by the organizer Goran Begovski -Begoto, the owner of the club "FX" where the event took place. That night together with my friends I was in "FX".The place was full of potential "Najpufla" girls. When the
announcement moment came, I was surprised and happy to hear my name. I was immediately taken to the stage and was given the rewards provided by the organizer and the sponsors.

What were the rewards?
A trip to Greece and gift certificates (vouchers) from a restaurant, a boutique, a hair salon and a cosmetic studio.

Do you have any modelling experience?
Well, not really but I have acted as a statist in Spielberg's "Peacemaker" and "Dust" by Milcho Mancevski, and have also appeared in couple of TV commercials.

Wow those are some big movies, That’s really cool! Do you also consider to go further in acting?
Why not,if there is some good offer ,I'll be glad to accept it ,because according to the oppinion of the responsible persones from the previous movies I was quite good in acting and fullfilment of the given tasks.


What do you do in your daily life?
I am a student of Economics in Skopje, department marketing .I also participate in public opinion research projects as a marketing agent and I am a distributor of beauty products. In my spare time I enjoy going out with my friends, dancing, riding rollerblades, playing tennis, listening to music and shopping.

Finally, what do you think of the Macedonia Daily website?
I heard about the Macedonia Daily website couple of months ago and since then I have been reading it. The website is very modern, well designed with many fresh information, interesting for Macedonians around the world. Greetings to all of them!

MD: Thank you Emilija very much! We want to wish you much luck in your career and a great time in Greece!

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 5:10 AM | Permalink | Comments

MD Network

We want to introduce you to Macedonian musician, Marga Sotirovska!

It all started when she was 5 years old after getting a Yamaha Synthesizer, which she calls the Greatest present in the world. At 13 years old she began taking private piano music lessons. Soon she discovered that her main interest was the technology of making music, so she started investing in her own music studio and in gathering as much knowledge as she could about composing and producing.
She received a diploma in music production, mastering engineering and recording from “Enterprise”, one of the biggest music studios in Macedonia. Over the next two years she became the assistant to Valentino Skenderovski, the owner of the “Enterprise" music school and studio. There she has worked on many projects, composing, recording and mixing music for various singers and bands but also for commercials and television.

For example, she made the music for the television show, "Look Models 2005" and maybe you have heared her songs being played while heading for Macedonia when she made her third album "Lounge Music by Marga" sponsored by Austrian Airlines intended for Radio broadcasting, cafe bars and restaurants.

Marga has been finding herself on several Macedonian top music charts and represented Macedonia at the international music industry symposium, the "MIDEM" festival in Cannes. She just released her new album "Beat of the old Bazar" in December 2006, by Oasis Productions, Canada.
Now, Marga is busy with her new album in her own studio, which will be released this year and she works on some projects with Macedonian vocalists for their albums.

Hi Marga! Thank you for having this moment with MD.
You started very young with making music, is that also what you've always wanted to work? Or did you saw it rather as a hobby?
Music was and still is my biggest love. I do music as I breath, eat and sleep everyday of my life. If you ask anybody who knows me, about who is Marga, they will answer anything that’s connected with music! I wander sometimes, does the music make Me, or I make the Music?!

You got the synthesizer at age 5, were your parents or other family members also musicians?
Not really! My family is very addicted to music, but they are not musicians. I have more than 1000 cd’s at home, so I was growing up together with the sound of Mike Oldfield, Enya, Lorena McKennet, Jean Michel Jear, Enigma, Diana Krall, est.….
They only thought that this synthesizer would be very interesting toy for a small kid. But it happened to be Her life story!

You just released your new album, and your new one is coming up this year, do you also perform your music abroad? Holding concerts at festivals, nightclubs or at diaspora events?
I do my music mostly electronically, in studio. For now, my promotion is through selling my album digitally, by internet music sites, music review magazines and Cd stores worldwide.
I have had an experience working as a Dj a year/two, but only here, in Macedonia. My music career is going to tell me, where would be my next music performance abroad!

In what ways did your life change after your music got picked up?
I generally became happier and more fulfilled!
Mainly, I have more contacts with many musicians and producers around the world, many offers for music collaboration, offers from music companies for digital distribution and promotion of my tracks worldwide… I am also more interesting here in Macedonia and I am starting to work with our vocal artists on music projects.
Hey, I was very very happy when I got a call that I am going to sign a 5 year agreement with the Canadian Music production! I felt like big doors are opening them self’s in front of me and bright light said to me: “Marga, it’s your turn now! Go ahead!” And I am going and going…

Are you doing anything besides making music?
Yes, I work as a graphic designer in one design studio here in Skopje. I also do photography and make up – I enjoy in making people more beautiful as they are! Everything is spinning around The Aesthetics – the key word about anything!

How does your typicall day look like?
I get up around 9.00 am, go to work until 5.00-6.00 pm and do some designs. Then I go back home, take a deep breath to relax and I sit on my computer right away! I am doing some track, listening to music or chatting with my music friends by Myspace IM, Skype or something. Most nights I go out with my everyday friends, but If I have started some new track before, I don’t get out from my studio until tomorrow. I must finish my idea that’s flowing in my head those moments. I can not permit that momentary sound to disappear! I make the music the way I am listening it that moment!

From what or from where are you being inspired for your songs and compositions?
From my everyday life. My songs are my diary. If anyone understands my music, than he understands me! I listen the life and I speak only through my music!

What is your favourite work you have created in your life?
My last album I guess! I did it by my self, so I am very proud! I only sent a Cd with three tracks, and they sent me an agreement! It was so surprisingly strange and fast, but true!
If we talk about my tracks? I don’t have favourite track. I love all of my children in a same way!

Finally, what do you think of the Macedonia Daily website?
Best Regards to your website and the idea for making it. Great way to connect all Macedonians around the world and inform them about anything interesting and important about their nation and country.
I often become very emotionate when I read all those stories, brief news and information you release, no matter I am living in Macedonia.
Greetings to all Macedonians around the world!!!

MD: Thank you Marga very much for this interview, we certainly enjoyed it, and we want to wish you much luck and succes with your musical career. If you have some news, let MD know!

[Click here to preview and buy her album!]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 1:15 AM | Permalink | Comments