Ruth Koleva at Blue Note Beijing

About

Think promising new musicians, and Bulgaria may not be the first place that springs to mind. Yet the country’s deep traditions and long history have fed many a creative soul, and Ruth Koleva is definitely leading the current pack. Born into the hardship of post-Communist Eastern Europe, Koleva steadily worked to hone her raw musical gifts, developing into a genre-defying powerhouse artist, effortlessly channeling soul, jazz, R&B and indie-pop influences. Early in her career, she showcased her unique style in gigs at local venues and did a brief stint at the Hollywood Pop Academy. Her debut album RUTH scooped the top prize at the Bulgarian Radio Awards in 2014, with hit-making producer Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga) declaring it “amazing”.