Azis

This article is about the Bulgarian musician. For other uses, see Azis (disambiguation).

In this Bulgarian name, the patronymic is Troyanov and the family name is Boyanov.
Azis
Азис
Background information
Birth nameVasil Troyanov Boyanov
Also known asAzis
Born (1978-03-07) 7 March 1978 (age 46)[1][2]
Sliven, Bulgaria[2]
GenresChalga, pop-folk
Occupation(s)Singer, musician, writer, activist, television show host
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1999–present

Vasil Troyanov Boyanov (Bulgarian: Васил Троянов Боянов; born 7 March 1978), professionally known as Azis (Bulgarian: Азис), is a Bulgarian recording artist of Romani ethnicity.[3][4] Azis initially rose to prominence in Eastern Europe performing songs mostly in chalga, a genre which can be described as the Bulgarian rendition of pop-folk. Azis has collaborated with other Bulgarian pop-folk singers, such as Gloria, Malina, Sofi Marinova, Toni Storaro, and with Bulgarian rap artists – Ustata and Vanko 1.[5][6] Other than that, his repertoire includes duets with singers from the former Yugoslavia, including Indira Radić, Marta Savić, Jelena Karleuša, Severina and Tea Tairović.

Boyanov performed "Let Me Cry" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with Mariana Popova, staying in the semi-finals.[7][8]

Other than his acclaimed career as a vocalist, he competed unsuccessfully in the 2005 Bulgarian parliamentary election as a member of the Euroroma party.[9]

Azis remains a prominent figure in the Bulgarian music scene.

  1. ^ "Профилът на Азис" [Azis Profile]. Slava.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b Silverman, Carol (24 May 2012). Romani Routes: Cultural Politics and Balkan Music in Diaspora. Oxford University Press. p. 189. ISBN 9780195300949. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  3. ^ Samson, J. (2013). Music in the Balkans. BRILL. p. 610. ISBN 9789004250383. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  4. ^ Kenrick, D. (2010). The A to Z of the Gypsies (Romanies). Scarecrow Press. p. 35. ISBN 9781461672272. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  5. ^ Haj-Najafa, D. (12 May 2009). "Kitsch of the Day, Azis i Ustata's 'Tochno Sega'". The New York Times. Men's Fashion blog. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  6. ^ Watkins, R.; Deliso, C. (2008). Bulgaria. Lonely Planet. p. 52. ISBN 9781741044744. Retrieved 1 January 2014 – via Internet Archive. azis bulgaria.
  7. ^ Taras, R (2008). Europe Old and New: Transnationalism, Belonging, Xenophobia. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 200. ISBN 9780742557345. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  8. ^ Fricker, K; Gluhovic, M, eds. (2013). Performing the 'New' Europe: Identities, Feelings and Politics in the Eurovision Song Contest. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137367976. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  9. ^ Imre, A (2009). Identity Games: Globalization and the Transformation of Media Cultures in the New Europe. MIT Press. p. 125. ISBN 9780262090452. Retrieved 1 January 2014.