Interview: Ivo Dimchev on his upcoming gig at Zigfrid von Underbelly
We caught up with Bulgarian art-pop star and choreographer Ivo Dimchev ahead of his gig at Zigfrid von Underbelly.
Photo credit (for photos above): Diliana Florentin, 12 magazine
Ivo Dimchev Live In London | Sunday 17 December | 7-10pm | £13.50
Tell us about your album ‘Sculptures’ and how it came about.
Some of the tracks in Sculptures are songs I have written through the years for different shows of mine. Others are songs I wrote in the last 2 years. For a while I was only doing my songs with acoustic arrangements and that’s how was born my previous album Songs from my Shows. But I was convinced that if I collaborate with interesting producers I can show another more contemporary perspective to those lyrics and those melodies.
Many people were telling me that the acoustic versions are beautiful enough so I should not worry at all, but thank God I didn’t listen. So I invited Kan Wakan from Los Angeles and Sash&Blazs from Sofia and they gave to my songs this new touch and Im very happy cos the songs obviously feel quite comfortable in both ways.
The name Sculptures is the name of one of the songs in the album. I chose it for a title because I think that its very cool to look at songs as 3 dimensional structures, as something that has a physical form, something you can touch and see. For me music is very much related to space, especially while I’m singing. So for me it totally makes sense to call those music pieces Sculptures.
What an audience can expect to experience at your upcoming gig?
Usually I experience very strong emotional connection with my audience and this sensation goes in both directions. Most of the songs are kind of sad in a very kind but intense way. Many people cry during my concerts then they tell me that this crying is not really a negative experience. I think its more related to cleaning your heart. My concert is kind of an emotional dishwasher. If you have some dirty dishes in your heart, come and listen and I will take care them.
Who or what inspires you to make music?
When I sit on the piano or my little keyboard and I start to write a song, my voice automatically connects with the cords under my fingers and the harmonies born of that game are direct reflections of hidden, buried or forbidden emotions.
Bringing them out is healing to me. Some of my songs have often helped me to accept and forgive myself and other people.
What are your favourite London haunts? (to eat, to party, to relax, to be entertained)
I love to go to Tate Modern, I like the second hand shops, I like the saunas. The truth is that I am very new in the town so I suppose more and more amazing discoveries are yet to come.
What would be your message for Londoners in 2018?
We all should stay strong and persistent in nourishing reality with as much beauty and love as possible.
Fear fades away only in the presence of love and humility. And love is not about feelings, its about intention.
I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.
Ivo Is just a marvelous person!