A conversation with Elitsa Naumova about music, fine arts and photography.

Elitsa Naumova was born in Troyan in 1992. One of the semi-finalists in the first season of the music format "The Voice of Bulgaria". She has a number of awards in the field of music, as well as independent author's pieces. She is mainly engaged in music, but at the same time, fine arts have become her passion and "a complement to the artist's creative expression". There is music and life in her paintings. As she says: "This inspiration leads me and so I know when and how to start, when and how to end and complete them. For me, music and painting are connected and carry spirit within themselves. Like any talent given by the Creator - God Himself, because it is a blessing to create, it is a blessing to rediscover..."

Art is an inseparable part of you. But let's start with music, which, if I'm not mistaken, has accompanied you in life for the longest time. Tell us how it all started? What prompted you to want to express yourself in the world through music?

I started singing in kindergarten. I went on stage for the first time when I was six years old. I guess every child emotionally takes their first steps in art or any endeavor. I was a child, but deep down I knew that this would be my thing. When it's your thing, you definitely feel it more specifically (no matter how old you are), because it's like finding your calling. The calling is embedded in a person. And I believe that each of us has one.

You participated and were among the semi-finalists in the first season of the music format "The Voice of Bulgaria". Did this change you as a performer? What did it give you and/or what did it take away from you?

I found wonderful friends in "The Voice of Bulgaria"! Since then, I have also started to look at music more creatively, namely to write and create more boldly. My meeting with the team of "7/8" seemed to me not to be accidental, because it brought me influence, transferred me to another journey of my life, introduced me to an audience that I did not know, but which encouraged me to create. And I can only be grateful for all of this.

In your opinion, are the many music formats that are gaining increasing popularity beneficial for a young musical talent?

The point of popularity is mainly to bring positive impact/influence, example and emotion (in my opinion). However, this is a bit difficult if a person has not yet discovered themselves and is not aware of their essence. I was not either, but this whole experience brought me closeness, the kind that confronts you with yourself, getting to know and getting to know yourself. Now I believe, after some time, that all this is for the better. And I can only say: it's good that change exists!

On the other hand, the meaning of popularity should not be an end in itself. And in this direction, I think it is good to build ourselves. Subsequently, the test of time will determine everything, namely whether you were ready for certain things or not. This, in the end, will also show how far you will go. The only goal of all this is to grow in our calling and the opportunity to serve it best and most effectively (whether it be with music or with something else in our lives). The benefit is determined by the attitude of the heart. This is what I would say in conclusion to all this.

About Bulgarian music and the times we live in right now – I can say the following: We need more light, strength and encouragement – ​​both in the lyrics and in the music itself. It is often dark in our country, due to all sorts of problems – related to politics, poverty, deprivation. That is why music, which needs to influence, should be more light, saturated with meaning and words of life in itself. At least that is how I feel about things. And I also know that music can heal.

I myself strive for spiritual growth, so that I can offer such music one day – and more of it (I really hope). Things come and happen from within, to be brought out, I think it is good to see what we carry inside ourselves, in order to grow spiritually, because it is not good to live in spiritual darkness. We need to seek the truth, to know our faith, to see who we really are and what we were created to influence. In this sense, I love and always recommend the book of books, namely the word of God – the Bible. I have been studying it for three years and I can say that it is life-changing!

The center is not simply to exist in the pursuit of fame and money, which is the direction of the social devaluation of values ​​today. There is something more important, namely personal responsibility and conscience, personal choice and free will, which God has given us. Our body is a temporary tent on this earth (and I am aware of this for myself), so it is good to make good decisions about what we will harness it to work for, what we will harness our will for. Sometimes all this is not easy, but no one promised that it would be easy. I answer your question without reproaches, but with the awareness that I think is necessary, taking into account that I am also learning. I hope this is enough. I will give you one more verse to end here:
"Above all else, guard your heart, for from it are the issues of life."

Now I want to ask you about another passion of yours, namely fine art. How did you discover it? You have told me that it appeared in your life at a difficult moment and became an existential island in the then open sea, if I may use such a metaphor…

Your metaphor is wonderful! I really started painting when I was in the hospital with my father. Because he got sick and at one point we were in different hospitals for weeks. One morning I just woke up and strange ideas seemed to be planted in my mind. I felt the urge to go immediately and buy brushes, canvases, paints – so I did. Something like this had never happened to me before. My first paintings were painted in the hospital. I believe strongly in God! I know that he is the one who can give and expand a person’s gifts. I have no logical explanation for what happened, and I am not looking for one.