We were approached by Tonia Manolova to publish the interview she had done with Stoian Kaev from the band Fin Bulgaria.
Here is the interview in full. Enjoy!!
What does the name of your metal band mean?
Fin in French means end, end. In English it is also an end, but in the sense of a locality, a geographical area. I wanted the name to be related to our country, especially since there are only three thrash metal bands in Bulgaria and we are one of them. We started two years ago, and before that I had another band “Enemi BG”. We did rap metal with her. We also released a seven-track album called “Made in Bulgaria”. After disagreements in the band, I decided to try to make music myself.
The texts are mainly socially oriented, what are the messages in them and who is their author?
I write my own lyrics for the songs. Yes, they are socially oriented, we aim to provoke the listener’s attention, to direct him to the current problems of Bulgarian everyday life – crime, addiction and current issues. In some of the songs we make fun of pop folk and the theme becomes anti-chalga. This is music that, to put it mildly, I don’t like. We present everything in a lighter way, adding less flirtation and humor. Classic thrash metal sounds more aggressive and rude, often the lyrics are extremely focused. In my songs the sound is more accessible. We make a compilation between the old and the new school in this genre.
The name speaks of room pain, is there a specific reason?
To have. Apparently that’s how I felt then. My friend dumped me and I admit that it was not a pleasant experience. Like everyone else, I suffered. But then I recorded the album “Aggression”. Apparently there was something good in the negative emotion, because this project is my most downloaded album. Otherwise, the “scar” of parting with my then boyfriend is still on my arm in the form of a tattoo.
Do you have a girlfriend now?
No, I do not have a serious relationship. There is no time left for that. I have many commitments, I actively participate in the business of my family, which is engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. I also make music, and it engulfs me completely. I also have an idea this year to try to make wine with my own brand, which should bear my name – Stoyan Kaev. I continue my education, now I am a third year student, majoring in pedagogy.
Where did your interest come from, is there a musician in your family?
Yes, my father Todor Kaev. He had his own rock band when he was young, played guitar and was a vocalist. They had a tour at sea, but the man who was their manager didn’t pay them, and so the band disbanded. I have been involved in music since I was a student, when I started, I was 16 years old.
How did you start?
My first band was “Dead Excitement”, the group belonged to some friends. Then I did “Snek” with a boy from another company. However, the band disbanded and I stopped making music. When I graduated from high school, a friend of mine wanted to hear recordings of his songs. He offered me a try, and I created the song “Beach,” followed by “Seven Years of Suffering, Seven Years of Sorrow.”
You mentioned a separation tattoo, what is it?
A star with barbed wire. I chose this sign because the feelings are as bright as the stars, but love also has thorns, so the two symbols intertwine.
Are tattoos a mandatory attribute for metalheads?
I would not say that they are mandatory, rather it is a matter of taste. I like tattoos since I was a child. I made my first in ninth grade, she portrays the son of the devil. But I’m not a Satanist. On the contrary, I was brought up in the Christian tradition and I am a believer, I even go to church. I just like the unusual and spectacular tattoos. That’s why I have a cobweb and a feather on my other hand. The cobweb symbolizes prison. I hope I never get there. I also have two bats because I really like Batman movies.
Why did you choose this style, which is very specific and somewhat aggressive? Translated from English thrash means “hit, tap, beat”.
“Because I think that’s life itself.” Life is not just daisies, champagne and tears. Being is raw, just like this music. There’s something very interesting about it, and that is that it sounds like it’s being performed on the street, when in fact the recordings are made in a studio. This achieves the authenticity of the performance combined with high sound quality.
Where do you record your songs?
I have my own studio, which is located in my house. We make the recordings there. It is equipped according to all the rules, I claim that I did it professionally.
Who are your favorite artists?
My favorites are American thrash metal bands. These are “Proxy”, “Megadet”, “Havoc”, “Sepultura”, “Cavalera Conspiracy”. They make good music and are not as commercial as Metallica.
Are you against the commercial?
Yes, definitely.
What is your wish?
To be on the big thrash metal stage.
Published with kind permission from Tonia Manolova