site.btaStefan Valdobrev, The Usual Suspects Record Song in Community Centre in Kovachevitsa Village

Stefan Valdobrev and the Usual Suspects recorded their new song at the community centre in the village of Kovachevitsa near Blagoevgrad on Tuesday. The recording was part of the Acoustics of Bulgaria project, during which the band is collecting sounds and inspiration from various iconic places in the country to prepare its upcoming album.

The musicians chose this place because of its exceptional acoustics, which Valdobrev described as a hidden treasure of Bulgaria. "The idea for the project originated about eight years ago, during my travels around the country," Valdobrev told BTA. “Traveling around Bulgaria, I came across many inspiring places where you feel different energy and harmony. The Gotse Delchev Municipality, and especially the villages of Kovachevitsa and Leshten, have always had a very strong impact on me. That’s why it was impossible not to include these villages in the project,” Valdobrev pointed out.

He emphasized that Kovachevitsa surprised him with its acoustic capabilities. "We came across the community centre, which turned out to be a wonderful place to record. More than 25 years ago, I shot a film here, but back then I didn't think about acoustics. Now, when the community centre management and the mayor opened the building to us, we were all impressed. We immediately felt the incredible reverberation," Valdobrev recalled, adding that in large symphony halls around the world, good reverberation is measured at over 2.5 seconds, while in Kovachevitsa it is about 2 seconds, which is an exceptional indicator.

"We have recorded film music in halls with reverberation over 2.5 to 3 seconds. Here the effect is very close, and the atmosphere is unique. We also found a wonderful grand piano, on which our colleague Veselin Veselinov-Eko recorded an improvised piece. This was not planned, but that is precisely the charm of the project, the improvisation and inspiration from the place," Valdobrev noted.

Regarding the song, Valdobrev said: "This is not a love song, but a song of gratitude. It very much corresponds to the spirit of this southern place and the warm people here. The recordings take place in a combination of pre-planned and spontaneous moments. The musicians use not only traditional instruments, but also sounds from the environment, such as ​​stones, wood, noises that are woven into the musical fabric. We do not strive for the sterile environment of a recording studio. Every noise, every natural vibration is part of the soundscape of the place. When someone listens with headphones, they can even hear a stone hitting a tree, this is the living acoustics of Bulgaria".

After Kovachevitsa, the team will continue to Gotse Delchev, where they will record in the building of the Nevrokop Holy Metropolis, which Valdobrev described as an architectural wonder with exceptional acoustics.

BTA is the project’s main media partner.