Q&A: Ruth Koleva and the Courage of “Moving On”

Q&AMusic

Jul 27

☆ BY MELANIE GUIL ☆

FOR SINGER-SONGWRITER RUTH KOLEVA, REINVENTION IS A WAY OF LIFE — and she’s definitely not afraid of starting over. When the financial crisis in her natal Bulgaria struck, Koleva left the country alongside her father, an Olympic weightlifting champion, in search for better opportunities. Separated from her mother and twin brother, the young Koleva turned to music for comfort, finding in it a way of coping with her rollercoaster of emotions.

Growing up in places such as India, Thailand, and Bahrein exposed her to different cultures and experiences, shaping the strong, fiery personality that shines through her art today. Koleva’s music is as diverse as her upbringing, with a catalog composed of an amalgam of genres ranging from pop and soul to house, R&B, and jazz. But behind the vibrant and glamorous sonic atmospheres lie powerful lyrics. Koleva has a lot to say, and through her expressive vocals she makes sure we hear it loud and clear. Also an activist, her work serves as a bridge between music and the causes she cares about, covering themes like LGBTQ+ rights, female empowerment, body positivity, domestic violence, and mental illness.

After her previous singles, “Beyond Borders,” “Wassup,” and “Kiss My Attitude,” Koleva is now making us dance with her glamorous summer anthem “Moving On,” released on June 17. With her hypnotizing voice and backed by a playful beat, Koleva captures all the messy feelings that come with the end of a relationship. A raw portrait of heartbreak, but not without a silver lining, as she shows us once again that she has the courage to leave the past behind and start anew.

Read below as she talks to Luna about the story behind the track, the impact of the pandemic, and her future projects.

LUNA: Congrats on the release of "Moving On"! How are you feeling about this new chapter of music?

KOLEVA: I feel like after two years of solitude and COVID restrictions we are back to a form of normalcy but with a new view of life, music, and connection. And this song is that new chapter of continuation for me.

LUNA: I absolutely love the music video for this one — what was it like working with Martin Bisserov, and what role did you have in the creative process of it all?

KOLEVA: I met Martin a couple of years back, but recently we became great friends. He's a young director based in Sofia with a very exciting process and vision. We filmed the video in a guerilla-type manner, just having fun and being wild. I felt refreshed and recharged in the process, and it's always great to collaborate with young talent.

LUNA: Lyrically, the track gets emotional and deep pretty quick while keeping a lighthearted, fun beat. Can you share some insight as to the meaning of the track?

KOLEVA: That's how I usually am in life. I try to overcome the dark moments with humor and ease. The song is written by my great friend Rachel Row, with whom I've been working with for over 13 years, knows me quite well, and always seems to write songs as prophecies for my life. In this case, I went through a very difficult time, and it's a personal anthem for the new beginning and closing up what's toxic in the past.

LUNA: Sonically, what are some of your favorite elements you got to explore in this track?

KOLEVA: I love how this track came along with the pop elements and synths. I do enjoy the acoustic version, which came out last week.

LUNA: How have you seen your creative process evolve over the years?

KOLEVA: Everything became more natural and stress-free. I am not aiming at anything, pretty much, other than expressing truthfulness and real emotions. I stay away from trends; rather [I] try to stay true to myself. I am a kid from the ’90s–’00s so much of my influences are rooted in that era.

LUNA: Lockdown may have impacted your timeline and process for new music but you seem to be hitting the ground running now that things are opening up. What did you miss most about sharing music with your fans?

KOLEVA: When the pandemic happened, I was in shock for a few weeks since I had shows scheduled until mid 2021. Everything fell off and I had to restructure my whole life. The thing I missed the most was traveling and touring. Thankfully things are back, and now we know to appreciate every moment of it since we got a taste of what it is to lose it.

LUNA: A fun one: What color do you most associate with your music?

KOLEVA: Purple.

LUNA: With "Moving On" out, what can we expect from you in the coming months?

KOLEVA: I am preparing a new single in September and have a full album ready for release in the fall. Watch out!

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We couldn’t be more stoked to have Suriel Hess as our new headliner for our upcoming LA show 🤩 🫶 Not gonna lie, us & Notorious Noise kinda went OFF with this line up & you’re not gonna wanna miss it - ticket link in bio 🎫