Trio Bulgarka (also known as ‘Three Golden Coins’, previously known as ‘Bulgarka Folk Trio’) is a Bulgarian vocal ensemble, consisting of Stoyanka Boneva, Yanka Rupkina and Eva Georgieva. Their diversity of regional backgrounds – they came from three different Bulgarian regions – enabled them to create a unique sound to their music. They signed to record labels Bulgaria Balkanton and Hannibal in 1987. In 1988 their debut album ‘The Forest Is Crying’ was released.
Kate Bush apparently heard this album – and its predecessor ‘Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares’, which the Trio contributed to and which was released in the UK in 1986 – and wanted to use the trio on recordings for her 1989 album The Sensual World. They sang on three tracks: Deeper Understanding, Never Be Mine and Rocket’s Tail. In 1993, they also appeared on the songs The Song Of Solomon, Why Should I Love You and You’re The One on the album The Red Shoes.
The trio have since concentrated on solo projects but often reform for concert appearances.
Trio Bulgarka about Kate Bush
Kate Bush is a wonderful person and singer, and highly professional. She is a good musician, and has a very good attitude towards others. She’s modest, you know with a very big heart. Her singing has warmth to it. We had to record the vocals in about two days. It was hard work, and we improvised Bulgarian harmonies onto her music. It was not an easy job grafting those harmonies onto other types of music. It was interesting to work in the sphere of pop music, it’s another genre, and every professional singer has to take risks and try new things – has to work to enrich himself, not only in the field of music but in other things…
Option Magazine (USA), March/April 1989
Kate about the Trio Bulgarka
Suddenly, there I was working with these three ladies from a completely different culture. I’ve never worked with women on such an intense creative level, and it was something strange to feel this very strong female energy in the studio. It was interesting to see the way the men in the studio reacted to this. Instead of just one female, there was a very strong female presence.
Terry Atkinson, The Baffling, Alluring World of Kate Bush, Los Angeles Times, 28 January 1990
