Strascha is a Bulgarian singer-songwriter and producer whose music lives somewhere between alt-pop, hyperpop, R&B and electronic music. Inspired by the idea that difficult emotions can be transformed into something meaningful, she creates songs that are both emotionally vulnerable and unapologetically playful. The name, Strascha, comes from the Bulgarian word, “strah” (“fear”), reflecting her belief that fear isn’t something to suppress, but something to create from. Whether she’s making high-energy pop records or writing introspective lyrics, Strascha approaches music as both emotional release and self-exploration, blending humor, honesty and experimentation into every release.
With “bush” out now, we took some time to hear from Strascha. Read below to learn more about Strascha, the story behind “bush,” and what’s to come.
Stream “bush”: https://open.spotify.com/track/3gAVvvzXpMhWeIPBOGnNrn
Hi Strascha! Let’s start with how did you choose your artist name?
The name comes from the Bulgarian word “strah,” which means “fear.” I always found it fascinating that the emotions we usually try to avoid are often the ones that have the most creative potential. I wanted a name that reminds me why I make music in the first place. I make music to take fear, sadness, insecurity, anger, whatever I’m feeling, and turn it into something fun, beautiful or empowering. “Strascha” is basically my way of making friends with fear instead of running away from it.
What city are you from, and where are you based now?
Sofia, Bulgaria in Eastern Europe is my home, however, I spent many years in the United States and the UK for my high school and higher education. I am now back home, and I travel for work whenever I need to.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
Music was always around me, but I only started taking it seriously when I began producing my own songs. It actually started as a way to cope with a difficult period in my life: if there is one thing I learned is that your early ’20s will f*ck you up in inconceivable ways (especially when there is a global pandemic, and you are basically left to your own devices and with your own thoughts for most of the day). I was making beats in my living room just trying to process my complex emotions – the loneliness I was feeling, the anger, the sadness, the horniness. Somewhere along the way I realized that creating music was the thing that made me feel most alive. Once I experienced that feeling, there was really no going back.
How has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound?
Growing up between Bulgaria, the US and then later in life living in the UK for a couple of years gave me a really interesting perspective. I was exposed to different cultures, different music scenes and different ways of thinking, but I also always felt like I existed somewhere in between. That probably explains why my music refuses to fit neatly into one genre. I also think growing up in Bulgaria gave me a certain resilience and sense of humor: you learn to laugh at life’s absurdities because in Bulgaria a lot of things are absurd. Meanwhile, my upbringing in the States taught me to be audacious, be straightforward with my goals, and be “nagla” (a Bulgarian word that has no direct translation in English, audacious is the word that comes closest to it, except it has always had a very negative connotation). I both have the humbleness of an Eastern European immigrant who had to cope living in isolation and discrimination in the U.S. while also having the confidence and audacity of an American white woman (thanks to my American passport!), so this blend of characteristics makes me quite confusing and interesting to the average person if I have to say so myself.
How would you describe your sound?
Controlled chaos.
I love pop music because it connects with people instantly, but I also love pushing it into weird places. My sound pulls from hyperpop, R&B, electronic music, dance, hip-hop and whatever else I’m obsessed with that week. I want people to dance first and then realize halfway through that they’re having an existential crisis while hearing the lyrics for the first time 100 listens in. The weird a** sounds pull you in and the lyrics make you stay even longer.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
I enjoy reading anything about psychology and philosophy. My love of humans and human psychology has shaped me into the person I am today and is the reason I think why I am able to be so empathetic and put myself in the other person’s shoes. I think psychology and philosophy permeate every single second of our lives and we only learn that by getting to know those subjects better.
I also have a weird love for PowerPoint presentations and writing emails. I’m not joking. Organizing ideas is strangely satisfying to me. Creativity doesn’t only happen in the studio; sometimes it happens while making a really good presentation (ask the consultants at my company, they will tell you the same).
Who are some of your main musical influences?
Gaga. Miley. Britney. Charli. Ashnikko. Cobrah. Beyonce. Dara. I am inspired by artists who aren’t afraid to be their entire weird selves even if that will scare most people off. I am inspired by artists who do not f*ck around with their message and stand their ground when the going gets tough. I am inspired by artists who have a backbone (you’d be surprised how most of them do not). I admire people who make music because they genuinely have something to say. Making music is easy, having a meaningful message behind it is hard. And I gravitate towards the message. Always.
(This is a very long topic for me, so I am stopping here, but just know that I have too much to say on this subject).
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?
That’s almost impossible to answer because my playlist has musical whiplash. I’d love to work with someone who isn’t afraid to break the rules: whether that’s Charli xcx, Rosalía, Kanye West or someone from a completely different genre. The best collaborations are the ones nobody sees coming. And, they would be especially gagged because I am Eastern European, and we are still breaking into the international music market.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
Finally releasing my music. Seriously. Before releasing my first song, it felt like this insanely scary and impossible thing. I was so worried how people would perceive me once they found out that gasp! I want to be an artist and not just a regular person. It turns out that when you are talented, people receive your music quite well. The step of releasing my first song was the first snowflake that caused an avalanche in my music career. The butterfly effect is real because it led me to the place I am today. And I have a lot of surprises prepared for my fans that will happen very soon but I am not yet allowed to tell you about them.
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
Perfection is the enemy of progress.
Also, people connect with honesty much more than perfection. The songs I worried about the most often end up resonating with people the deepest. I’ve learned that vulnerability is a strength, not something to hide.
Now onto your release, “bush.” What inspired this song?
“bush” is confidence with a wink.
It’s playful, sarcastic and intentionally over-the-top, but underneath that it’s really about authenticity. It’s about rejecting the pressure to constantly edit yourself into someone more acceptable. I wanted to make something that feels bold, funny and empowering all at once. It is inspired by those b*tches that always had some “advice” to give me under the guise that they wanted to help me while secretly despising my guts, but I can always see right through this bullsh*t. This is how the lyric, “I ain’t a fan of you, you ain’t a fan of me, we don’t have to like each other but you disagree,” was born. Like, yeah I can see that you don’t like me and I don’t like you either, why do we have to pretend? Nobody is watching us. If you are going to hate me, do it with your chest. None of that two-faced sh*t. It makes me respect you even less.
What was the inspiration behind the cover artwork for “bush?”
I wanted the artwork to match the energy of the song: slightly chaotic, slightly provocative and impossible to ignore. I like visuals that leave room for interpretation instead of explaining everything immediately. If people do a double take, I’ve probably done my job.
What was the creative process like when making “bush?”
“bush” came to me very easily. I had the idea for the main hook of the chorus lyrics back in August of last year during a seaside vacation because I was thinking how having a bush at the beach is actually so chic and how we are losing the ancient texts as a society. By the way, if you don’t know, “bush” is pubic hair. You live and you learn. Anyways, I think it is very hot, sexy, European and gay to have a bush, so I was like “this definitely needs to be a song.” When I came back to my home studio, I was looking through Splice samples and found the bassline, which became the foundation for the whole track. I put the production together in a couple of hours, but then the mixing and mastering is what set me back a bit because I was still very anxious to mix my own song. The important thing is that I did it even though it is not perfect, and I am still super proud of the end product (even though if I were mixing it today, I would for sure do some things differently).
How long did it take to complete “bush?”
The writing itself happened relatively fast, but like most songs, the production, revisions and tiny obsessive details took much longer especially in the mix. Even short songs take a long time to finish when you’re a perfectionist.
What is your favorite lyric in “bush” and why?
The first two lines for sure: Get the f*ck out of my face with that fake a** bullsh*t. People will like you only when it benefits them, so I am telling you now – if that is the case, you have my permission to NOT like me. 🙂
What do you hope fans take away from “bush” and your music in general?
I hope people feel a little freer.
Whether that means dancing, laughing, crying or questioning something about themselves, I want my music to remind people that they’re allowed to take up space exactly as they are. Life is already weird enough, so we might as well enjoy ourselves.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
I’m constantly writing new music, and I definitely have more releases coming in the autumn, but cannot reveal too much yet. Right now, my biggest focus is continuing to build the world around Strascha one song at a time and experimenting with sounds that I haven’t explored yet. Stay tuned, there’s plenty more chaos and craziness coming.
Where can we follow you on social media?
I am the most active currently on Instagram and TikTok, and I plan to do a better job with Facebook and YouTube in the future (because those are pretty dead currently). Here are all of my links!
Instagram: https://instagram.com/strascha
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@strascha
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/straschaa
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@strascha.mp3
Linktree (for any other links): https://linktr.ee/strascha
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
