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Sevi are a Bulgarian rock band from Sofia. The current members are Svetlana "Sevi" Bliznakova (lead vocals), Bobby Zasheff (lead guitar, backing vocals), Rally Velinov (bass guitar), Pavlin Ivanov (drums, percussion) and Tania Apostolova (keyboards, backing vocals).

Their debut album, "What Lies Beyond", was released on June 14, 2012 in Bulgaria. There were three singles to the album, along with music videos, as the first two ("Can't Stand the Pain" and "Limited Edition") were released before the album, and the third one, called "Victim" came few months after the studio album.

The band went on a national tour on June 27, 2012 in order to promote and support their debut album, the "What Lies Beyond Tour", which ended on September 27, 2012. Soon after, the band started working on acoustic versions of their songs, due to a live session at Z-Rock Radio, which leaded to an acoustic concert on November 30, 2012 in addition to their third single "Victim" and its music video. The concert was released as a DVD/CD Combo, named "The Other Side Of Sevi" by an acoustic live performance on February 13, 2013 at club "BackStage". Sevi also became support act for Bon Jovi in Sofia on May 14, 2013.

2005-2010: Sevi solo career
In 2005 Svetlana "Sevi" Bliznakova was invited by the italian producer Rocco Milano to take part in a CD compilation with her song "On My Own" which she co-wrote with Pino Biaggioli and recorded with the Italian rock band "Eldritch". She has been the only Bulgarian singer to sing in the show of Sky Italia in "Club Lost" during the Sanremo Music Festival in 2007. She co-written many new songs with Rally Velinov (musician and songwriter, who is also author of the arrangements of many of her recordings, and later became a bass player in the band Sevi). In summer of 2008 Sevi recorded 11 new songs in collaboration with Rally Vellinov and the guitar player Peter Bratanov. In January 2010 in order to develop her career and popularize her music, Sevi together with Rally Velinov, formed a band also called Sevi.

2010-2012: Formation, Sevi band and What Lies Beyond
The band Sevi was formed in January 2010 by Svetlana Bliznakova with the musicians Valentin Nikolov – drums, Tania Apostolova – keyboards, Rally Velinov – bass guitar, Todor Todorov - guitar and Vladimir Donkov – guitar. In August 2010 the two guitar players left the band and new member joined Sevi. He was former guitarist of the alternative rock band "Awake" – Peter Bratanov. In the end of 2010, they together made the first single of Sevi - "Can't Stand the Pain" and in February 2011 they also shot the featured video, but the single was released several months later, when Peter Bratanov had already left the band. In March 2011 lead guitar of Sevi became Ivan Angelov. The original rock style of the band impressed the public and media and soon after Sevi were presented in many radio and TV shows: the late show "Denis & Friends" on BNT 1, SKAT TV , Z-Rock Radio, Bulgarian National Radio, "Radio ORV" , etc. Since January 10, 2010 some of the songs of Sevi are in the "Golden Archive" of the National Bulgarian Radio. On November 13, 2010 Sevi won first place award for original composition with the song "Fighter For Happiness" at "Sonic B.A.N.G competition Bulgaria". The next year, on June 24, 2011 Sevi released their first official single and video "Can't Stand The Pain". It was the first video to be presented on cinema in Bulgaria. “Can’t Stand the Pain” was also the reason Sevi were chosen for "Band of the week" in Lima (Peru). Summer of 2011 was very succesful for Sevi. They made a lot of trips in Bulgaria, playing on festivals and other open stages. At the "International Festival – Belozem 2011" they won the "Special award". Later the same year, on specially chosen date November 11 (11.11.11), Sevi released a second single and video to the song "Limited Edition". In January 2012 the band decided to organize a festival, dedicated to the new bulgarian rock bands. They called it "23 & 1/2h Rock it Marathon" The event took place at bar "Rock it" on March 17 and 18 same year and had a big success. There were 30 bands in 2 days played on the scene of Rock it. In the middle of the year, guitarist Ivan Angelov left the band and soon after, on May 30, 2012 lead guitarist of the band become Bobby Zasheff. Two weeks later, on June 14, 2012 Sevi released their first official album "What Lies Beyond". Right after, the same month, the band started a national summer tour to present the album. At the end of 2012, on November 30, Sevi released their third music video "Victim", promoted with their first acoustic live. Nine days later, on December 9, there was a new promo - the collaboration of Svetlana "Sevi" Bliznakova with two DJ' s. "Sevi feat. Sugar Dj’s" presented their featuring track "Shocked"

2012-present: The Other Side Of Sevi and the thematic shows
The promotion of the "Victim" was the second time Sevi presented themselves in a different angle, making a brand new acoustic versions of the tracks from their debut album "What Lies Beyond" - the first attempt of that conception was made in live session at Z-Rock Radio, broadcasted at "Hijack Acoustic". The acoustic live became the third of Sevi's so-called thematic shows. The first one was created due to the "What Lies Beyond Tour 2012", which was presented as pirate vision, or the "Pirate Show". Later, the same year there was presented the second thematic show, the "Route 66 Show". Along with the shows and promotions, Sevi started working on their upcoming second studio album and presenting the new tracks live.

Performances
Sevi became notable with their original way of presenting their performances, which included a lot of stage decoration, sound design, scenarios and overall theatral appearance and shows. Their first so-called thematic show was the "Pirate Show", which was introduced along with their debut album "What Lies Beyond", containing typical for the conception costumes, daggers, pistols, chains, cobwebs, skulls and even an exploding cannon on the stage. The whole "What Lies Beyond Tour 2012" was presented by the "Pirate Show". One month later, Sevi made their second spectacle, called "Route 66 Show", realized by stage decoration in a typical american highway style, including automobile parts, springs, oil and petrol tanks and supported by proper sound design and acting. The show was presented in several cities in Bulgaria. The third one was the "Acoustic Show", which was introduced for the first time on November 30, 2012 on the presentation of Sevi's third single "Victim". It was decorated like an old comfortable room, containing hats, umbrellas, candles, and the most notable decoration – the hanging from the ceiling lightbulbs, which are connected to a similar scene from the music video of "Victim". On May 14, 2013 Sevi became support act for Bon Jovi in Sofia. They were chosen by public vote, organized by Nova TV, and later chosen personally by Jon Bon Jovi from the three bands, who won the Nova TV's vote contest.

Band members
Current members
 * Svetlana "Sevi" Bliznakova - lead vocals (2010-present)
 * Rally Velinov - bass guitar (2010-present)
 * Tania Apostolova - keyboards, backing vocals (2010-present)
 * Pavlin Ivanov - drums (2011-present)
 * Bobby Zasheff - lead guitar, backing vocals (2012-present)

Former members
 * Todor Todorov - guitar (January 2010-August 2010)
 * Vladimir Donkov – guitar (January 2010-August 2010)
 * Peter Bratanov - lead guitar (August 2010-March 2011)
 * Ivan Angelov - lead guitar (March 2011-May 2012)

Associated musicians
 * Jimi Sobara
 * Sugar DJ's
 * Zyggie''

Discography

 * Can't Stand The Pain (2010)
 * Limited Edition (2011)
 * What Lies Beyond (2012)
 * The Other Side Of Sevi (2013)

Tours

 * What Lies Beyond Tour (2012)

Awards and nominations

 * 1st place at Sonic B.A.N.G competition Bulgaria with "Fighter For Happiness"
 * "Band Of The Week" at Rock Syphony Radio, Lima (Peru)
 * "Hip Rock Look" at Hip Rock Magazine