Meet Violeta Boneva in This Week's ID Spotlight!

Learn more about electronic music lover, talent buyer, and event host Violeta Boneva in this week’s #IDSpotlight!

Name: Violeta Boneva
Rave Name: Vee
Age: 27
Hometown: Benderi, Moldova
Current City: Sofia, Bulgaria
Occupation: Engagement Buyer from 9 to 5, PR Agent, Artist Manager & Promoter from 5 to 9 :)
Facebook: Vee Boneva
Twitter: @vilencee
Instagram: @vilencee

What was your first electronic music event?

When I was in high school, an electronic music club opened, inviting some of Bulgaria’s biggest techno & house DJs. However, I visited my first major show in 2009, shortly before my prom, and traveled with friends to Bucharest, Romania for what I still call one of the last trance shows of Tiesto. One of my favorite trips to date.

What/who influenced you to attend your first event?

My friends from childhood. We’d spent days watching Tiesto’s In Concert from 2003 and 2004 over and over again, so we were dreaming about seeing him live. We actually still watch those, so many years later. :)

What is one moment from an event that was special and why?

I can actually write a book about those! I am a huge fan of Sean Tyas and some years ago during ASOT 500 in Holland, he was closing A State of Green. I was super tired after the end of the night, so I was resting on the fence of the front row. As the room was getting empty, I suddenly saw Sean talking to someone I knew.

Completely disregarding the security guards that were surrounding him (I honestly didn’t see them), I ran towards him bumping straight into one of the bouncers. Needless to say, he didn’t take it very well but lucky for me I managed to catch Sean’s attention (it was quite the sight) and meet him in person. :D

Another moment would definitely be during Faithless’ performance at Exit Festival in 2015. “Insomnia” being my all time favorite track, I fell on my knees crying as soon as I heard it coming in. A fella next to me was kind enough to hold my GoPro and film a video of their performance of the track, as he clearly saw I was physically unable to. Goosebumps! :)

What is your favorite festival or event?

I am a fan of more intimate shows, no big crowds, no random people who ended up at a show by accident, however, I can not hide my fascination with Tomorrowland. I had the chance to be there in 2017 and I was absolutely blown away by the insane level of details and thought put into every single thing.

Trust me, what you see on the streams and aftermovies does not even come close to what it is in person. I don’t remember a single set I’ve heard, because you are just so distracted and high from everything happening around you.

Another favorite place is definitely Club Guaba in Limassol, Cyprus, I highly doubt there is a better crowd in the world. Regardless of who’s playing, the fans are full on and there is always some weird things happening that surprise you and blow you away. :D

What is your favorite electronic song and why?

My favorite electronic song would definitely be “Insomnia”. That evergreen melody will never get boring. I do not know why I became so attached to it, but its one of these songs I remember since I was very little, as my neighbor was feeding me Faithless 24/7.

Then it became our song with a childhood friend even until today, however, we are yet to hear it live together, performed by Faithless themselves. Here’s another thing on my to-do list. :D

Who are your favorite artists?

I could say I am a music junkie, so you’d be surprised on the variety of performers that I like, spread across so many genres.

People I can never get tired of include Prodigy, Linkin Park, Oliver Heldens, Kölsch, Adema, Markus Schulz, Orjan Nilsen, Sean Tyas, and my all time favorites – Three Days Grace! Haha, that list makes no sense whatsoever, but at least I got something for every emotional state of mine :D

What are your favorite genres?

Lately, I am very much into progressive, coming from a #team140 trance background from a few years ago. Depending on my mood or what I am doing, I love some rock & new metal to spice it up.

What do you feel your “Identity” is in the electronic music community?

I could be a living example that your passion for something can go a long way and when you put your mind to something, it can come to great results. Back in 2013, Bulgaria hosted A State of Trance 600. One of the performing DJs was Dennis Sheperd, whom we invited for dinner and a meet & greet. Surprisingly for us, he accepted, and we spent two great days sightseeing Sofia and eating Bulgarian food. We threw in a joke that we should bring him over for a solo show, which actually resulted in him returning two months after for a massively successful night.

This was the beginning of what today is called Danc3motion. Starting as a crowd-funded organization hosting trance nights in Bulgaria, it now is one of the fastest-growing event promoters in the country, with over 25 shows in the portfolio, including names like Markus Schulz, Orjan Nilsen, The Thrillseekers, Orkidea, Indecent Noise, Jordan Suckley and many more.

I was one of those people who was tweeting DJs asking them to come to Bulgaria, knowing that no promoter would ever bring them, but was worth a try anyway. Nowadays I try to inspire people from smaller countries to follow my example and do the same. Gather your friends and make your dreams come true together. The memories and satisfaction of the success of each night are irreplaceable. Fans should not depend on big promoters or spend fortunes to travel somewhere else to see their favorite acts.

I would say that hosting events and managing the nights have taught me a lot. It has given me opportunities to become a PR agent for one of the biggest trance booking agencies and an artist manager, as well. Writing for multiple blogs and working in TV has given me chances to meet so many cool artists, talk to them, and just understand their points of view of how this industry works.

Fighting hard to turn my hobby into a real job! :)