Vasil Troyanov Boyanov (; born 7 March 1978), professionally known as Azis (), is a Bulgarian Romani singer and songwriter. Widely known as the "King of Pop-Folk", Azis initially rose to prominence in the Balkans and Eastern Europe performing mostly chalga, a Bulgarian version of pop-folk. Azis has collaborated with other Bulgarian pop-folk singers such as Gloria, Malina, Sofi Marinova, Galena, Preslava, Toni Storaro, and Bulgarian rap artists Ustata and Vanko 1. His repertoire also includes duets with singers from the former Yugoslavia, including Indira Radić, Marta Savić, Jelena Karleuša, Severina and Tea Tairović.

Boyanov performed "Let Me Cry" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, as the backing vocalist of Mariana Popova, not qualifying from the semi-final. Other than his acclaimed career as a vocalist, he ran unsuccessfully in the 2005 Bulgarian parliamentary election as a member of the Euroroma party. Azis remains a prominent figure in the Bulgarian music scene.

Biography

Early life

Vasil Troyanov Boyanov was born into a modest Roma family in Sliven, Bulgaria. He spent his childhood in Kostinbrod and Sofia. In 1990, after the fall of communism in Bulgaria, he moved with his family to Germany. There, his sister, Matilda, and brother, Ryan, were born.

Career

In 2007, Azis and Kitaetsa appeared in the VIP Brother 2 edition of Big Brother Bulgaria. Azis left the house voluntarily after nineteen days.

Azis was interviewed in the second episode of Michael Palin's New Europe.

In 2008 on PRO.BG, Azis co-hosted the talk show Azis' Late Night Show with actress Ekaterina Evro.

In 2011, Azis released the single "Sen Trope". It achieved significant popularity throughout the Balkans and inspired several adaptations and covers by artists in the region, including "Fotia me Fotia" by Greek laïko singer Panos Kiamos, "Saint Tropez" by Romanian manele singer Florin Salam, and "Ona to zna" by Serbian turbo-folk singer Dragan Kojić Keba.

In August 2012, Anonymous used the video clip to Azis' song "Mrazish" to deface the website of the Russian court Khamovnichesky, where the members of the band Pussy Riot were convicted. In November 2012, the Greek singer Giorgos Tsalikis made a cover of Azis' song "Hop", entitled "Asto" (Let it).

Azis was a contestant on the widely popular reality show Kato dve kapki voda, which is the Bulgarian version of Your Face Sounds Familiar. After twelve weeks and a wide specter of highly praised and enjoyed performances, he placed second. In early 2021, he was announced as one of the returning participants in the forthcoming ninth All Stars season of the show.

Personal life

Azis is gay. He married Nikolay "Niki Kitaetsa" Petrov Parvanov on 1 October 2006. Their marriage was not legally recognized under Bulgarian law. Azis' daughter was born on 5 August 2007 and was named Raya. Her mother is Azis' longtime friend, Gala. In 2008, Azis and Parvanov separated amicably. In 2026 he married an undisclosed man in the United States.

Controversies

In late November 2007, Boyko Borisov, then mayor of Sofia, censored billboards of Azis kissing Niki Kitaetsa, which pictured both men shirtless on the basis they were too graphic in nature. The picture was then censored in other cities in Bulgaria.

In 2021, Azis was scheduled to perform at the Balkan Fair in Kestel, Bursa, Turkey, but the performance was cancelled after a campaign by Islamists targeting Azis' LGBT identity.

Books

• Аз, Азис (Book and CD) (2006)

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

EPs (maxi singlemaxi singles)

Videography / songs

DVDs

• 2003: Шоу спектакъл

• 2004: Нищо лично

• 2004: The best videoclips

• 2004: Together with Desi Slava

• 2005: AZIS 2005

• 2005: Дуети (Duets)

• 2006: Аз, Азис ( I, Azis) (CD)

• 2007: Azis

Collaborations

References

External links