Kristina Angelova and Daniel Angelov, the creative spirits behind Flying Nomads, don’t need to mention their roots in the mystical Rhodope Mountains for their music to captivate you—though it certainly enhances the magic. Born in a region of lush meadows, dense forests, dramatic cliffs, and canyons, enriched by rich biodiversity and millennia-old traditions and legends, their music naturally emerges as a heartfelt call to reconnect with our deeper selves and the natural world. As you delve into the world of Flying Nomads through their music and videos, you’re invited to weave the essence of nature and tradition into the fabric of your life, offering a soothing respite from our often chaotic world.
This duo harmonises a broad spectrum of influences, performing in settings from open air to cozy nooks, marrying the rich musical traditions of Bulgaria with eclectic global rhythms. Kristina infuses their sound with the soulful vibes of the Middle East and the contemplative strums of the sitar, while Daniel’s melodious voice and expertise on the Bulgarian tambura embody the spirit of their culture. Together, they create music that is both unique and deeply rooted in their shared heritage.
In November, they participated in the 10th edition of the PIN Music Conference in Skopje, an event that annually attracts in the Macedonian capital artists, industry professionals, and music fans from across the Balkans and further afield, celebrating both tradition and innovation in music and fostering new collaborations. Their showcase rekindled the magic we first felt at BALKAN:MOST in Veszprém back in September, during our initial live encounter with the duo. Amidst a lively gathering of creatives, and standout performances, Flying Nomads distinguished themselves with their heartfelt melodies and a profound connection to nature and their Bulgarian heritage. The day after their set, we had the opportunity to delve into the origins and evolution of their distinctive musical journey.
The story of how Flying Nomads came to be begins with a spark of serendipity. As we sat down to talk about their musical journey, Kristina smiled and exchanged a look with Daniel, as if they were both revisiting the memory. “It was a very big coincidence, you know. It’s like life brought us together. We just met at a fire, like at a friend’s gathering. Everybody had their instruments, and this is when Daniel started to play. I had my ukulele with me, and he said, ‘Come on, I’m gonna show you something.’ That’s how we met, and our music, and even our relationship, started at that same point.”
Naturally, we were curious about when this happened. “It was in 2018,” Daniel chimed in. “It all unfolded very naturally. We just felt this chemistry between us, especially in the way we played together.”
Their collaboration had clearly grown into something much bigger, and they were eager to explain how their shared dream came to life. “It all started as a big dream. We wanted to travel, make music together, and share it with people. So we decided to go to the Canary Islands in the winter of 2019. We said, ‘Okay, let’s make an album. We’ll release it there, and we’ll play for the people.’ That’s how things began to take on a more professional direction.”
The way Kristina described their journey made it clear that many things had simply fallen into place. “Since then, so many things have happened that we didn’t even call for—they just came to us. And more and more people started helping us stay on this professional path.”
Their bond—both personal and professional—is an essential part of what makes their music so unique. “We’ve developed so much—our music, and our relationship too. It’s very difficult to be a couple and work together. But we’re so happy we can do it together.”
However, they didn’t shy away from acknowledging the challenges. “You have to be much more conscious about what you do, how you talk to people, and how you carry the relationship. We’re very different people. We come from very different musical backgrounds. I think that’s part of what makes the Flying Nomads’ songs so interesting—because I bring something different from what he brings. The chemistry, the fusion—it’s something the audience might not have heard before.”
Daniel, reflecting on their journey so far, added: “It’s been a very interesting road. And now, being here—well, you never know what life will bring you. It’s full of surprises. So we trust the road and try to stay positive, keeping the vibes and the magic of music alive.”
Like many artists, they faced the harsh realities of the music industry, an industry not always kind to those who create from the heart. “The music business can be very harsh. Some of the people in it—and the whole machine—it can be hard for musicians worldwide to keep their spirit, to hold onto the music. I hear it in a lot of mainstream music, how easily that spark can be lost. It’s really important for cultural organisations to figure out how to preserve that spark in artists.”
One such organisation that helps artists preserve their spark is undoubtedly TAKSIRAT, the force behind PIN Music Conference, which has been running since 2012. Performing in Macedonia was a special moment for the duo, and Kristina expressed it with warmth: “Being in Macedonia is like being in our brother country. It is very cool to be here and to see all these people. We share this vision that, you know, we’re all brothers and sisters of the same place.” Daniel, reflecting on their set, added, “When we play—no matter where it is: at home, on the street, at events, even big events—we always do our best. So, for us, PIN is a nice experience.”
Their trip to Frosina Hall, where they performed the night before, became even more memorable after meeting Erhan Shukri, a well-known Macedonian maestro. His personal connection to the venue added a touching layer to their experience. “We were very well welcomed! The first person that we met on the evening that we arrived is like a very big Macedonian maestro, who showed us his picture. He played here when I was like six months old, in the same room, in the same audience,” Kristina recalled. “His name is Erhan Shukri—a conductor of a mandolin orchestra, and a very big name. A sweet, sweet man.”
Despite the positive experiences and connections, the reality of being an independent artist in the Balkans remains challenging. Both Kristina and Daniel are well aware of the differences between their environment and that to artists in more resource-rich countries. “Mostly, you’re on your own. When we found out that other countries have export offices for their artists, we were like, ‘Wow, what’s this?’ We’ve talked to colleagues from Balkan countries who’ve gone to the richer northern countries, and they told us about the differences. We realised, okay, this is a story that can be. We don’t live in such a developed country in a musical sense, but we have other positives—like the cool nature and a lot of freedom. There’s a balance of pluses and minuses.”
For Flying Nomads, the ‘cool nature of Bulgaria’ is more than just inspiration—it’s the foundation of their creative process. As Kristina explains, “We are very influenced by nature. We really love to be in the mountains, and we’re inspired by the surroundings. Most of our music is created in nature. We often go somewhere in the forest and start playing and creating music. Even our last album is recorded in nature. We had a mobile studio with a sound card, laptop, and microphones, and we went to some distant place and made this album really in the nature.”
But what happens when they take this regionally influenced music abroad? Daniel reflects on the abstract nature of this shift: “In Hungary, when we were participating in Balkan:MOST, there was a listening session when they played one of our songs. When we were listening, I had all of this vision coming through me, like when we went to record in this place and that place and how we developed it. It was so abstract. I never knew when I was making that we were going to be there with all of these people listening. I was like, ‘Wow,’ in this big hall.”
Their live performances are an extension of this connection to nature and spontaneity. “When we play live, we try to transmit it to the people. We’re mostly feeling what is coming to us, not so much how each and every person is accepting it,” Daniel explains. For them, the performance isn’t about anticipating audience reactions; it’s about being in the moment, channeling the energy they feel, and letting that flow into the audience.
Audience reactions are as varied as their music, reflecting the emotional depth that Flying Nomads strive to achieve. Kristina describes the range of responses they receive: “Most of the people that like our music are more open-minded. This is for sure. They like tradition, they like nature. Some people don’t like it at all. Some people cry. Some people say that it moved something super deeply in them. All of the colours of the rainbow are the human reactions.” For the duo, the true reward comes when their music touches something deep within the audience, motivating them through the personal stories listeners share with them afterward. “One of the big motivations for us is when we see that our music changes something in the audience when they come and share their personal stories. This is meaningful for us, of course.”
When asked to describe how they bring their individual experiences together in their music, Daniel reflects on the unplanned nature of their collaboration. “I think the music of Flying Nomads is showing how we actually bring it together. I don’t know. It’s just happening. It’s not something that we think so much of.” Their creative process is fluid and intuitive, much like their relationship with nature—it simply happens, without rigid planning or thought, and that’s what gives their music its unique and authentic character.
While nature serves as a shared influence for the duo, their individual musical journeys bring a rich and diverse range of styles to the table. Daniel reflected on his own path: “Our music backgrounds are very different. When I was young, I started to play the guitar… actually, I’m originally a guitar player, not a tambura player. I started with classical guitar, then blues, rock, metal, jazz, fusion—all kinds of styles. I’m inspired by most of the big names in the music industry. From Led Zeppelin to Pat Metheny, also Scott Henderson—he’s one of my favorite guitar players—so many great names in jazz music…”
Eager to support his fellow musicians, Daniel also highlighted some Bulgarian artists, pointing to an upcoming performance at PIN: “Tomorrow, there’s one Bulgarian band, Patardia. You should check them out. They’re very nice.” He didn’t stop there, adding praise for another admired musician: “As a musician, another Bulgarian artist I really admire is Theodosii Spassov. He’s not only a great musician but also a great person. And I think this is very important—to be a great person first, and then a musician.”
Kristina’s musical influences are more firmly rooted in Bulgarian tradition, which she expressed with passion: “The Gaida players, the Rhodope bagpipe players—they’re like pure magicians. They make your hair stand on end.There are so many incredible names, especially in traditional music.”However, her inspirations stretch far beyond Bulgaria, and she named Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan as one of her all-time favourite artists.“For me, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is one of the gods of music.”This blend of deep-rooted tradition and global influences gives Flying Nomads their distinct sound—a balance of old and new, local and universal.
Looking ahead, the duo’s plans are deeply intertwined with their love of nature and their desire to continue creating in harmony with their surroundings. “Now we are building our studio, like a natural studio,” they shared, filled with excitement. “We’re hoping it’ll give us the opportunity to create more and more, and to share. It’s in the Rhodope Mountains. We have a house there, and we’re turning one of the rooms into a studio. We also want to collaborate with other musicians and work on new projects.” Their dream of building a creative hub in the mountains speaks to their desire for both personal growth and community collaboration.
When asked how they would introduce their music to someone who has never heard it before, Kristina response was simple and direct: “Go to our concert and listen for yourself. Feel it. Move your feet.” For Flying Nomads, live performances are at the heart of what they do, and they believe the best way to understand their music is to experience it in the moment.
To become acquainted with Flying Nomads’ distinctive sound, the duo suggests two songs from their repertoire. “You can begin with our latest single, ‘Red Wall,’ which is an ecological project where we used art to fight against unfair actions,” Kristina explained.
They also highlighted “White Echo,” part of their Synthesis Project. “It’s something very interesting—you can hear sitar in the song,” she noted. This composition is the culmination of six journeys across Bulgaria in search of winter, blending unique instruments into their music. Recorded in the winter landscapes of Batak, Beglika, and the Northern Rhodopes, “White Echo” is dedicated to water, nature and its balance with humanity.
Whether through the vibrant strings of the tambura, the intricate chords of the sitar, the rhythmic beats of the daf and bendir, the lively plucks of the ukulele, or their harmonious singing, Flying Nomads invite listeners on a journey through expansive soundscapes. Rooted in the traditions of the Rhodope Mountains and deeply inspired by Bulgaria’s cultural heritage, their music effortlessly blends authenticity with exploration, as what started as a spontaneous strumming around a fire has grown into a distinctive and captivating voice within the Balkan music scene.
You can find more info and get updates about Flying Nomads and their projects on their official website