Sofia, Bulgaria

The Bulgarian-born New York City based singer-songwriter isn’t afraid of starting anew. During the early 90s, in hardship of post-Communist Eastern Europe, Bulgaria underwent extreme financial collapse and so Ruth’s father, who is an Olympian and twice World weightlifting champion left for the Far East to seek new opportunities.
Little did she know while taking in the colorful sights and sounds of India, Thailand and Bahrain, she was growing up without a mother and separated from her twin brother, that music would later become her oxygen.
Early in her career, she showcased her unique style through gigs at local venues and did a brief stint at the Hollywood Pop Academy. Her debut album RUTH scooped the top prize at the Bulgarian Radio Awards in 2014 and sold thousands of copies in Japan, with hit-making producer Mark Ronson declaring it “amazing”.
In just a few years, Koleva has become a national Bulgarian treasure and continues to expand her fan base internationally.