Both Nikolay, known among us since the dawn of time as Kolio, and Antoni, a.k.a. Toni, come from Rousse. They started their musical career by setting up the local band Ahead in 1996 and sticking to it throughout its dynamic evolution over time of attracting members from other places in the country, letting go of others from the initial pack, and eventually rising to national prominence. The guys have gone through many musical projects since then, finally arriving at the Tri O Five one.
I’ve known Kolio since I was in high school and he was playing the drums in a local amateur band called Hon Gil Don together with other guys from the English Language School. I don’t quite feel fine about going into details on Kolio’s getting the first drummer kit as a gift from his father at the age of 5 as this is something I myself know from the Internet. But I feel pretty comfortable to say that Kolio is an extremely talented musician, sharing his love for music in an expressive though humble, concentrated, and always smiling manner. When he’s on stage, you may sometimes not be able to see him very well as drummers are not quite visible behind the drums, and the drums are usually positioned at the back, somewhere between all the mikes and cables and amplifiers and front men. However, you cannot but succumb to the rhythm – uncompromising and clear in its measure and irresistible in its insight, depth, and mood.
As for Toni I know one thing for sure. Don’t be misled by his charming smile and timid respect for his guitar while on stage—rather take these as a true sign for a single thing: you are listening to a professional. Kolio and Toni, sometimes together, other times on a separate venture, had taken part in a number of other musical formations and projects before joining the initial members of Tri O Five.
Now, apart from the two of them, the group consists of the 21-year old Preyah as the lead singer, who first rose to national recognition through her participation in the Bulgarian edition of X Factor and later on Musical Academy, DJ Marten, and Desislav Ivanov playing the saxophone.
As Kolio’s and Toni’s musical careers are long and marked with collaboration projects with a lot of other musicians, you can get some more information about one of their current projects Tri O Five on Youtube.com.
Listen to more singles by Ahead on Youtube.com as well.
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