Bulgarian Cartrader, or BCT for short, is the musical persona of Sofia-born singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Daniel Stoyanov.
In his first year as Bulgarian Cartrader, Stoyanov has made appearances on stages and at festivals across France, the US, Bulgaria, Austria, and Germany. Ahead of his first European headline tour, and as a prelude to a forthcoming EP that is scheduled for February 2024, BCT is unveiling his latest single, Guestlist.
Self-produced, and mixed by the Grammy-nominated Stephen Sedgwick, who has worked with Gorillaz, Lana Del Rey, and with Amy Winehouse, Guestlist glistens with a distinctive energy. With the kind of experimental-yet-glamorous drama that reminds me of alt-indie-R&B of Jai Paul, Guestlist is built around the interplay between a simple synth refrain and classical guitar. Fluid drums and rapid hi-hats give the sound a modern feel, as Stoyanov belts out a clearly personal vocal about his experience of guest-listing music industry professionals.
The resulting song is a little staggering – the creative briefly on display during Guestlist’s short two-and-a-half-minute duration is impressive. Bulgarian Cartrader has engineered a distinctive sound, accessible and yet wholly his own, and in doing so, hints at the potential for great talent for the future.