Wickeda
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Bulgaria |
| Products | Rock music, albums, singles |
Wickeda ( ) represent a Bulgarian rock ensemble recognized for their fusion of punk, ska, reggae, funk, and traditional Bulgarian folk sounds. Their clever lyrics filled with wordplay, combined with rhythmically engaging melodies, have propelled their commercial achievements within Bulgaria, producing multiple chart-leading singles.
History
Wickeda established themselves as a prominent figure in the Bulgarian music landscape with their inaugural 1999 album Революция ("Revolution"), which rejuvenated the domestic rock genre and coincided with the emergence of new Bulgarian rock and electronic artists affiliated with the Жълта музика ("Yellow Music") label. This debut surpassed 30,000 units sold and brought them accolades including Best Band and Best Newcomer from the music television channel MM. The track "А ние с Боби двамата пием кафе" ("And I and Bobby, We are Both Drinking Coffee") maintained a position in MM's Top Ten for a duration of 10 weeks.
Their follow-up record, Затова, защото... ("That's Why, Because..."), released in 2000, sustained their commercial success highlighted by the popular single Уиски с фъстъци ("Whiskey and Peanuts"). This album earned them Best Band and Best Album honors at the MM awards and achieved sales exceeding 20,000 copies.
In 2001, Wickeda issued a compilation album titled До тук ("Until Here") that included four newly recorded songs. Subsequently, they embarked on a European tour covering countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, and Hungary. Prior to launching their fourth studio album Осъзнай се класово ("Realise your Class Membership"), they released a single that once again reached the Top Ten charts.
The band's fifth studio effort 1618 (2004) embraced Balkan musical influences while preserving their eclectic style with a more intense sound. This album featured English renditions of previous tracks along with three fresh compositions: "Секси" (Sexy), "Ми да" (I'm Here!), and "The Letter." Wickeda promoted this release through touring key European markets including Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, and Bulgaria.
In 2009, UK dubstep artist Ramadanman partnered with the British Council to produce a remix of Wickeda’s debut album track "А Ние Двамата с Боби Пием Кафе." This exclusive release underscored Wickeda’s enduring impact beyond their home country.
Wickeda served as headliners at the 2010 Spirit of Burgas festival following Everlast's withdrawal due to illness.
On 10 June 2018, frontman Erol Ibrahimov declared the band’s disbandment after over two decades together, attributing the decision to creative fulfillment. Nevertheless, Wickeda reunited in 2022 to resume live performances and began working on a new album.
Members
- Erol Ibrahimov (vocals, bass)
- Rosen Grygorov (guitar)
- Vladimir Georgiev - Popa (drums)
- Yassen Obretenov - Yashata (keyboard)
Discography
- Revolyutsia (Революция) (1999)
- Zatova, zashtoto... (Затова, защото...) (2000)
- Do tuk (До тук) (2001)
- Osaznay se klasovo (Осъзнай се класово) (2003)
- 1618 (2004)
Tours and festivals
Wickeda’s international appearances include:
- USA Tour, 2001
- Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary during 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2007
- Taksirat Festival in North Macedonia (2002)
- Ska-/Reggae-/Dub Festival in Croatia (2002)
- Performances in Slovakia (2002)
- Agrinio Festival, Greece (2002)
- Multiple German festivals: Fusion Festival, Rockxplosion, Stadt Festival (2003), Waltroper Parkfest (2004)
- German club circuit including Cologne, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and Münster (2002)
- Dutch festivals such as Wantijpop Festival and Elastiek Festival (2005)
Additionally, they have conducted successful concerts in Prague and Budapest.