Rising pop artist DARSY (Darina Markova) is balancing university life in the UK with an increasingly international music career. At just 19, the Bulgarian-born pop and dance artist splits her time between London, Cambridge and Bulgaria, while preparing to release new material that reflects a confident new chapter in her sound.

Watch the official “Bulletproof” music video

From piano lessons to pop releases

DARSY began her musical journey at the age of six, starting with piano lessons under the guidance of a supportive teacher who encouraged her to explore her wider musical abilities. Singing soon followed, along with a growing love of performance. She recalls how early experiences on stage helped shape her confidence as an artist.

By 2022, she began releasing her own original music, marking the transition from performer to independent recording artist. Since then, her work has steadily grown more professional, both musically and visually.

Musical theatre as a creative foundation

Alongside pop music, musical theatre has played a significant role in her creative development. Trained in classical piano, DARSY later explored pop through singing competitions, dance, and acting. Musical theatre, she says, brought all these elements together by combining acting, dancing, and singing.

Now studying Musical Theatre in the UK, her course includes singing, acting, dance, music theory and theatre history, as well as regular productions and collaborative projects. These skills feed directly into her music career, helping her develop as a performer, creator and collaborator.

Creating music as an independent artist

One defining feature of DARSY’s work is how involved she is in every stage of the creative process. She directs her own music videos, develops the concepts and storyboards, styles the shoots, and creates supporting content for social media. While her parents help support her projects financially, the creative direction remains firmly hers.

Songwriting often begins informally, with ideas captured on her phone or drafted at the piano before being refined in the studio. She prefers arriving with a strong starting point so the studio session becomes a process of sharpening and upgrading the idea, rather than starting from nothing.

Writing “Bulletproof” and finding the pop hook

Her latest single, “Bulletproof”, reflects that approach. Built around a strong pop hook, the track explores themes of resilience and self-belief. DARSY describes how melodies often come naturally when she sits at the piano, with words and music developing together rather than being forced.

Written during Berlin Song Fest, “Bulletproof” was created by DARSY with Magnus Johansson and Andreas Knoblich, produced by Vizi Imre. The Cambridge-shot video brought together 12 creatives from eight different nationalities.

Collaboration across Europe

In 2025, she took part in several music conferences and songwriting camps across Europe, collaborating with international teams of producers and writers. Those experiences helped shape “Bulletproof” and led to further songs that are set to be released later this year, with concepts and final production currently being completed.

The challenge of doing it all

Despite her enthusiasm for performing and creating, DARSY is open about the realities of independent artistry. Balancing songwriting, recording, promotion, social media, performances and university work can be demanding. For her, the hardest part is combining every role at once: creating the work, presenting it, and keeping it moving publicly.

Radio recognition: Radio Wigwam

Towards the end of 2025, she also received her first radio recognition, with a nomination from Radio Wigwam. The acknowledgement marked an important milestone, offering early industry encouragement alongside growing support from listeners online.

What’s next?

With new music on the way, continued collaborations, and her studies progressing, DARSY is focused on building momentum. “Bulletproof” represents not just a new release, but a clear step forward for a young artist confidently carving out her place in the pop landscape.

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