Music
My greatest passion, apart from technology, is music. I have experience in music production and I can work with DAW software, such as Cubase and Logic Pro X. My debut single was released in May 2017. The 2-Track edition was released in January 2018 on a CD and as a digital download. My second single was released in May 2018. Apart from Bulgarian, it includes vocals in Hebrew. The Hebrew lyrics were co-written with a school friend — Hristina Andreeva. A few months earlier, at the end of 2017, I started thinking about another future project. I wanted to do something completely different from my previous work, so I decided to write a ballad. This turned out to be my third song, “За Теб”, which was finished at the beginning of 2019 and released on November 29 the same year.
At the beginning of 2020, I started working on my fourth song. It was recorded in March, just before the COVID pandemic unfolded and lockdowns were imposed. Until then, I was releasing singles annually. However, I decided to not release the song in 2020, as I did not feel it was the right time. Instead, the song was released in the spring of 2021, a month before my birthday and two months before my graduation from university. The song is co-produced by Andy Stefanov (ANDRO) who I have been a fan of for a few years now.
Listen
Аз Съм Един
Written by:
Norton Andreev & Andy Stefanov
Release Date: April 30, 2021
℗ © 2021 Norton Andreev
Listen
За теб
Written by:
Norton Andreev, Martin Biolchev & Marieta Angelova
Release Date: November 29, 2019
℗ © 2019 Norton Andreev
Listen
Ако ще ти мине
Written by:
Norton Andreev, Martin Biolchev, Marieta Angelova & Hristina Andreeva
Release Date: May 11, 2018
℗ © 2018 Norton Andreev
Listen
Плащам да гледам
Written by:
Norton Andreev, Martin Biolchev & Anastasia Mavrodieva
Release Date: May 31, 2017
℗ © 2017 Norton Andreev
Due to my interest in music and graphic design, in 2010 I decided to start making music compilations. This allowed me to collect my favourite songs in one place, better manage my music library, share my favourite music with the world, and develop my design skills.
Initially, I started with a compilation containing pop songs, followed by a similar one with Bulgarian songs. Over time, I evolved the concept of both projects and started working on each for the whole duration between the releases (usually 12 months). I have been releasing the pop one in spring or summer and the Bulgarian one in winter. As I associate memories with music, I see these projects as the story of my life. This means I always put a lot of effort into selecting the best songs, by making sure that I create a mixture of commercial hits with other songs I like. I also try to convey feelings with the artworks and the titles.
Most albums have been made available as physical releases, which I share with my closest friends. When it comes to the project with Bulgarian songs, I have also been giving away the physical releases to the artists and songwriters who have worked on the songs included. With the introduction of streaming services, all releases, since the 2015’s “Follow Me”, were published on the major streaming platforms for everyone to enjoy. The 2014 album “#CantLetGo” was released on the streaming platforms with a modified tracklist on November 19, 2021. The record labels in Bulgaria started uploading their music later. As a result, only the projects from the last few years are offered for streaming.
Travelling
As an adventurous person, I love travelling and exploring new places and I believe this is one of the best ways to develop yourself. In 2022, I visited Malta in May and Paris in December. In September 2021, I visited Bucharest and Constanța in Romania. I went to Craiova and Calafat a few years ago, however, seeing the capital and the sea resort was much more exciting. During 2020 and 2021, I have been travelling mostly within the UK and Bulgaria, as well as between the two countries.
In April 2019 I went to the USA to visit my uncle's family (for a second time). I was mostly focused on University and side projects but had a great time regardless. A few months earlier, in September 2018, I went to Marrakech, Morocco. I have wanted to go there for a long time, and I am happy I managed to cross it out from my to-do list. I enjoyed how close to each other and, at the same time, how different the old and the new parts of the city are. I visited most of the tourist attractions - Le Jardin Secret, Bahia Palace, Majorelle Garden, Koutoubia Mosque, Dar Si Said Museum, Badi Palace, Manara Gardens, the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square and more.
In September 2017, I explored Budapest and Vienna. I loved Budapest and enjoyed walking around the city at night. Shortly after that, I moved to Sheffield, UK, so I had time to visit some UK cities, such as Leeds, Manchester, and London. Apart from that, that year I travelled a bit around Bulgaria - I visited Veliko Tarnovo and went to the seaside twice. In August 2016, I visited my lovely cousin and her family in Chicago, USA. I went to Six Flags, which I have always wanted to do. I also spent a week hiking in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, which, as you can imagine, was an unforgettable experience. During the Summer of 2015, I went to Romania and Crete Island in Greece. In the fall, I visited Milano and Como in Italy. I also managed to go to Switzerland.
Back in 2013, I participated in the International Congress for Environmental Leadership in Tel Aviv, Israel. I explored most of the country during my one-week stay. It was one of my best trips and I would strongly recommend visiting Israel if you can do so. In November 2013, I took part in an international radio project "Crossing borders - understanding the others" which was held in Berlin, Germany. It was about how people coming from different backgrounds live together, what problems arise between them and how they can be solved. During the Easter holidays, I went to Istanbul, Turkey. It was the fourth time I have visited the country, but it was still a very different experience, as before I have only been to summer resorts, such as Antalya, Bodrum and Kuşadası. Apart from that, I go to Greece several times per year, as it is my parents' favourite destination. Some of my favourite places there are Peloponnese, the islands Crete, Corfu and Lefkada, as well as the big cities, such as Athens and Thessaloniki.
Others
My enthusiasm for music and anything technology-related manifested at a very young age. I have always been consistent and persistent with these two, which shaped my future early on. While music complements my life, Software Engineering is what I decided to devote myself to. Walking is another favourite activity of mine, as it energises me and boosts my productivity. In 2021, I broke my walking record and managed to do 52KM in a single day.
Throughout the years, I have had varied interests and hobbies. In general, I enjoy doing as many things as possible. Getting involved is among the best ways to improve yourself and gain new skills.
Middle School
I was part of the school council at my primary school. My main responsibility was the organisation of different events. This included coming up with the idea of the event, presenting it in front of the other students, getting it agreed by the teachers, and ensuring compliance with all regulations. I was also responsible for the graphic design and the printed materials, decorations, and more. The largest event I organised was a big Halloween party which was attended by almost all students.
High School
I have participated in a lot of extracurricular activities during my high school years. In 2013, I was part of the Jewish youth movement "Hashomer Hatzair" where I have attended various workshops. Because of my interest in audio and music production, I was part of the school radio team and was responsible for a daily broadcasted music program. I have also mentored students who wanted to gain more experience in broadcasting and audio editing. Because of these activities, I was chosen to take part in an international radio project, “Crossing Borders — understanding the others”, held in Berlin, Germany. I was part of a three-student group, who had to represent our country. We all conducted research that gave us an overview of the public opinion about the different religions and the refugees. Then, we had to exchange ideas and experiences with foreign students. As the quality of the information we had gathered was exceptional, we were invited to a German radio station to present the conclusions we came to. I also appeared in a show, broadcasted on the Bulgarian National Radio, to talk about the project.
2013 was a very busy and fulfilled with many positive emotions year. In August, I attended the International Congress for Environmental Leadership in Tel Aviv, Israel. This is where I learnt more about the environmental issues around the world, as well as what Israel is doing to cope with them. In 2014, my school took part in the International Festival for Media Art, "Harlequin", which is held annually in Varna, Bulgaria. We received awards for both video and audio productions we participated with. Later, I was selected to be an actor in several video productions which were exclusively produced by students from my school.
Apart from these activities, I was also sometimes involved in teaching and was giving lectures on different topics.
University
During my second year at University, I was a member of Sheffield Mentors and mentored first-year Computer Science students. I provided expertise to improve their learning experience and positively influence their results. Because of my commitment, I was nominated as an Outstanding Mentor by one of my mentees. I was also an Academic and Faculty Representative. My main responsibilities included gathering feedback from the students, producing reports, and attending staff-student liaison committee meetings. As part of these activities, I had to attend a mandatory “Core Academic Representative” training. I also had to attend several masterclass sessions on different topics, such as sustainability in the curriculum.
In my final year, I worked as an Undergraduate Computer Science Demonstrator. As part of the role, I was providing technical support to students who took a module in Web Technologies (during the Autumn Semester) and a module in Software Engineering (during the Spring Semester). I did very well in these modules myself when I was in my first year, so demonstrating for them was something I was looking forward to.
I also worked as a Residence Life Mentor. My main responsibility was to provide front-line support to over 120 students. The role was quite challenging, especially due to the COVID pandemic. It was harder to engage with the students. Many were also suffering from various mental health issues, meaning that challenging situations which required a professional and timely response were frequently happening. To be able to do my role, I underwent training in Mental Health and providing first aid. I also participated in weekly research and development sessions that were constantly improving my preparedness for the role.