Darko Dimitrov ( mk, Дарко Димитров ; born January 21, 1973) is a Macedonian songwriter,

record producer A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure.Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...

, arranger and

record executive A music executive or record executive is a person within a record label who works in senior management and makes executive decisions over the label's artists. Their role varies greatly but in essence, they can oversee one, or many, aspects of a re ...

. Highly acclaimed for revitalising the Yugoslav mainstream

pop music Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the former describe ...

scene, which also influenced the surrounding Balkan countries, he has received international recognition for working with many popular foreign artists.

Biography

Darko Dimitrov is born on January 21, 1973, in

Skopje Skopje ( , , ; mk, Скопје ; sq, Shkup) is the capital and List of cities in North Macedonia by population, largest city of North Macedonia. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre. The territory of Sk ...

, SFR Yugoslavia (present-day

North Macedonia North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Yugoslavia. It ...

), to prominent Macedonian singer and composer, Slave Dimitrov. His family has a rich musical history—his grandfather was the prominent

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

and

traditional music Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has ...

singer, Blagoja Petrov Karagjule. Darko Dimitrov graduated at the Academy of Music in Skopje and he works in his family recording studio called 'Studio Dimitrovi' along with his father and his brother Oliver, the latter being notable for producing the debut album of the

ska-punk Ska punk (also spelled ska-punk) is a fusion genre that mixes ska music and punk rock music together. (sometimes spelled skacore) is a subgenre of ska punk that mixes ska with hardcore punk. Early ska punk mixed both 2 tone and ska with hard ...

band, '' Superhiks''. One of his first production hits was "Otvori go Pendžerčeto", performed by the rap group Nulta Pozitiv and featuring the popular folk singer, Mitre Mitrevski. After producing for mostly hip hop and

pop rap Pop rap (also known as pop hip-hop, hip pop, melodic hip-hop or melodic rap) is a genre of music fusing the rhythm-based lyricism of hip hop music with pop music's preference for melodious vocals and catchy tunes. This genre gained mainstrea ...

oriented artists during the early 90s, Darko Dimitrov moved on to work in the pop music industry. From 1996 onwards, he produced several chart-topping hits for many artists of the Balkan era and

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

such as Nokaut,

Karolina Gočeva Karolina Gočeva ( mk, Каролина Гочева, ; born 28 April 1980), sometimes credited as Karolina Gocheva or known only as Karolina, is a Macedonian pop singer. Gočeva launched her music career in 1991 with a performance at a local ch ...

Toše Proeski Todor "Toše" Proeski ( mk, Тодор "Тоше" Проески, ; 25 January 1981 – 16 October 2007) was a Macedonian multi-genre singer and songwriter. Considered a top act of the local Macedonian and Balkan music scene, Proeski's music wa ...

Kaliopi Kaliopi Bukle ( mk, Калиопи Букле, ; born 28 December 1966), known professionally as Kaliopi, is a Macedonian singer-songwriter. In her career, Kaliopi has progressed from singing lead vocal with her eponymous band in 1980s Yugoslavi ...

Elena Risteska Elena Risteska ( mk, Елена Ристеска, ; born 27 April 1986), sometimes known as simply Elena, is a Macedonian singer. She represented Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Athens with the song "Ninanajna", and finished in 1 ...

Jovan Jovanov Jovan Jovanov ( mk, Јован Јованов) is a Macedonian-Canadian music producer, record engineer and songwriter of pop, R&B, house, and hip-hop. Now based in Toronto, Ontario, Jovanov is working with Canadian artists such as Alx Veli ...

Tamara Todevska Tamara Todevska ( mk, Тамара Тодевска, pronounced , born 1 June 1985), also known mononymously as Tamara, is a Macedonian pop singer. Tamara began her music career in 2003 following the release of her debut studio album '' Sino' ...

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Vlado Janevski Vladimir Vlado Janevski ( mk, Владимир Владо Јаневски ) is a popular Macedonian singer. He was North Macedonia North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic ...

Lambe Alabakoski Lambe Alabakovski ( mk, Ламбе Алабаковски, ; born 15 November 1987, in Ljubojno, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Macedonian singer. Biography Alabakovski attended the Euro-College in Kumanovo. He won the M2 Production's Play: Search For A ...

Vrčak Rade Vrčakovski ( mk, Раде Врчаковски ; born 17 November 1980 in Strumica) better known by his stage name Vrčak (Врчак) is a Macedonian singer. He represented North Macedonia Vlatko Lozanoski Vlatko Lozanoski - Lozano ( mk, Влатко Лозаноски - Лозано; born 27 June 1985) is a Macedonian singer. Together with Esma Redžepova, he represented Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden. Career ...

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Darko Pančev Darko Pančev ( mk, Дарко Панчев, ; born 7 September 1965) is a Macedonian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He most notably played for FK Vardar and Red Star Belgrade. He was part of the Red Star Belgrade sq ...

's wife Maja Grozdanovska Pančeva, Besa,

Elhaida Dani Elhaida Dani (; born 17 February 1993) is an Albanian singer, songwriter, composer and actress. Born and raised in Shkodër, Dani performed in diverse singing competitions and started to play piano as a child. She rose to national recognition i ...

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, Leonora Jakupi,

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, Pirro Cako,

Juliana Pasha Juliana Pasha (born 20 May 1980) is an Albanian singer. In 2010, she won Honorary Citizen Award of Burrel from the mayor of the city. After she went into Eurovision in 2010 she won the first prize in the festival "Kenga Magjike" with the song ca ...

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, Greta Koci,

Elvana Gjata Elvana Gjata (; born 3 February 1987), is an Albanian singer, songwriter and entrepreneur. Born and raised in Tirana, she has been referred to as a "Diva of Albanian music". She rose to recognition in Albania and other Albanian-speaking territo ...

Aurela Gaçe Aurela Gaçe (; born 16 October 1974) is an Albanian singer and songwriter. She is a three-time Festivali i Këngës winner, a three-time Kënga Magjike winner and a two-time Balkan Music Award winner for ''Balkan's Song of the Year'' and ''Bes ...

, Xhensila Myrtezaj,

Rafet El Roman Rafet Yaşdut (born 25 August 1968), better known by his stage name Rafet El Roman, is a Turkish pop singer of Romani heritage. He holds German citizenship. Biography When El Roman's parents moved to Germany in 1970, he lived with his grandmoth ...

Aleksandra Radović Aleksandra Radović ( sr-cyr, Александра Радовић, born 10 September 1974) is a Serbian singer-songwriter, vocal coach, television judge and voice actress. Born in Bogatić, she graduated from the Music Academy in Novi Sad, majori ...

Jelena Tomašević Jelena Tomašević ( sr-cyr, Јелена Томашевић, ; born November 1, 1983) is a Serbian pop singer of international career famed for her strong vocal performances. She has won numerous awards for her songs and represented Serbia at 20 ...

, Ivo Gamulin, Jovana Nikolić,

Sergej Ćetković Sergej Ćetković ( sr-cyrl, Сергеј Ћетковић, ; born 8 March 1976) is a Montenegrins, Montenegrin recording artist. He lives and works in the Serbian capital of Belgrade. Ćetković represented Montenegro in the Eurovision Song Co ...

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, Arilena Ara,

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Eye Cue Eye Cue is a Macedonian pop-rock duo consisting of vocalists Bojan Trajkovski (born 1983) and Marija Ivanovska (born 1997), formed in 2008. The group found chart success with "Magija" in 2008, and entered the MTV Adria Top 20 with the song "Not ...

, Edis Görgülü,

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, Severina,

Nataša Bekvalac Nataša Bekvalac ( sr-cyr, Наташа Беквалац, , born 25 September 1980) is a Serbian singer from Novi Sad. She made her recording debut in 2001 and has since collectively released five studio albums. Early life Bekvalac was born on 25 ...

, Anastasija Ražnatović,

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, Vlaho,

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, Lexington,

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, Adelina Tahiri, among many other domestic and foreign

pop stars ''Popstars'' is an international reality television franchise aimed to find new singing talent. Serving as a precursor to the ''Idol'' franchise, '' Popstars'' first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the girl gr ...

. In 1999, Dimitrov released a

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

, featuring music from various artists which he has produced. The album ''100% Hits: The Best of Darko Dimitrov'' broke national sales records. His songs have participated in many notable pop

music festivals A music festival is a community event with performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme such as musical genre (e.g., rock, blues, folk, jazz, classical music), nationality, locality of musicians, or hol ...

such as

Skopje Fest Skopje Fest ( mk, Скопје фест) or Festival na zabavni melodii Skopje (Фестивал на забавни мелодии Скопје) is one of the main musical events in North Macedonia. SkopjeFest began in 1968 in the Universal Hall ...

MakFest MakFest ( mk, МакФест) founded in 1986, is the largest festival of Macedonian popular music. It is held every year in November, in Štip, Republic of North Macedonia North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before Febr ...

Ohrid Fest Ohridski Trubaduri - Ohrid Fest is a music festival that takes place in Ohrid, North Macedonia every summer. It began in 1994 as a showcase for Macedonian summer folklore. In 1997, a pop evening was introduced to motivate Macedonian lyricists an ...

, Sunčane Skale and the Budva Music Festival in

Montenegro ) , image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Podgorica , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , official_languages = M ...

, the FERAS Radio Festival in

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hungar ...

Croatian Radio Festival The Croatian Radio Festival ( Croatian: Hrvatski Radijski Festival, abbreviated as HRF) was a music festival held annually in Croatia from 1997 to 2009. The festival was first held in 1997 in Vodice. It remained in Vodice until 2002, when it was h ...

, the Split Festival in

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

, Dora

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

, the

Pamukkale Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The area is famous for a carbonate mineral left by the flowing of thermal spring water. It is located in Turkey's Inner Aegean region, i ...

Festival in

, the

Golden Stag The Golden Stag Festival ( ro, Cerbul de Aur) is the most popular Romanian song contest and awards, held annually in the town of Braşov, Romania. History The Golden Stag was first held in 1968, but after 1971 it was banned by the Communist l ...

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

Kënga Magjike Kënga Magjike (; ) is an annual music competition organised by the Albanian television broadcaster Televizioni Klan. The music competition has been broadcasting annually since its inauguration in 1999 with the exception of 2020. The first ed ...

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

and the 2006 European Song Festival for Children with

Special Needs In clinical diagnostic and functional development, special needs (or additional needs) refers to individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. Guidelines for clinical diagnosis are given in b ...

Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2011 The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2011 was the ninth edition of the annual Junior Eurovision Song Contest, and took place in Yerevan, Armenia at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex. It was the first time in history of the Junior Euro ...

and 2018. Dimitrov produced and composed "

Ninanajna Macedonia (officially under the provisional appellation "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", abbreviated "FYR Macedonia") participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song "Ninanajna" written by Darko Dimitrov and Rade Vrčakov ...

",2006 esctoday.com awards: THE NOMINATIONS
. esctoday. December 11, 2006. Retrieved October 30, 2007. the Macedonian entry in the

2006 Eurovision Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest 2006 was the 51st edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Athens, Greece, following the country's victory at the with the song "My Number One" by Helena Paparizou. Organised by the European Broadca ...

. The song was performed in both the Macedonian and

English language English is a West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family, with its earliest forms spoken by the inhabitants of early medieval England. It is named after the Angles, one of the ancient Germanic peoples that migrated to the is ...

s by

and placed 12th with 56 points, giving the nation its best result until 2019. He also wrote the song "Ne voliš je znam" which was performed by

at the opening show of the

Eurovision Song Contest 2008 The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was the 53rd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Belgrade, Serbia, following the country's victory at the with the song "Molitva" by Marija Šerifović. Organised by the European Broadcasti ...

in Belgrade. He again participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 and 2014 as a co-writer and co-composer of Macedonian entries; "

Pred da se razdeni Macedonia (officially under the provisional appellation "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", abbreviated "FYR Macedonia") participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with the song "Pred da se razdeni" written by Darko Dimitrov, Lazar C ...

" (Before the sunrise), performed by

and

Vlatko Lozanoski Vlatko Lozanoski - Lozano ( mk, Влатко Лозаноски - Лозано; born 27 June 1985) is a Macedonian singer. Together with Esma Redžepova, he represented Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden. Career ...

in 2013, and " To The Sky" performed by

in 2014. Both entries failed to qualify for the grand final. In 2015, Dimitrov arranged and produced the entry for Albania in the

Eurovision Song Contest 2015 The Eurovision Song Contest 2015 was the 60th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Vienna, Austria, following the country's victory at the with the song "Rise Like a Phoenix" by Conchita Wurst. Organised by the European Broa ...

, " I'm Alive", performed by

, placing 17th with 34 points. In 2018 and 2019, Dimitrov co-wrote both North Macedonia's and Serbia's entries in the Eurovision Song Contest, including the song "

Proud Proud may refer to: Music * ''Proud'' (Heather Small album), the debut album by Heather Small ** "Proud" (Heather Small song), a song by Heather Small that was the official song for the London 2012 Olympic bid * ''Proud'' (compilation album), ...

" which placed 7th overall in the 2019 contest, and gave North Macedonia its best result to date. Darko Dimitrov has won over 30 awards in the 'best producer', 'best composer' and 'best arranger' categories. and his songs won more than 100 awards. "Proud" won 1st place from jury on

Eurovision Song Contest 2019 The Eurovision Song Contest 2019 was the 64th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Tel Aviv, Israel, following the country's victory at the 2018 contest with the song " Toy" by Netta. Organised by the European Broad ...

and 7th overall. He co-founded the M2 Productions

record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the produ ...

along with Ivo Jankovski and worked with many productions in Europe. The songs he produced have more than 1 billion YouTube views in total. M2 Productions has organised several

talent show A talent show is an event in which participants perform the arts of singing, dancing, lip-syncing, acting, martial arts, playing an instrument, poetry, comedy or other activities to showcase skills. Many talent shows are performances rather ...

s, from which several current Macedonian pop stars emerged. Among these include Elena Risteska,

, Aleksandra Pileva, 4play, Emil Arsov, Tuna,

Dimitar Andonovski Dimitar Andonovski ( mk, Димитар Андоновски, born September 6, 1985 in Bitola, SR Macedonia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Macedonian singer. Dimitar Andonovski was a student for the Center for Music Education in his native home town of ...

and Bojana Atanasovska.

Eurovision Song Contest entries

References

External links

M2 Productions official website

Biography at the Macedonian Music Network

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dimitrov, Darko 1973 births Living people Musicians from Skopje Macedonian songwriters Male songwriters Macedonian record producers

Biography

Eurovision Song Contest entries

See also

References

External links