Dara (Bulgarian singer)

In this Bulgarian name, the patronymic is Nikolaeva and the family name is Yotova.
Dara
Дара
Dara in 2024
Background information
Born
Darina Nikolaeva Yotova

(1998-09-09) 9 September 1998
Varna, Bulgaria
OriginVarna, Bulgaria
Genres
Instrument
  • Vocals
Years active2015–present
LabelVirginia
Websitethisisdara.com

Darina Nikolaeva Yotova (Bulgarian: Дарина Николаева Йотова, born 9 September 1998), known mononymously as Dara (Bulgarian: Дара), is a Bulgarian singer. She rose to prominence in 2015 after reaching the final in the Bulgarian edition of The X Factor. In 2016, she released her debut single "K'vo ne chu" under Virginia Records.[1] She is set to represent Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

Career

2015–16: The X Factor

Born in Varna, in 2015 Yotova participated in the Bulgarian version of the reality show The X Factor where she finished third, with Bulgarian rapper Krisko being her mentor.

2016–present: Early career

Following her departure from The X Factor, Yotova signed a record deal with Bulgarian music label Virginia Records and adopted the stage name Dara. In the summer of 2016, she released her debut single "K'vo ne chu", accompanied by a music video. A few weeks later, the single peaked the Bulgarian charts and a subsequent English version of the song by the name of "Onto You" was released on 29 September, directed towards an international audience.[2]

On 12 March 2017, Dara released her second single entitled "Rodena takava", also accompanied by a music video.[3] A few months later, on 21 July, she made her first guest appearance on a single named "Nyama da si tragnesh s drug" by labelmates Plamen & Ivo alongside Bulgarian hip-hop duo Pavell and Venci Venc'.[4] On 29 September, Dara's third single "Nedei" was released on YouTube with an official music video.[5] On 20 June 2018, Dara released her fourth single entitled "Vse na men", along with a music video.

In early 2020, Dara starred in the TV show Kato dve kapki voda, the Bulgarian version of Your Face Sounds Familiar, finishing in third place in the final.

Since 2021, Dara has been a coach on The Voice of Bulgaria. In 2022, on the ninth season, Jacklyn Tarrakci, a member of Team Dara, won the competition. This made Dara the winning coach. In 2024, on the eleventh season, Dara's artist Slaveya Ivanova won the competition, marking Dara's second win in four seasons as a coach.

On 7 March 2022, Dara announced her debut album Rodena takava set to be released on 20 April 2022, accompanied with a live concert showcasing the album in Joy Station, Sofia.

In March 2023, Kai released "Rover", a remake of Dara's original "Mr. Rover", with his solo album Rover.[6] In the Spring of 2024 she participated in Dancing Stars, where she finished as the runner-up.

2026: Eurovision Song Contest

She is set to represent Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 after winning the 2026 Bulgarian national final, Natsionalnata selektsiya, with 30 points.[7] After considering withdrawing from the contest,[8] she confirmed her participation.

Discography

Dara discography
Studio albums2
Singles31
Music videos21

Studio albums

Title Details
Rodena takava
Adhdara
  • Released: 19 September 2025
  • Label: Virginia
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
BUL
Air.
[9] 		BUL
Dom.
Air.
[10]
"K'vo ne chu" 2016 — 6 Rodena takava
"Rodena takava" 2017 — 1
"Nedei" 7 1
"Vse na men" 2018 9 2
"BTW (Bye Bye)"
(with Livin R & Noisy) 		2019 — 3
"Sosa maje"
(with Virgo) 		— —
"Darbie" 7 1
"Hotel 5 zvezdi"
(with Pavell & Venci Venc') 		— — Upgrade
"Ella Ella" 6 2 Rodena takava
"Ai Ai" 2020 3 1
"Mamacita" — —
"Cold as Ice" 2021 5 2
"Thunder" 1 1
"Call Me"
(with Matteo) 		2022 — 1 Non-album singles
"Mr. Rover" — 4
"Veche nyama kak"
(with Lubo Kirov) 		2023 10 1 Tseluni me
"Boginya" — 3 Non-album singles
"In My Head" 6 1
"Zaminavam" — 1
"Nyama da mi lipsvash"
(featuring Bobo) 		10 2
"Samo moi" 2024 — 2
"Zmiya"
(with Venci Venc') 		— 3
"Kradets na mechti" 8 1
"Nishto poveche" 2025 9 1 Adhdara
"Barbie & Ken"
(with Virgo) 		— — Sauce Kid 4
"Nito zvuk" 10 1 Adhdara
"Da ne mojem" — 2
"Onche bonche" 2026 — 2
"Curse" — — Non-album singles
"This Is Me" — —
"Bangaranga" — 5
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
BUL
Air.
[9] 		BUL
Dom.
Air.
[10]
"Nyama da si tragnesh s drug"
(Plamen & Ivo featuring Dara and Pavell & Venci Venc') 		2017 — 3 Non-album singles
"Sreshtu men"
(Pavell & Venci Venc' featuring Dara) 		2018 — —
"My Time"
(Monoir featuring Dara) 		4 1
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos

Year Title Director Artist(s)
As main performer
2016 "K'vo ne chu" Lyusi Ilarionov, Andrey Andreev
2017 "Rodena takava" Lyusi Ilarionov, Georgi Markov[11]
As featured performer
2017 "Nyama da si tragnesh s drug" Lyusi Ilarionov, Georgi Markov Plamen & Ivo featuring Dara, Pavell & Venci Venc'

References

  1. ^ "Дарина Йотова - Dara: Честити ми 18" [Darina Yotova - Dara: Happy 18th birthday]. Signal.bg (in Bulgarian). September 11, 2016. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  2. ^ Dara – Onto You (Official HD). Virginia Records. September 26, 2016. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2021 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ Dara – Rodena Takava (Official 4k). Virginia Records. March 10, 2017. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2021 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ Plamen & Ivo feat. DARA, Pavell & Venci Venc'- Nyama da si tragnesh s drug (Official Video). Virginia Records. July 21, 2017. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2021 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ DARA- Nedei (Official Teaser). Virginia Records. September 26, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2021 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ K-pop суперзвезда се влюби в песен на DARA – KAI представи своя версия на „Mr. Rover”
  7. ^ "Dara will represent Bulgaria at Eurovision 2026". Eurovisionworld. 2026-01-31. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
  8. ^ Farren, Neil (2026-02-02). "Bulgaria: DARA Considering Withdrawing from Eurovision 2026". Eurovoix. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
  9. ^ a b Peak chart positions for singles in Bulgarian Airplay:
  10. ^ a b Peak chart positions for singles in Bulgarian Domestic Airplay:
  11. ^ DARA - Rodena Takava (Official Making). Virginia Records. March 24, 2017. Archived from the original on July 17, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2021 – via YouTube.
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