Viktor Benev

happy birthday, giant. 🖤

it is with a saddened heart and deep regret that i have to announce the passing of åsa öhrn. we've lost a dear friend, a colleague, a person with a vivid sense of freedom, exploration, an extraordinary artistic spirit and before all, a good-hearted human being.

when we worked with åsa on crystal sound project's "in the willow dream" in-between sweden and france, i never thought this album would become a legacy two years after its official release. i suppose now, it is a statement and a testament of åsa's work as a songwriter, a singer and an artist whose curiosity and openness led us in directions we never thought we'd take.

for me, "in the willow dream" is more than a simple album. it is foremost an encapsulating still-life of our friendship, of numerous days of laughter, research, stressful hard work under time limitations, constructive criticism, bold ideas, improvisations, recordings, moments of joy and self-defining artistic decisions.

it is an album that will forever occupy a dear place in my heart, together with the cherished moments i had the chance to spend with åsa.

may your spirit fly freely and gracefully.

viktor benev

• watch "the screen" feat. åsa öhrn
https://tinyurl.com/2dcdss6f
• more about "in the willow dream"
https://tinyurl.com/3dkwtf8f
• stream/buy "in the willow dream"
https://tinyurl.com/bdzjj5pe

petite promenade à meudon.

To those who think that playing music is about impressing, virtuosic presentation or sensation. Here's some insight from one of the greatest drummers of all time - Vinnie Colaiuta.

1) It's not about me providing a base.
It's about me being there, within the music, integrating so we're all comfortable and the music sounds a little better.

2) Every time you play the drums, you have to be aware that you are creating something musical.

3) If you do things without any consistency and you do it to surprise people, I propose you to slow down the tempo, apply it to a stylistic genre and on a song.

4) I don't feel motivated to do hard things to impress anyone.
I develop something because I like it.

5) Music education should not place its full emphasis on sensationalism.

6) I spent so many years practicing hard things without wondering if I could incorporate them into my way of playing.

7) Talking only about the skills required to touch is a limited vision.
There are many talented people who contribute nothing to the evolution of the instrument.

8) It's all about getting along with people and being true to yourself and the music.

9) Avoid using words like “better” or “worse”.
When I say “be the best you can be” I don’t employ connotation of a skill level competition as if it were a “drum Olympics.”

10) Skill is an aspect.
What matters is what you do with that skill and what you express through it.

11) Drummers tend to worry about how many tricks or licks they learn, and that doesn't help musical growth.

12) Jeff Porcaro told me:
“Tempo perfecto no implica groove”.

🤍❄️🌿🧸🚗☃️

well, looking back at 2025, it has treated me rather well. here are a few photos without any particular order.

1. with Bilyana Furnadzhieva at the window / happy faces after our performance. thanks andrea weber
2. the crystal sound project performance in question
3. our gig at TAM / always such a pleasure to be at veliko tarnovo and collaborate with the team. looking forward to coming back
4. at Художествена галерия - Казанлък / Art gallery - Kazanlak for an unforgettable night of music with Nikolai Ivanov
5. had a great time playing with these human beings delphine minoui, alice rahimi, Hura Mirshekari, Babak Amir Mobasher, elia chalom on a couple of occasions
6. got a grand piano ! beautiful old gaveau. we're talking quite a lot with it and it's been a true gift of faith
7. learned to tune pianos / budget solutions, man... what can i say...
8. spent countless hours creating music for the dance students in cma13 and at crr de boulogne-billancourt. the team at both is fabulous. feeling blessed to work with these people isabelle pipard, yorick grand, magali verin
9. of course, time with cats is never wasted. eriko in all of her splendor, ladies and gents
10. did some agriculture work with some buddies. reuniting with nature is always needed.
11. spent quality time with my family. my energetic and splendid niece on the photo.
12. got my own first car, baby. more than happy. 7000km and counting.
13. learned and did quite a lot of mechanic work. seems like it's something i love doing. you never know what life's got for you, do you ?
14. at deauville. we visited quite a bunch of places this year. wonderful sceneries. good memories.
15. spent countless hours in the studio. one full album and a single this year. not as productive as i'd like, but still a milestone and i'm happy with the music.
16. ticking the "needed to-buy" list little by little and i finally bought this instrument, which has been waiting for quite some time.

that's it !

i hope i've brought light and love to all the people i've encountered this year. you sure inspired me, so big "thank you" to all of you who have been part of this year's journey. may 2026 be at least as great ! happy new year, all.

peace & love
vik

happy new year, dear all. with love, adventures, beautiful memories, breathtaking views, pleasant company, fulfilled projects and last, but not least, in good health. cheers !