Nikola Gruev, known professionally as Kottarashky, was born on September 4, 1979, in Sofia, Bulgaria. He began experimenting with digital music during his student years while studying architecture. His unique style emerged when he integrated field recordings from his travels through Bulgaria into his electronic compositions.
Kottarashky's breakthrough came in 2009 with the release of his debut album Opa Hey! on Asphalt Tango Records, which reached number 3 on the World Music Charts Europe in February 2010. In March 2010, Gruev formed the Kottarashky Live Band. Their collaborative album Demoni, released in May 2012, also reached number 3 on the World Music Charts Europe. The band's music video for "Demoni", directed by Theodore Ushev, won numerous awards worldwide.
