Niko Tsonev

Niko Tsonev is a Bulgarian-born musician, producer, composer, mixing engineer, and arranger living in London, England. At age four, Tsonev played accordion; later he began playing guitar but only in his early teen years Tsonev began formally taking music theory and guitar lessons. Aged seventeen Niko received a scholarship from Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA), however, Tsonev moved to London, England to study Music Production at Lewisham College. At that time (1996) Niko also joined a musician session agency as a freelance guitarist.

In younger years Niko drew his musical inspiration from artists such as Steve Vai, Jimmy Herring and Scott Henderson. In the following years Tsonev performed and recorded as a solo artist and creative freelancer, and with diverse artists and producers, including Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), JJ Grey & Mofro, Digitonal, Aquilina and FabGrease Quentin). Stylistically flexible and diverse in urban and world music, Tsonev's guitar instrumentals encompass various musical forms, from instrumental fusion of Jazz and Blues, to Americana, Shred and Progressive Rock. Niko is also a film and TV composer, known for his work on The Mortician (2011) directed by Gareth Maxwell Roberts, The Bridge (2005) directed by Richard Raymond, and Steven Wilson: Get All You Deserve (2012) directed by Lasse Hoile. Tsonev has performed in various countries and venues across the globe, from touring the United States, South America and Europe with Steven Wilson in 2012 to performing gigs with Lifesigns throughout Europe, and recording a DVD album Lifesigns - Live In London - Under The Bridge Niko sources various equipment while in studio and onstage, including Suhr Guitars, Elixir Guitar Strings, Kemper Amps, TC Electronic, Wampler, Source Audio, Hughes & Kettner

Niko Tsonev was a member of Lifesigns, a British progressive rock band; with other notable band's members such as John Young (Bonnie Tyler, Scorpions, Greenslade, Qango, Asia) on keyboards & vocals, Jon Poole (ex-Cardiacs, Wildhearts, Dowling Poole) on bass & vocals, Martin "Frosty" Beedle (ex-Cutting Crew) on drums, percussion & vocals. Niko has been performing (on guitars & vocals) with Lifesigns between January 2013 and August 2016.

• The 2015 #4 Best Guitarist voted by the readers of Prog Rock Magazine UK. Prog (magazine).
• The 2015 #8 Best Guitarist by the Classic Rock Society

• Kilroy, Hannah May (27 January 2016). "Prog Reader's Poll 2015". East Grinstead Courier. Retrieved 12 April 2016. 
• "Best of 2016". Rock Society Magazine (213). Classic Rock Society. May 2016. pp. 34–35. 
• Turmer, James R (March 2016). "Lifesigns... Signs of Life". Rock Society Magazine (212). Classic Rock Society. pp. 8–9. 

Tsonev's work includes albums both as a solo artist, and in collaboration with other musicians and bands.

Main Solo Releases

• Black Feather (2008)
• Banshees and Harpsichords (2013)

Solo Singles & EPS

• Supra - EP (2003)
• It Sounds Prettier In French - EP (2004)
• The Bridge (Orchestral Score) (2005)
• The Death Orchestra - EP (2006)
• Nix Hydra - EP (2011)

With Other Artists

With Lacryma Christi

• Futura (Writing, Guitars, Production), 1996

With The Big Other

• You're The Girl Of My Dreams -EP (Writing, Guitars, Production), 1998

With Cuthead / Dominik Rüegg

• Walkabout (Guest Guitar), 2007

With Digitonal

• Save Your Light For Darker Days (Acoustic Guitars), 2008

With Mr. Fastfinger

• The Way of the Exploding Guitar (Guest Guitar), 2009

With Italee

• Tight Suga (Guitar Solos), 2010

With Steven Wilson

• Get All You Deserve (Live Blu-ray / DVD / CD), 2012
• The Raven that Refused to Sing (Demo versions - Disc 2), 2013

With Lifesigns

• Lifesigns Live in London - Under the Bridge (Live DVD / CD), 2015

Labels

• NTM
• Elektrik Pyjamas
• Stunted Records
• Quatierfrancais
• KScope
• Esoteric Antenna