“Don’t Fear, Make Love”: DARA on Eurovision, Pride, and the Power of Letting Go

A few months after her Eurovision win, DARA is still moving fast. Taking on Pride stages and festivals all summer long and hopping from one writing session to another, hinting at new music being on the way, it is undeniable that Bangaranga isn’t just that crazy catchy song that won Eurovision. It is a mantra the newly crowned Bulgarian queen of Europe has carried with her ever since.

Colors, Dopamine and Bangaranga

We met her during her stay in Belgium, the day before her VRT Zomerhit performance in Blankenberge. Needless to say, “breaking the ice” wasn’t even a necessity. She welcomes us with the same energy as Bangaranga. She’s confident, sassy, and has a smile that makes you feel like you’ve known each other your whole lives. At one point, she asks for my zodiac sign. When I tell her I’m a Virgo too, she lights up, and after a brief conversation about the universe and how no encounter is ever a coincidence, it all clicks into place. Her precision, her intuition, the way she moves between control and surrender, the need to build meaning into everything she touches — it’s clear that her win has been a part of the plan all along.

KET:  Hello Dara! Welcome to Belgium! So happy to have you here!

DARA:  Welcome to the riot! Thank you so much, I’m really happy to be here too!

DARA and Life after Eurovision

KET:  It’s been a few months since Eurovision; has the win sunk in already? How do you feel about it today?

She points to the carousel visible from our window by the beach.

DARA: I feel just like that, like the pony on top of that carousel. We’ve been traveling a lot. We’re everywhere. My brain is exploding with colors and dopamine, and I love it. I’ve been working on new music, something I didn’t get to do during the Eurovision period. I wanted to keep all my creativity and ideas for the time after Eurovision, and I’m so happy I did. I’m now creating such amazing songs, all because of the energy I got from the public. I put so much work and passion into my performance, and it’s all coming back to me now. I’m very grateful for that.

Bangaranga’s Pride takeover

KET: You’ve been on a run lately; you’ve done festivals and Pride performances, and Bangaranga has basically become a queer anthem this summer. Why do you think the community resonates with the song, and how did it feel to perform for them?

DARA: Because they are open. They express themselves from the heart chakra, and that’s a message the song holds as well. Don’t fear, make love. When you are honest with yourself, it’s easy to connect to the song. And I don’t mind if people don’t like it — but those who can feel the song understand that it represents the strength to be yourself. And performing it at Pride was amazing. You feel heard, like somebody is paying attention.

The Art of Letting Go

KET: What is the emotion that you want to make people feel when listening to your music?

DARA: I’m all about letting go. Just let it go, let loose. That connects to who I am and to my birth number, 9—it’s about letting go, finding deeper meaning, being one with the universe, and being open to transformation. At the end of the day, you don’t need more; you need to release things and become lighter. That’s when good things can enter your life.

Read also : Eurovision 2026: Bulgaria wins big, all eyes on Burgas next year

She then emphasizes how important it is to be a little bit delusional as an artist. Whether your next song is going to be a hit or a flop, doing things with purpose should be the most important factor. Music has meaning no matter the genre, and that’s the main reason she does it.

“Have purpose and not be flat. Sometimes one word or one sentence can change someone’s whole day, or even their life, and that matters to me.”

Don’t Fear, Make Love

For DARA, that sense of alignment isn’t just something to reach for in private. It also shapes who she chooses to stand beside in public. Her belief in embracing yourself naturally leads us to the LGBTQ+ community—one she has consistently supported through her Pride performances and beyond. But showing up openly has not always been met with celebration. After her Sofia Pride performance, DARA received a wave of criticism for taking part, and the conversation shifts to what self-expression can still cost in parts of Eastern Europe. In a statement that she took to her Instagram story, she shared several hateful messages that she received. She vehemently criticized the homophobic hate train, proudly declaring: “You either grow with me, or fall behind”.

DARA: I actually didn’t care about their opinion. I was just grossed out. It wasn’t even personal for me — I was just shocked by how people react to other human beings. On a human level, that’s really low, and I wanted to call it out so people can see it. And they must be grateful that I didn’t include their names. — Clock it, girl!

DARA on LGBTQ+ Visibility in Eastern Europe

KET: Why do you think Eastern European countries are still so hesitant about Pride?

DARA: Because our people have been suppressed for the longest time. We’ve had so many difficult situations in the Balkans, and some of that is cultural too. Some people are not educated, and that makes it hard to open up and understand someone else. A lot of people are scared, angry, and full of fear because of all the unfairness and discrimination we still face from other countries. Sometimes you can’t even blame them completely, because they simply don’t know. It’s hard to change yourself when you’re ruled by fear.

KET: Do you feel Eurovision coming back to the Balkans could bring some hope?

DARA: 100%. After I won, I saw that people of all ages had hope. It showed them that even if you are stepped on or hated, even if you are “canceled”, you can still speak your mind, lead with love, and believe in yourself. Magical things can happen. That gives people hope, whether they work in music, art, or anything else. And I also have so much hope for the younger generations.

DARA on Manifesting the Next Era

When it comes to her next album, DARA is not exactly the kind of artist to hand over the full plan. Europe learned that during Eurovision’s semi-final, when she turned the secrecy of her staging into one of the season’s most-talked-about surprises. When I ask about the music she’s been working on since, she laughs at the idea that anyone should be entitled to know her next move. For DARA, anticipation is part of the fun: why reveal the whole picture when you can let people stay curious, keep them on their toes, and then surprise them all over again? She then jokes about how funny it would be to gaslight people into thinking the exact opposite of what she’s planning to do.

DARA: I think I’ll make a classical music album! Rosalìa, come find me!—We might all just manifest that— No, but really, my next album is electro-pop— much more electro than pop, actually. I’ve always loved DJs and this kind of sound. Ever since I was 13, I was going to parties and listening to Avicii, Martin Garrix, David Guetta, all of that. That shaped what I love sonically. Bangaranga was the moment that pushed me in that direction, and now I finally get to do a full electro album. I’m really happy about it.

Europe First, the Moon Next

When the conversation turns to the future, DARA’s answer is simple: keep moving, keep believing, and do not be afraid to take up space. The Eurovision trophy may have introduced her to a new audience, but it is her discipline, her willingness to speak openly, and her instinct to turn a song into a universe of its own that make this next chapter feel so much more exciting.

KET: Where do you see yourself in a year from now? Should we expect a tour at some point?

She giggles, and with the same humorous way of never unveiling her next move, she replies:

DARA: We’re gonna perform at Coachella — actually, in my universe, we already did. I have this amazing stage design, and you’re going to be gagged. You’ll cry, dance, enjoy it, and feel a lot of different emotions. At the end, you’ll be like, “Thank God I’m alive.” Maybe even a Grammy win. And yes, we also have a show on the moon. And hopefully Brussels! Manifest me, and I’ll be there! Mwah!

Welcome to the Riot

DARA leaves us with a kind of confidence that feels less like certainty and more like practice: the decision to keep going, keep creating, and make room for the people who understand the vision. When you lead with love, you will always find your people. Behind the Eurovision win, the glitter, and the perfectly timed surprises is an artist who believes in discipline, alignment, and the power of letting go. And a whole lot of manifestation. DARA is not interested in standing still. She creates, evolves, and invites her people to come along for the ride. As she boldly states in her already iconic Bangaranga, everyone is welcome to the riot.

KET Magazine is a community‑driven, non‑profit magazine run by volunteers and based in Brussels. You can find our other music and nightlife stories on ket.brussels, and you can always write to us to share your projects or pitch a story: info@ket.brussels

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