— A musical journey shaped by creation, production and artistic collaboration

​

Franck Helwina is a musician, composer, arranger and music producer. Since the early 2000s, his work has brought together flamenco and Gypsy guitars, Mediterranean music, Balkan influences, chanson, pop, electronic music and contemporary production.

His work centres on composition, arranging, artistic direction and studio production. He works on both his own projects and other artists' music, with particular attention to instruments, voices, sonic textures and the meeting of different musical cultures.

 

In the early 2000s, Franck Helwina continued to develop his work, drawing on the Gypsy, flamenco and Mediterranean traditions at the heart of his musical identity. New collaborations and Balkan influences gradually enriched his music, shaping a distinctive sound in which guitars, Latin rhythms, Eastern influences and traditional Balkan vocals meet.

​

2003 — The launch of SEALIAH

​

The development of SEALIAH in 2003 marked an important milestone in Franck Helwina's career.

The project brings together Bulgarian vocalist Daniela Miteva and Franck Helwina as guitarist, composer, arranger and music producer. SEALIAH combines traditional Balkan vocals, flamenco and Gypsy guitars, Mediterranean influences and contemporary production.

The debut album, World Influencia, introduced the group to audiences in Bulgaria.

“Possednala Malkai Moma” made a strong impression in the country. It reached No. 23 on the BTV Top 100 and remained on the chart for 29 weeks. The track also entered the Top 10 on MMTV, a widely watched Bulgarian music channel at the time.

The second single, “Tcherna Svatba”, continued the group's presence in the Bulgarian charts and media.

SEALIAH's success soon extended beyond the charts. World Influencia received airplay on numerous radio and television stations in Bulgaria and abroad, including Radio France Internationale. Several music videos were filmed in Bulgaria with respected local crews and director Vasil Stefanov.

This period established SEALIAH as a lasting presence in the French-Bulgarian music scene.

​

2004 — SEALIAH on the big screen with Mila ot Mars

​

In 2004, two SEALIAH tracks featured on the soundtrack to the Bulgarian independent film Mila ot Mars, directed by Zornitsa Sophia:

• “Angel”

• “Tcherna Svatba”

The film screened at several festivals and received a number of international awards. The inclusion of these two tracks linked SEALIAH to an important work of Bulgarian independent cinema from the 2000s.

It also strengthened the connection between the group's music and moving images, a field Franck Helwina would continue to explore through music videos, directing and audiovisual projects.

​

2005 — A collaboration with Chico & The Gypsies

​

Franck Helwina is credited as a composer on “Oh Maria”, performed by Chico & The Gypsies and released on the album Freedom.

This collaboration marked a new milestone in his career.

​

2006 — Composing for Los Niños de Sara

​​

Franck Helwina composed “Maria Baila (Dancing Maria)”, performed by Los Niños de Sara and featured on España Tiene Sabor, released worldwide in 2006.

The composition reflects his musical world, blending Gypsy rumba, flamenco guitars and Mediterranean influences.

​

2007 — The album Camino and Kato teb (Comme toi)

​

In 2007, Franck Helwina contributed to the creation of SEALIAH's album Camino.

One of the project's key songs is “Kato Teb”, a Bulgarian adaptation of Jean-Jacques Goldman's “Comme toi”. 

​

With Camino, SEALIAH continued to bring together French, Bulgarian, Gypsy and Mediterranean cultures. The album broadened the group's sound while keeping guitars, vocals and cross-cultural arrangements at its heart.

During the same period, a SEALIAH performance was filmed by a Bulgarian television crew and broadcast on MMTV, raising the group's profile with Bulgarian audiences

.

2008 — A presence in the Bulgarian media

​

SEALIAH continued to appear in the Bulgarian media, notably with “Mujer” and material from Camino.

The group was also invited onto Bulgarian television programmes, including a show associated with Azis. These appearances reflect SEALIAH's role in musical exchanges between France and Bulgaria.

​

2009 — Founding and running a recording studio in Montpellier

​

In 2009, Franck Helwina founded his own recording studio in Montpellier, in the south of France, which he ran until 2020. For more than ten years, the studio was the base for his work as a composer, arranger and music producer, on projects ranging from composition and arranging to recording and production.

​

2010 — Compositions and artistic collaborations

​​

Franck Helwina continued his work as a composer and arranger through numerous collaborations with artists and figures from the Gypsy community. He contributed to writing and composing several songs, including:

• “Inch Allah”

• “Recuerdo”

• “Nostalgia”

• “Como te llamas”

• “Zinedine / Merci Zizou”

These projects continued his exploration of guitars, rumba, Mediterranean influences and Gypsy music.

​

2012 — Fiesta Gypsy at the Palavas-les-Flots arena

​

In 2012, SEALIAH took part in Fiesta Gypsy at the Palavas-les-Flots arena.

The event brought together several groups and artists from the Gypsy and Mediterranean music scene. SEALIAH presented its distinctive sound, built around guitars, Balkan influences, flamenco and Mediterranean music.

Appearing on this bill marked an important milestone in the group's live career in France.

​

2013 — A new orchestration of “Angel”

In 2013, SEALIAH produced a new version of “Angel”.

The new orchestration featured a symphony orchestra from Sofia, Bulgaria. It gave the track a broader, more orchestral sound while retaining SEALIAH's characteristic Balkan and Mediterranean influences.

This version reflects Franck Helwina's approach to arranging and expanding the sonic palette of a song already closely linked to the group's history.

​

2014 — “Mi Mora Morena”

​

In 2014, Franck Helwina contributed to Manuel Malou's “Mi Mora Morena”, alongside Jorge Pardo and Chaleco.

Composed by Manuel Malou, Luis Díaz and Franck Helwina, the song brings together artists from flamenco, Gypsy music and Mediterranean traditions.

The collaboration forms part of a broader artistic relationship between Franck Helwina, Daniela Miteva and Manuel Malou.

The same period also saw “Hermano”, produced for A/J Records and featuring Bulgarian percussionist Stoyan Yankulov.

​

2015 — A new version of “Mujer”, a tribute to women

​

In 2015, “Mujer” took on a new dimension through a project led by singer Daniela Miteva.

For this version, she devised a music video featuring an all-female cast, conceived as a tribute to women's strength, sensitivity and diversity.

Daniela Miteva also directed the video and operated the camera during filming.

This new version of “Mujer” became much more than a song: a symbolic, collective work created by women and dedicated to women.

​

2016 — Los Niños de Sara feat. Alaya: “Tonight Together”

​

Franck Helwina co-wrote “Tonight Together” with Santiago Lorente Correso. The track was performed by the group with Mexican singer Alaya. He also took part in the music video for this international version.

​

2017 — Franck Helwina joins Los Niños de Sara

​​

The ties with Los Niños de Sara date back to the early 2000s. Franck Helwina shares an artistic history with the group built around guitars, flamenco, Gypsy rhythms and Mediterranean music.

In 2017, SEALIAH and Los Niños de Sara reunited on stage at a benefit event for AFSEP at the Casino de La Grande-Motte.

​

In 2017, Franck Helwina officially joined Los Niños de Sara, a group associated with Alabina, as a full member. He remained with the group for three years. Alongside live performances, he worked and composed with the group in the studio. During this period, he played several concerts in France and England. He also performed with Alabina internationally, including in Moscow, Russia.

​

2018 — Manuel Malou's Unomundo project and Elohim for Manolo Gimenez, The Voice Of the Gypsies

​

Franck Helwina collaborated with Manuel Malou on the album Unomundo.

He co-produced “No No No” with Manuel Malou. His work included synthesisers, pads, samples, atmospheric textures, effects, loops and vocal production.

Other tracks also brought their musical worlds together, including:

• “El Río”

• “Anapolá”

• “Quiero ser presidente”

• “Baylalo”

• “Marylou”

That same year, Franck Helwina also composed “Elohim” for Manolo Gimenez, The Voice of the Gypsies. The track was recorded in Spain and released in December 2018.

 

 

2022–2023 — New songs with Manuel Malou 

​

From 2022 onwards, Franck Helwina worked with Manuel Malou again on several new songs.

“Tú y yo” was released in 2022.

​

In 2023, their collaborations included:

• “Lágrimas de Sangre”

• “Ay Amor”

• “Libre como el viento”

• ​

On these projects, Franck Helwina worked as a composer and arranger alongside Manuel Malou and Daliray.

Manuel Malou explained that “Ay Amor” was written during a summer afternoon spent with his friend Franck Helwina. The song is part of an artistic collaboration that began several years earlier and has continued through new projects.

SEALIAH also collaborated with Manuel Malou on “Loli”, a song associated with the soundtrack to Gazon Maudit.

​

2026 —  Founding the independent record label HELWINA

​

In September 2026, Franck Helwina founded his own independent record label, HELWINA. It brings together his work in music creation, composition, arranging, production, publishing and distribution. It also enables him to support artists and develop new projects independently.

 

 

​

​

 

Other collaborations and studio work

​

Over the years, Franck Helwina has contributed to numerous projects as a guitarist, composer, arranger or music producer.

Alongside his own projects and his work with SEALIAH, Franck Helwina has collaborated with a range of artists and performers.

His collaborations and projects have included:

 

• Songwriting for local artists in the south of France, with lyrics by Roland Ramade of Régliss' and music composed by Franck Helwina;

• arrangements for Los Niños de la noche and Ricao;

• work with Coralie, known for her time in L5;

• work with Anne-Sophie Bello, also known as Beverly in reality television;

• work with Manuela, who came to public attention on The Voice Kids;

• and collaborations with many other singers, musicians and artists he has met through his work as a composer, arranger and music producer.

These collaborations have taken many forms: composition, songwriting, arranging, artistic direction, production, artist development and studio work.

They reflect the breadth of Franck Helwina's career, spanning different musical worlds and generations of artists.

 

 

 

 

Today: creation, production and artist development

​

Today, Franck Helwina continues his work through HELWINA, his label and home for music creation and production.

He develops music projects with artists, supports singers and bands, and works in composition, production, arranging, mixing and artistic direction.

His career draws on more than twenty years of experience and collaborations across France, Bulgaria, Spain and the Mediterranean music scene.

​

SEALIAH is also preparing a new music project for Bulgaria in 2027. This forthcoming work will continue the relationship built since 2003 with Bulgarian audiences, artists and production teams.

Franck Helwina's story is that of an independent musician whose identity has taken shape through collaborations with Daniela Miteva and SEALIAH, Manuel Malou, Chico & The Gypsies, Los Niños de Sara, Stoyan Yankulov, Coralie of L5, Roland Ramade of Reg'lyss and many other artists.

His work connects cultures, styles and generations with a shared ambition: to create music that is vibrant, personal and open to the world.