She was born in the city of Plovdiv (Bulgaria) and grew up in Rostock (GDR). In Sofia she studied in the master class of the opera singer Ida Finzi and in Berlin she graduated from the "Hans Eisler" Academy of Music in Singing and Musical Theater. This is followed by a master's degree in musicology, ethnomusicology and Bulgarian studies at Humboldt University and the Free University of Berlin, with a focus on the Byzantine-Orthodox singing tradition of the Eastern Church, which she studied through the monks in Bachkovo Monastery (Bulgaria). In 2011, he defended his doctorate at the Department of Music Sociology and Social History of Music, at the Institute of Musicology and Media Science in Humboldt University (Prof. Dr. Christian Kaden, Prof. Dr. Sebastian Klotz, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Ernst) and from the Bulgarian side with Prof. Dr. Maria Shnitter (University of Plovdiv) about: "Authenticity, mediality and identity. Paths of definition and transformation regarding authentic Bulgarian music" at Humboldt University. After presenting her doctoral studies in Dobralak in 2013, she also received a diploma from the community center of the village "for exceptional merits in propagandizing authentic Bulgarian folklore and especially for the life and lifestyle of the village of Dobralak, municipality Kuklen".
On the basis of her scientific work, she founded various musical formations, in which she sings: In 2004, the ensemble for Russian and Ukrainian authentic music "Polynushka" was formed with the aim of researching and promoting the survival of folk music traditions in the big city. Since 2006, the "Musical Religion Dialogue: Jewish-Christian-Muslim-Hindu" has followed as an examination of transcendence and questions of faith. In 2013 her paths crossed with the researcher and composer Sandeep Bhagwati and the international musicians with whom she worked for ten years in the "Ensemble Extrakte" for artistic and creative musical research, from which the ensemble "Śabdagatitāra" is now developing (2023). The musicians will act as a network beyond Berlin, between many different spaces, traditions and genres.
Deniza Popova teaches for all age groups in a pleasant combination of scientific and musical artistic activity both in Bulgaria and in Germany. She is committed to new experimental performances, communicative musical events and to experiencing traditional musical traditions. Singing and researching, she wants to positively influence and stabilize important intangible values and musical skills.