AN OLD Russian song from Siberian Cossacks, given an atmospheric, electro-pop reimagining by a Czech woman and two Poles, and recorded in Galway - this is 'Zoriushka' by Baba Yarga.
Baba Yarga is a collaboration between singer-songwriter and producer Agu and Iweta and Witek Kulczycki, a Polish couple who perform original music under the band name Knot; with assistance from Israeli percussionist Itamar Meir, and Irish musicians Eimear Coleman (vocals ) and Pauli Smalls (bass ).
'Zoriushka' is the group's debut track which is released today, Thursday January 21. The song was traditionally sung to brides-to-be, and depicts the cycles of sunrise and sunsets over forests, paths, and bridges, with people crossing them, symbolising that life in general follows a certain pattern.
"Something mystical about singing in harmony'
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“I was flirting with the idea of creating a fusion of Slavic female polyphonies with contemporary music for a while now," says Agu [pictured above], who has lived in Ireland for the past four years. "At first, I thought it's such a niche interest I'd have to record all the voices myself, but there is something profoundly mystical about singing in harmony with other people and I didn't want to regret not trying to find like-minded souls."
Agu reached out to see who might be interested, and found there were many willing to collaborate on the project. This is a perk of living in such a multicultural place like Galway," says Agu. "I feel blessed this is where my life's path brought me in the end."
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This was how Agu came into contact with Iweta and Witek Kulczycki, who have lived in Galway for the past fives years, and prior to that played Irish Trad across the stages of the European continent. From this was born the band Baba Yarga - a combination of two words taken from Slavic mythology: Baba Jaga - a supernatural being which appears as a ferocious-looking old woman; and Yarga - a mantric word believed to cleanse negative energies and support the regeneration of vitality. "Call it our own version of yin and yang inspired by Slavic mythology if you wish," says Witek [pictured above].
'A unique musical dish'
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In 'Zoriushka', Iweta sings the lead vocal part and Witek is responsible for recording harmonies as well as performing on ethnic instruments, including Irish and Middle Eastern flutes. Agu feels describes the track as "World Music/ethno-pop influenced by Enigma or Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares."
“We put our passion for Slavic polyphonies and Irish traditional instruments into one pot," says Iweta [pictured above], "and spiced it up with modern electronic beats and ambient atmospheres to bring you a unique musical dish to enjoy. We will serve it to you on a plate of our Polish-Czech-Irish-Israeli friendship."
