Verbo I Voda is an experimental Ukrainian musical show written for voice and lap steel guitar which is based on the concept of deconstructing a collection of Ukrainian folk music through free improvisation which allows artists to brings on the surface new contexts and meanings of folk stories. Support act Ben Finlay presents new experimental works for cello and electronics as well performing Ed Cooper’s ‘Hex for Silence’.
‘It’s a completely beguiling new album with shredded and reconstituted Ukrainian folk songs…’ by Kate Molleson from BBC3 New Music Show.
It’s an unforgettable performance which involves most unexpected vocals from mumbles and extrem vocals to lyrical operatic soundscaping followed by enigmatic sound pallet of lap steel guitar.
Thanks to the Bradford Producing Hub’s generous support, it became possible for artists to enrich their show by creating up-cycled and specially handcrafted Ukrainian traditional costume and extended Namysto Merch project which will be available to purchase at the venue.
About artists:
Verbo I Voda is a duo formed by opera singer and improviser Milana Sarukhanyan (vocals) and improviser and guitarist John Bisset (lap steel guitar) back in London. The duo was at first freely improvised; but gradually it became apparent that working from Ukrainian Folk songs gave the music a focus and also had a cultural richness, with Milana’s interweaving of English and Ukrainian languages reflecting her own background and journey, while the earthy and sometimes bloody content of these folk songs created what Ashley Wales calls ‘Dark music for Dark times’
When Milana decided to move to Bradford, we hurried into the recording studio to catch some of our music. This produced our album. But what might have been the documentation of a collaboration has become a beginning, with a string of gigs planned in the North for 2024-2025 and new collaborators getting involved, such as Jem Finer on hurdy gurdy.
John Bisset: ‘Improvising with Milana is a rich and enlivening experience. I’m never sure where we’re going from one piece to another, emotionally or musically. Her wide dynamic range - from full blown operatic Ffffffff’s to tiny whisperings and plosive babblings - interacts with the equally wide tonal range of the lap steel. A nightmare to record, but one from which we’ve woken with a dream album.’
Milana Sarukhanyan: ‘Working with John is a special type of art for me. He has an exceptional musicality with attention to micro sound details and is a truly supportive and hardworking artist who is honest and warm-hearted in the way he works with me and other colleagues. It’s a huge honour to make music together with John’
More about us you can find on IG:@verbo.i.voda
Follow this link to listen the album: https://johnbisset.bandcamp.com/album/verbo-i-voda
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