DakhaBrakha

Bio

DakhaBrakha is a Ukrainian group formed in Kyiv in 2004. Their music reflects the fundamental elements of soul and traditional Ukrainian music that however are reinvented with contemporary sonorities. The name DakhaBrakha, remarkable and authentic at the same time, means “Give/Take” in ancient Ukrainian.

The group was born at Kyiv Contemporary Art Centre from the initiative of the artistic director Vladyslav Troitskyi, whose influence stays in the group’s performances full of special effects.

The group is composed of Marko Halanevych (voice, darbouka, tabla, didgeridoo, accordion, trombone), Iryna Kovalenko (voice, djembe, accordion, percussions, piano, žalejka), Olena Tsybulska (voice, percussions, garmon), and Nina Garenetska (voice, cello, percussions). DakhaBrakha’s goal is to «create a new musical style that is composed mainly by Ukrainian popular and ancient melodies with African, Bulgarian and Hungarian influences» in order to get the modern generation closer to the magical folklore of this country.

After the publication of Light in 2010, DakhaBrakha won the Serguéi Kuriojin Prize, one of the most important acknowledgments in the contemporary art panorama. They show all of the rage and sensuality of Ukrainian folklore defining themselves «with a foot in the urban theatre scene and another in the village life which nurtures and protects the Ukrainian cultural richness».

The group is considered a cultural phenomenon in Ukraine and attracts an audience that is fascinated by their aggressive sound which is mixed with tribal rhythms and hectic voices. Alongside their personal career, DakhaBrakha is also the “resident” band at Dark Theatre, recognized worldwide as a leader in the production of avant-garde shows which combine theatre, music, and dance.

In 2016 DakhaBrakha published The Road, an album dedicated to their land in a very difficult moment, and they performed in Italy at Triennale Milano Teatro as part of Music after Music festival.

In 2020 they released their latest album Alambari which was recorded in 2019 and opens up more towards contamination. Again, the Ukrainian folklore is blended with American blues sonorities creating an eclectic and intriguing album that granted DakhaBrakha the Shevchenko National Prize for “Musical Arts” category that same year.

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