Balaklava Blues

About

" Blend of thousand year-old polyphonic traditions and electronic sound "

The story behind the creation of Canadian-Ukrainian trio Balaklava Blues is an example of the power of violent social upheaval to transform into beauty. Producer Mark Marczyk and vocalist Marichka Marczyk met during the Ukrainian Revolution, got married, and decided to broadcast their struggle for the values of the Ukrainian people with a unique blend of thousand year-old polyphonic traditions, electronic sound and old-time folklore.

According to Mark, “Balaklava” (a mask the protesters wore) is a thing that all Ukrainians learnt at the revolution. As for “blues”, there is a saying: “blues is when a good person feels bad”. In fact, the symbolism of different epochs runs through their disturbing and at the same time enchanting music like a line: Marichka’s authentic vocals are replaced by broken sounds, obscure folk instruments, dubstep, EDM and even shades of hip-hop. 

Despite the fact that Balaklava Blues’ songs are often dedicated to the tragic events in Ukraine, while listening to them one can’t leave the truthful and inspiring thought that only constant struggle for one’s identity keeps them alive. In addition to the two albums ‘Fly’ (2019) and ‘LET ME OUT’ (2022), they staged what they called the ’Counting Sheep’ opera, in which they showed the essence of protest through interactive theatre performance.

Now the music of the group is winning the hearts of audiences all over the world (Publications including the New York Times, Billboard, and The Guardian have all written about them) and their touching stories of struggle, freedom, and native land can be heard, just as all Ukrainians should be heard.