ARTIST: Svjata Vatra
COUNTRY: Estonia/Ukraine
GENRE: Fiery Power Folk, Fire Folk
MORE ABOUT: Svjata Vatra (“holy fire” in Ukrainian) are an Estonian-Ukrainian “fire-folk” band. The band’s line-up is unique: the temperamental Ukrainian trombone together with the Estonian bagpipes produce amazing sound patterns, which generate fiery, non-Nordic and extremely masculine energy that cannot but impress everyone.
Ruslan, the leader of the band, was graduated from the Ukrainian National Conservatoire as a trombone player. He played for five years in the Ukrainian folk rock band Haydamaky. In 2005 he moved to Estonia and started Svjata Vatra with Estonian musicians. Ruslan combines his very special charismatic trombone playing style with intense vocals and Georgian duduki, using scythe for rhythm.
In addition to gigging everywhere in Estonia, Svjata Vatra have performed in France, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Germany, Czech Republic, Romania, Netherlands, and England. Svjata Vatra’s song “Kalyna” was awarded the best folk/world music song in Estonia in 2009. In January 2010 Svjata Vatra successfully performed at Eurosonic Festival in Netherlands. In April 2010 Svjata Vatra supported Gotan Project on their world tour concert in Tallinn’s newest concert hall, where they performed with DJ P. Julm, considered the King of Estonian club music!
In summer 2010 they toured the Baltic Sea on the medieval river barge JÕMMU. Sailing for 3 weeks together with over 20 people on a 12-meter wooden cargoship was a great experience. They got to see some strong winds, rough seas and the friendship among seamen, and musicians also got the experience of steering and navigating the ship. Together with five Estonian historic ships Svjata Vatra sailed to Latvia, Gotland, Sweden, Åland and Finland, stopping in many ports to put up an Estonian festival, the highlight of which were Svjata Vatra’s concert and the world’s first SAILSHADOWTHEATRE. A spectacle was played on the barges sail, accompanied by music played by Svjata Vatra. Mytical Estonian traditional songs were sang and played on natural instruments, often with no amplification. The play ended with a massive fireshow.
In October 2010 Svjata Vatra finished the two-year project documentary film “Püha tuli” (“holy fire” in Estonian), directed by Erik Norkroos. It is the story of Ruslan Trochynskyi, an Ukrainian folk-rock musician, about his chance settling in Estonia, the forming of a band with four Estonian musicians and about the meaning and impact of this band on both Estonian and Ukranian folkmusic – in short: about integration in life as well as in art. Most of the footage has been filmed in the summer of 2009 on the band’s folk-expedition to Romania and the Carpathian Mountains in Ukraine. In addition the film features a selection of the band’s live perfomances from several Estonian music festivals. The music documentary film (52 min) was presented in 5 Estonian cities, and in Helsinki, Finland. In March 2011 “Püha tuli” will be presented at Worldfilm Festival in Tartu and at the Estonian National TV Chanel.
At the same time Svjata Vatra released a new double album “Zillja Zelenen’ke” (CD/DVD) featuring the best songs selected from the band’s five years of “burning“. The DVD features the band’s full concert at the Viljandi Folk Music Festival 2009.
In November 2010 Svjata Vatra performed at LIFEM (London International Festival of Exploratory Music), which took place at the modern concert hall Kings Place, in central London.
In the New Year’s eve Svjata Vatra made a special show at Tallinn City Theatre, as part of the official opening program of “Tallinn – European Capital of Culture 2011″.
MUSICIANS:
- Ruslan Trochynskyi: trombone, scythe, duduki, vocal
- Kulno Malva: accordion, bagpipes, vocal
- Juhan Suits: bagpipes, whistle, wooden horn
- Kalle Kindel: etno drums
SELECTED PRESS REVIEWS AND QUOTES:
“An intriguing cd of high quality” (Eelco Schilder, Folkworld.de)
“A great folk band with often beautiful and sometimes just straight on easy-folk” (Eelco Schilder, Folkworld.de)
“I did enjoy Svjata Vatra very very much. Svjata Vatra has the same drive, energy and solid roots in both ethnic musik, rock and jazz as fx Mano Negra (Manu Chao).” (Jan Sneum, Danish Broadcasting Company)
“I must say that one of the best concerts I saw at the Tallinn Music Week was the one by Svjata Vatra. Out of the bands I caught Svjata Vatra stood out as a great live band with a broader appeal than the genre would normally allow. Svjata had an energetic authentic mix of eastern europe balkan and the baltics folk – any audience is guaranteed a good time and an exceptional musical experience. The way they do their thing relaxed and honest really gets to you. I like the mix of Estonia and Ukraine, and i especially loved the vocals, trombone and acordian. Their show is really professional and at the same time honest and relaxed – it is always nice to see a band that easily breaks the edge of the stage. It just comes natural to them and that’s rare nowadays. They can play at any european festival with a broad genre-profile.” (Jesper Borup, Danish Rock Council)
“Trust me – it is hard to describe music. It is real pleasure to listen it, and to feel sunrise or lights of night sky at the process of listening. It is real pleasure to understand that music has no borders nor distances, it really unites nations and countries. Like the music proposed to listeners by Svjata Vatra. I remember my emotions during the concerts by Haydamaky with its very dynamic compositions and songs, with its soul of Ukraine, became the part of European soul now. I remember my interviews with the Haydamaky musicians and my interview with Ruslan Trochynskyi, who became the Svjata Vatra “father” and the “cultural ambassador” of Ukraine to Estonia. I hope, Ruslan and his friends are to continue their musical energetic show, which is needed by listeners not only in Estonia or Ukraine but in many corners of the world. Because the music, proposed by them – is world music, based on deep light memories of generations, built into modern compositions.” (Bohdana Kostiuk, Ukraine)
SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
- “Zillja Zelenen‘ke” (2010)
- “Kalyna” (2008)
- “Svjata Vatra” (2006)
SELECTED VIDEOS:
SELECTED PERFORMANCES:
- Tallinn City Theatre, Opening show of Tallinn 2011 – Cultural Capital of Europe (2011)
- LIFEM: London International Festival of Exploratory Music, UK (2010)
- Viljandi Folk Music Festival, Estonia (2010)
- Positivus Festival, Latvia (2010)
- Baltic Sea Tour with 6 historic Viking ships, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Gotland, Sweden, Finland (2010)
- Sunsation Festival, Netherlands (2010)
- World Day Festival, Estonia (20101)
- Tallinn Music Week, Estonia (2010)
- EuroSonic Noorderslag, Netherlands (2010)
- Världs Kultur Festival, Sweden (2009)
- Viru Folk Festival, Estonia (2009)
- Svirzh World Music Festival, Ukraine (2009)
- FelSziget Festival, Romania (2009)
- Viljandi Folk Music Festival, Estonia (2009)
- Fest Baltik Rand, Estonia (2009)
- Colours Of Ostrava Festival, Czech Republic (2009)
- Haapavesi Folk Festival, Finland (2009)
- Tallinn Music Week, Estonia (2009)
- Festival Balijas Saule, Latvia (2008)
- Urkult Festival, Sweden (2008)
- Viljandi Folk Music Festival, Estonia (2008)
- Fljugery L’vova Lvov, Ukraine (2008)
- European Day, Moskva, Russia (2008)
- Opening of Estonian Traditional Music Centre, Viljandi, Estonia (2008)
- Festival Les Transeuropeennes, France (2008)
SONGS:
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