Bios of Muha's band members

Iryna Muha, Ukrainian born multi -instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and animator started to develop finger -picking guitar style at 15 years old at a Soviet school in Darkhan, Mongolia. Later she studied vocals in her native town Vinnitsa, Ukraine and matured her talents in America.
Iryna’s early music was influenced by her mother's singing at home and the Russian “table songs”- the traditional folk songs that are sang at parties by all the people around the table at family gatherings. This influence can still be heard at Iryna’s unique vocal style. In her teens Iryna was a big fan of Russian stars of rock and pop music of the 80th- Boris Grebenschikov, Konstantin Kinchev, Zhanna Aguzarova and Victor Tsoi. Having a keen interest in world music, Iryna explores traditional instruments from different cultures from harmonica to jews-harp and berimbau.
Iryna came to the UK in 2003 to study Design under the British Council 911 Scholarship and made the UK her new home. As a student, she was a finalist of the Shine 2006 and met the Prime Minister Tony Blair at 10 Downing street.
Iryna writes and sings from her own experiences: 'Life is a journey, a road with sometimes unexpected turns. But everything comes and everything goes; and tomorrow will be just another day.'

Dmitry Fedotov is a renowned Latvian guitarist, composer, arranger perhaps has done everything possible in his 27 years of music career which started in Soviet-occupied Latvia in the early 80th.
The life of free spirit leader of popular Latvian heavy metal band Pilgrim was rather complicated in communist country, where music, along with everything else, was under strict censorship.
Since he moved to the UK in 1990, Dmitry has worked in music production and performance alongside teaching music, giving a good start to many musicians over the years. Dmitry has mastered the guitar to a level where his fingers fly effortless up and down the neck in split seconds. None of his live acts are identical as he improvises depending on the atmosphere, the audience and the gadgets he might find by his side (like a pint glass for slide technique).
Dmitry Fedotov is also the person behind all Muha’s studio recordings and mixing.

Louise Clements- bass player/ percussionist in Muha since 2008, she also incorporates vocal rhythms from Kathak - a North Indian Classical Dance, including Teentaal (16 beat cycle) and Jhaptaal (10 beat cycle).
With British- Armenian roots Louise is from a family of musicians, raised in the New Forest her professional career spans work as a curator/artist/dancer/writer/musician.
Currently working as Senior Curator in QUAD center for Art and Film, Director Curator for FORMAT International Photography Festival Derby and Kathak Dancer with Manushi Dance Company, alongside; writing, running workshops and other contemporary art collaborations for performance or exhibition. She lives by the saying: ‘Work like you don’t need the money. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Dance like nobody is watching.’

Nikki Mckenzie - Nottingham born, started to play drumkit by taking lessons in jazz and Latin music from Victor Scott (junk4funk workshops) . Nikki has been playing drumkit for about six years, but started to play percussion in band with friends as they already had a drummer! Main influences are funk and latin disco with lively busy bongos and cowbells/blocks included. Nikki's interests have always been been in the rhythms and influenced by many jazz, Latin and Afrobeat players. Joined Muha in 2011.

Olga Shafikova- Russian born pianist has a classical music background. She studied in specialized music school of Moscow conservatory and in 2001 received a scholarship to study piano solo and then piano accompaniment at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

From an early age she has been performing as a soloist, accompanist and an ensemble musician in the UK and worldwide in some of the most prestigious venues including London Cadogan Hall and St. Martin-in-the Fields at Trafalgar Square. Olga currently teaches music in a secondary school as well teaching the piano and performing both as a soloist and an accompanist. She fell in love with Muha’s unique style straight away and loves to experiment together with them.

We enjoy collaborations with a variety of musicians and artists. See who we are working with - artists appearing with us