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 participated in international students festivals and events.
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.
Richard Kensington- percussionist in MuHa since 2005, has been playing music professionally since 1998 working with Latin, jazz and world musicians worldwide. He studied percussion over the years from Cuban Rumbero Santiago Garzon Rill aka 'Chaguito' who is Richard's teacher in Havana. Along with his continuous collaborations with a wide variety of music projects, Richard delivers workshops for children at Nottingham music school. Being a percussionist for well-known Nottingham band Mas-Y-Mas, Richard has developed a unique African beat style, elements of which he brings to MuHa band. Richard’s act is rich with different percussion instruments he uses from congas and cajon to the bodhran, his passion, -a nod to his Irish roots.
Louise Clements- percussionist in MuHa since 2008, incorporating Kathak rhythms (North Indian Classical Dance) from Teentaal (16 beat cycle) and Jhaptaal (10 beat cycle), she experiments with a variety of percussion instruments from Kathak Bells, drums, rain, thunder, Kathak vocal rhythms and other inventions to create an atmospheric soundscape.
From Anglo-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 and 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.’
Richard Grindon having been a musician for 20 years, Richard has played in many bands and has experience of many different styles, which he brings to MuHa band. Percussionist since 2009, Richard’s roots are varied from death metal, jazz, funk and breakbeat, to more recent projects such as traditional balkan music, complex solo ostinato arrangements and gabba collaboration Organotronic.
Richard is well known for his speed drumming and is recognised as one of the fastest drummers in the UK, playing in Derby based four piece death metal band Lordaeron and Nottingham Prog metal outfit Insidious (both on Unionblack records).
Always seeking out new styles and musical experiences, Richard brings his own unique style and pace to MuHa band.
Musicians also played with us:
Claire Stewart- a classically trained violin player is in MuHa
band since 2008. Claire moved from Scotland to work as a
doctor in the East Midlands area. Since her move in 2006, she established herself as violin player in several projects, including Derby based experimental art/ jazz/ spoken word band Dust Collectors.
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 participated in international students festivals and events.
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.
Richard Kensington- percussionist in MuHa since 2005, has been playing music professionally since 1998 working with Latin, jazz and world musicians worldwide. He studied percussion over the years from Cuban Rumbero Santiago Garzon Rill aka 'Chaguito' who is Richard's teacher in Havana. Along with his continuous collaborations with a wide variety of music projects, Richard delivers workshops for children at Nottingham music school. Being a percussionist for well-known Nottingham band Mas-Y-Mas, Richard has developed a unique African beat style, elements of which he brings to MuHa band. Richard’s act is rich with different percussion instruments he uses from congas and cajon to the bodhran, his passion, -a nod to his Irish roots.
Louise Clements- percussionist in MuHa since 2008, incorporating Kathak rhythms (North Indian Classical Dance) from Teentaal (16 beat cycle) and Jhaptaal (10 beat cycle), she experiments with a variety of percussion instruments from Kathak Bells, drums, rain, thunder, Kathak vocal rhythms and other inventions to create an atmospheric soundscape.
From Anglo-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 and 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.’
Richard Grindon having been a musician for 20 years, Richard has played in many bands and has experience of many different styles, which he brings to MuHa band. Percussionist since 2009, Richard’s roots are varied from death metal, jazz, funk and breakbeat, to more recent projects such as traditional balkan music, complex solo ostinato arrangements and gabba collaboration Organotronic.
Richard is well known for his speed drumming and is recognised as one of the fastest drummers in the UK, playing in Derby based four piece death metal band Lordaeron and Nottingham Prog metal outfit Insidious (both on Unionblack records).
Always seeking out new styles and musical experiences, Richard brings his own unique style and pace to MuHa band.
Claire Stewart- a classically trained violin player is in MuHa
band since 2008. Claire moved from Scotland to work as a
doctor in the East Midlands area. Since her move in 2006, she established herself as violin player in several projects, including Derby based experimental art/ jazz/ spoken word band Dust Collectors.
