MuHa blog

We were humbled  to learn that our music  has inspired this fabulous painting by a  Scottish artist Brian Barclay .

The  female figure in this painting  is based on Brian’s  Ukrainian wife Svitlana and the painting itself was ‘…inspired by the musical feel of [MuHa song]  Kaby Vedala’.

This is  the best compliment we could have received for our music and we would like to thank Brian for  sharing his beautiful vision of Kaby Vedala  with us.

Brian Barclay's vision of Kaby Vedala

As a xmas treat we have heard the news from Zeng Tu- the director of Chinese animation studio that had been working  on movie for our album titled song TARAS for the last 8 months.

I was humbled and overjoyed with the storyboard we just received, it looks epic. It’s distinctive Asian style adds yet another dimension to the meaning of our music.

Thanks to Louise Clements- the bass player in MuHa, a great  woman  who have friends from all over the world- we have this amazing opportunity to create a Chinese animation on Ukrainian famous epic theme Taras Bulba,  which is expected to be released early in 2012. Best xmas ever!

In 2011 MuHa had a few changes with the band members.

Olya Shafikova- a classically trained pianist from Moscow, now living in Nottingham, joined MuHa in the spring. Olya notated all MuHa material ( now our music is recorded on paper as well!) and only after a few rehearsals she began gigging with us, including Nottingham Riverside festival and September 11 concert. Our fans already had been telling us how well piano fits with the music and we are looking forward for more music and fun times with Olya.

This year was challenging for MuHa percussion section. Richard Grindon decided to take his drumming career on a higher level and enrolled to the Guilford Academy of Music leaving Nottingham in September 2011. We wish him all the best luck and future great achievements in music as he has all the talent to make it to the biggest stages in the country and indeed, the world.

You may have noticed that our percussionist Richard Kensington is no longer playing with us on a regular basis as the time pressures from his involvement with Mas Y Mas and the other musical projects he is working on make it difficult for him to commit to a growing gig schedule with MuHa. It has been mutually agreed that it is better to have consistency in the band for the sake of band cohesion and audience expectation so Colm O’Hanlon has stepped in and will now be playing percussion with MuHa as the regular percussionist.

Colm already played many gigs with MuHa and, I must say, it is very enjoyable to work with him. In his music Colm is always giving very careful attention to what he is doing and keeps the time really well. As an additional bonus to the group- Colm is a problem solver- before I even think there is a problem- Colm has already sorted it- a very helpful skill for everything that goes on behind the stage before the performance!

We continue to collaborate with various musicians and keep our mind open to new possible opportunities and developments. Looking forward to see what 2012 brings to us, wishing you all the wellness and happy holidays!

As we continue to overview MuHa 2011, I shall mention Kaby Vedala music video and September 11 concert. All the developments of the video production were covered earlier in this blog here, here and here.  The end result from BrettMetal Films –  ’a beautiful tribute to a terrible event ‘ (Skinder Hundal) – is perhaps the best way I could have shown my response; promote beauty of life, peace, and stay away from any aggression .

It was a painful project for me personally on physical and emotional levels from the first freezing shooting day and ending with September 11 concert.  I have chosen to speak up about my 9/11 American experience to the MuHa audience, media and friends.  Though 10 years later in England this topic did generate some interest and we managed to get a bit of media coverage of our project, I felt it was not something English people were too passionate to commemorate. Understandingly, 10 years after-  9/11 events  are  not more than a history that affected the world of today in various, mostly non positive ways. Besides, America with its foreign policies is not a very popular country here in the UK among free thinking educated people.

Nevertheless, ’ 9/11 UK community ‘  commemorated the anniversary with a usual passion. Through this project I was lucky to meet    Rob Halligan – musician, broadcaster fro Coventry who, like myself,  lost his father in 9/11. He and his family welcomed me in his house and we talked about 9/11 and music in his radio show.

September 11 Concert at Nottingham contemporary Caffe Bar happened to be more of MuHa’s family and friends community support event rather than a big scale commemoration event I initially hoped for. Looking back at it however , I am happy it happened this way. It was great to see close friends and friends of a friends supporting the event. I am very happy to say special thanks to Manushi Dance Company lead by a beautiful woman Vina Ladwa; Ling Peng with her amazing Erhu playing; Abel Chaude on clarinet;  Richard Kensington on percussion; Emma Mario organizing fundraising;  Ste Alan for booking us such a beautiful venue; Steve Barnet for a great sound; photographer Robert Balmer and all the people who came and helped us to raise money for the War Child charity.

It was an amazing experience to work with all the people who were involved in one way or another, but to be completely honest, I am happy the project is over and we can concentrate on our future collaborations,  including animation project with Chinese studio…. oops… not to spoil the surprise- will leave it to 2012!

in April 2011 half of MuHa went to Ukraine on a mini tour. Our Ukrainian friends Nikita Schyr and Volodymir Vojchishin from Vinnitsa ( town where I grew up) invited us for a collaboration project to play at Pysanka- International World Music festival.

I was very happy to travel to my native town with the gig for the first time. As our audience is the west, I was eager to find out how our music is be perceived by the people I draw my inspiration from. The other idea was to recreate MuHa songs with Ukrainian based musicians. From the UK band we had Richard Kensington on percussion and myself on lead guitar/vocals; from Ukraine we had Constantin Bushinsky on solo guitar and Natasha Kasyanchyk
on dombra- the house of Sun instrument.

It was an unusual experience to sing the audience that does actually understands the lyrics. As a writer I have to say the truth in my songs, otherwise they will not be true songs. But to write and perform yourself inside out to the audience, opening up the vulnerable sides- its a sort of a bravery. It has been always easy for me in England and I try express the emotions and the energy with my performance, the details are left unknown, therefore I safe The Ukrainian audience did understand the lyrics, and you know what- I loved it. The songs appeared to have another dimension to them.

Playing with Constantin and Natasha was such a privilege. I feel very lucky to know such good musicians, but most importantly such amazing people!

2011 MuHa UA project was born.

One of the things that New York doesn’t want to be known for, but is too obvious to ignore – is the amount of homeless people and people with obvious mental problems on the streets. Private medical care system combined with the money oriented society and demanding life pace in this megapolis perhaps are the most contributing factors to this dark side of New York.

It is easy to spot these people as they stand out from the crowd shouting or talking to themselves, crying then laughing the next moment or just standing or wandering with an absent face.

During the week preceding to the 10th anniversary of 9/11 I was listening to the monologue of a woman in a subway. She was on her own, but she talked very expressively to someone appearing to be on her left hand side as she was continually looking there as if she had a companion at that spot.

Interestingly, what she was saying was not all nonsense , it was a normal conversation… except she was having it to herself. She was talking about various things jumping from one topic to another. At one point she discussed the Freedom Tower- the fortress-like skyscraper that they are building on the WTC site and that will be the tallest building in the United States and one of the tallest in the world.

The woman said ‘ Why are they building this Freedom tower? What America wants to prove to the world?’ – Wow, I thought- she says exactly what I think about this! Then she continued with ‘ America doesn’t need to prove anything to the world- we ARE the best’ …

But there was nothing strange about this sentence either – it is a very popular view in America – this is how most Americans perceive themselves and their country in a global context. It was however strange and ironic to hear it from this poor woman talking to herself in a subway carriage.

The look of a Freedom Tower ( or WTC 1) when it is finished in 2013

I thought I will put a link to this sarcastic image as well – as to my opinion America hasn’t learnt to be humble.

they dropped all my slightly political lines and left only personal? 9/11 is both- political and personal. and both sides should have passed the editor? Is @Central news very careful about what they say? I thought the television is free in the UK?

HELP US RAISE THE MONEY FOR THE WAR CHILD

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11 in Nottingham MuHa will be hosting a charity September 11 Concert with invited artists.

Confirmed Artists so far:

MuHa
Ling Peng- Erhu player from China
Olya Shafikova- pianist from Moscow
Manushi Dance Company – Classical Indian Kathak dance
Abel Chaudé ( France)
Richard Kensington- Cuban percussionist from Nottingham

BRING A CANDLE

Our Charity is the War Child – they help children affected by war and terrorism. Emma Mario is an organiser of the fundraising. Please donate online to the War Child

Observing my music experiences, I noticed that the certain patterns exist- they change from one to another like waves in the ocean.

Most of the time it’s hard work – recording, booking, promotion, reheasing, producing, orginising. There are also fun times of live shows and dancing around the fire. There is travelling part when the tunes are being born to turn into songs. And there is Silence when I feel to be quiet – thats when experiences are being transformed into ideas and The Ways are chosen.

I am Silent.

The Journey from The Ground Zero campaign is now officially closed. We have 11 contributors, thank you very much for your support! They are:

Olena Pavlova
Viet-Hai Phung
Yuriy Ushakov
Lourdes Benegas Cabezos
Frederique Poujades
Wendy Johnston
Helena Suarez
Rocchino Franchelli
Peter Zabulis
Paulina Bark
CHILLED PRODUCE

The Thank you cards are coming out to the supporters next week and the DVDs will be following a bit later as we decided to add extra feature – the interview and the making of the video.

Indeed, we managed to raise only about 5% of required budget and will have to cut down on some things, but we are very happy with the support we had , even if it did not materialise in monetary value.

Once again, thank you for every single person supported us, including The Nottingham Evening Post and Grantham Journal for covering the story.