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!

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!

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.

The schedule was very tight. In 4 days we had to rehearse all the material, cover 700 kilometres ( about 500 miles) in a dusty falling apart van and play two gigs. What I can not stop admiring about Ukraine is that there is not much planning ahead or planning altogether going on. Nevertheless, things seem to fall in place and happen on their own at the last minute.

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.

HELP US RAISE THE MONEY FOR THE WAR CHILD

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 video is finished, BrettMetal films are presenting us their work on Tuesday and I’ve heard it is breathtaking! Below is the cover I designed for a DVD. Still have to do extra features for a DVD- an interview and production of DVD itself. You can still have your name in the credits and receive other perks, visit the project page by clicking the box below.

In April this year we travelled to Ukraine to share Muha music with the Ukrainian audience for the first time. From English side we had Richard Kensington on percussion and myself ( Iryna) on guitar and vocals. From Ukrainian side we had my old good friends Constant Bushinsky on guitar and Natasha Kasyanchyk Utesheva on Ukrainian dombra.
In my native town of Vinnitsa we headlined international acoustic music festival Vesela Pysanka. The schedule was very tight, we had only 5 hours in town for all our logistics, vodka shots, soundcheck and rehearsal – the only one we managed to fit in with Natasha, the video of which find below.

It was a fantastic experience to sing to the audience that lives at the place where my music is coming from on a first place. It was very important for me to see they loved the songs, they understood the lyrics and music – I felt I do something real , still rooted in my culture even though I live abroad for many years.

Like other artists from various cultures living and working in the UK, I was looking inside myself trying to explore my national identity . I was finding that I felt like a foreigner in my own country , but I am not English in England either- ‘ vague national identity’ -as a double base player from Kiev put it.

As always, I have so many thoughts and feelings to go through after the trip to my dear Ukraine . It will take me some time to ‘mind-heart’ process them and I’ll treat you with some new songs that are coming from the Ukrainian land. In a meantime please enjoy this rehearsal with MuHa UA.

Almost 10 years ago Iryna Muha lost her father Iouri Mouchiski in the North Tower of the World Trade Centre in 9/11 terrorist attacks.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11 MuHa is creating music video for one of songs from their album – for the Russian folk song ‘Kaby Vedala’ – If I Only Knew.

To become a part of this project go to The Journey from The Ground Zero.

The highlight of the evening was when Ian with his beautiful wife Suely from Santos music online shop have given the kids their fantastic harmonicas from Brazil. Kids did not realise at first what was in those nice ergonomic red cases , but they quickly figured it out and were quick to start playing them.

I was lucky enough to add the missing keys of E and F to my harmonica collection and I must say Bends harmonicas from Santos music are the nicest harmonicas I now have. What I particularly like about them is a very clear sound and the fact that they have come from an ethical company. The products Santos music supplies are environmentally and humanitarian friendly, as well as of a high quality. Thank you Santos Music ! I hope more people will discover your fair-trade quality harmonicas and will enjoy playing them just like I do 

Visit their shop by clicking the logo below.