Tag: DakhaBrakha

The Year of the Roller Coaster

The Chinese name their lunar years after the animals in their zodiac. These revolve in a twelve year cycle. In a few weeks, we will be in year of the snake. All sorts of propitious things are promised. But then, the year of the dragon, which we are leaving, predicted all sorts of good fortune too.

Not wanting to be left out, I’ve decided to name my years – not according to any zodiacal sign but simply on their merits. In my system, names are applied retrospectively so that a more accurate nomenclature will apply. Last year was definitely the year of the roller coaster.

Roller coaster in grey Image: Priscilla du Preez on Unsplash

A worrisome year

2024 seemed to offer nothing but bad news (and I’m not even beginning to comment on world affairs). My brother-in-law died, my best friend from graduate school had a catastrophic stroke and too many friends were given awful diagnoses.

As a consequence, rather than looking forward to 2025 with hope, I looked to it with trepidation, knowing that at least some of those mentioned would not make it until 2026. I wasn’t sure that I had the stamina to cope.

Then I did something that shifted everything into perspective. I went through my new diary putting in birthdays, medical appointments and anniversaries as usual, but this time, I wrote on a separate sheet any good thing that had happened in a month. It didn’t have to be big or Instagram-worthy – it just had to be good.

A pleasant surprise

What I discovered was that every month had at least one happy event (and often more), which a cloud of worry had made me forget. Furthermore, on closer inspection, I realised that these events were giving me hints on how to cope when life most certainly wasn’t going to plan.

Let’s face the music and dance

Having last seen a professional live band sometime in the 1980’s, it was rather brilliant to see two this past year. I have Mariia to thank for this.

In concert in Brighton Image: Mariia Matrunich

In January, we got to see the wonderful Dakha Brakha. Their skill as musicians and the moving imagery projected behind was a reminder that even when the worst occurs (invasion by a wicked superpower pretty much tops the list) that joy and beauty can still be found.

And in April, we got to see Ukraine’s top band, Ocean Elsa. It was a poignant experience with most of the audience composed of displaced Ukrainians. The performance gave them a taste of home.

This band, like Dakha Brakha, have used their international tours to remind others of the difficulties those in Ukraine continue to endure and to raise funds for the war effort.

When Ocean Elsa’s performance was interrupted recently in Kyiv by the air raid sirens, they continued the concert in the underground station. In doing so, they thrilled their fans and reminded them that the spirit cannot be silenced.

(The video above was taken by Mariia’s friend and content creator for the band, Oleksandra Hyzha)

Art to console and inspire

In almost every month, I took advantage of trips to galleries and exhibitions. Both our holidays centred around places of especially wonderful architecture and art. Vienna (June) was designed as a huge visual spectacle and Venice (September) was a veritable 3D picture postcard.

Vienna’s centre was built to impress and residents are rightly proud to live in such a city. For the purpose of this blog, it was an area on the periphery that interested me. Here, the architect Hundertwasser had designed social housing that would uplift the hearts of those struggling financially and bring joy to even the hardest day. His use of vibrant colour and inclusion of nature tried to show that even the most modest housing stock need not be depressingly grey.

The Art House that exemplifies Hundertwasser’s unique style. Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

Venice, magnificent though it is, lacks soul. The grand piazzas and glorious facades are designed to impress. It is architectural conspicuous consumption. Though we may gaze in awe, we are not included in its glories.

The churches in Padua, in contrast, were a kind of exaltation. Their exquisite frescoes, paintings, tile and marquetry were commissioned in the service of God. Everyone was welcome to both wonder at their beauty and to bring their concerns. Padua is an important pilgrimage site and if you have any faith or none, the churches offered consolation in a difficult world.

In the company of friends

Few days, let alone weeks went by without visits to friends – some regular meetings like craft club and others more occasional, like my university friends’ annual reunion. All of them reminded me that nothing material can come close to the joy that shared companionship brings and any effort needed to host or entertain is rewarded with double in laughter and boosted morale.

My 60th in May provided a great opportunity to bring friends and family together and set the decade off on a positive note.

May sunshine, friends and Prosecco – what more could one want? Image: Karen Costello-McFeat

And so my diary went on: a coffee morning here, a visit from my son there. Over and over I had been blessed with joy in one form or another. And reading through it, I realised that I had fallen for the pity-party narrative when I should have been rejoicing at my good fortune. Yes, the year has brought a plethora of problems and yet, should I focus on these, I would lose that most valuable attribute: hope.

So, if you are feeling a little ground down by life, you might like to review the good times and remember that though the roller coaster lurches downwards for what can seem an eternity, it will climb again soon.

DakhaBrakha

One of the great pleasures of hosting someone from another land is that you get to learn all about their country to a depth that would not be possible without actually going and living there.

If you’d asked me about Ukraine two years ago, I would have said that it was once a part of Russia, that it was ‘the bread basket of the USSR’ and that Stalin was utterly evil to them. I may even have been able to find it on the map.

Mariia has encouraged us to learn more of the history and culture and especially about the music. She is rather an aficionado on the subject and has shared her knowledge.

DakhaBrakha ‘at home’. Image: Andriy Petryna

A unique sound

One of her favourite bands is DakhaBrakha. The group’s name means give and take in Old Ukrainian and their live performances are certainly a transfer of energy from band to audience and back. How would I describe them? I would venture to say that they are folk music for the 21st century; they describe themselves as ‘ethnic chaos’.

Chaos is perhaps too strong a word for a group whose musical talents are extraordinary. The vocals and instrumentals are worthy of any classical quartet – but there is a little controlled chaos in the unexpected, joyful turns their compositions take.

They met at the Kyiv Centre of Contemporary Art and their shows definitely have the flavour of the theatre. But I get ahead of myself.

The reason I am writing this is because for the first time in an age, I went to a live gig. Mariia – using her inimitable charm – managed to source a spare ticket even after they had sold out. My son, Greg, who had seen the band in Portland, Maine had very thoughtfully and kindly sent her two tickets for Christmas. But Mariia wanted us all to go. I would have to swallow my anxiety, organise the dog and stay awake to join them. I’m glad to say I succeeded in all three.

Close to home

The venue was nearby at the Attenborough Centre on the University of Sussex campus. We couldn’t ask for anything more convenient.

Dressed to impress in our Ukrainian shirts

And the venue was more than kind. Since these were standing only tickets, we had to notify them that I’d need a seat. Upon arrival, they escorted us to the auditorium and pointed out our reserved seats close to the stage but cordoned off from the audience. As I was a little worried about infection, this was an additional boon.

The warm up act came on promptly and was so strange (this is Brighton remember) that Mariia whispered to me that it was a deliberate ploy to make DakhaBrakha look normal. I laughed. The singer was seriously alternative and I’m not quite sure how she made her music. This is how she is described on Sound Cloud. ‘Bunty is the avant-pop project of artist and vocal improviser, Kassia Zermon. Best known for pioneering underground experimental vocal loop shows and fronting UK leading Dub act Resonators.’ Confused? Don’t worry – she was actually brilliant. One just had to relax and go with it.

The main act

Now sufficiently ‘groovy’, we were ready for the main act. The band came on punctually and launched into their new work. This was rather more melancholy that their usual fare, but they were, after all, trying to highlight the plight of Ukraine in this dreadful war.

Stage set Image: Mariia Matrunich

As an act of persuasion, this was a gentle one. The music was moving in a way that political commentary never could be. Combined with the incredible animations that reeled out behind them on stage, it was at times heart-rending.

A multimedia experience

The influence of theatre is strong with this group. Their costumes, which hark back to Cossack and traditional dress, nod to their country’s history and folk culture.

The animated backdrops give a visual dimension to their songs. The one below has the house symbolically sheltering the people underneath as ribbons of blue morph into drones falling from the sky.

Ribbons to rockets Image: Mariia Matrunich

It was, as my daughter-in-law said, extremely moving.

A unique sound

Just when I was longing for something a little more joyous, they broke into my favourite track ‘Spring’. Click hear to listen: https://soundcloud.com/mirian-gabaidze/dakhabrakha-vesna-autumn?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

It takes you through a spring day, beginning with birdsong and increasing in tempo and energy as the day takes hold and then back to the quiet as dusk falls and the birds return to the shelter of the trees. It’s rather long – so have patience.

And for those wanting a slightly quicker fix, I’ve included a clip from Jools Holland’s show, Later. For an incredibly quirky band, their popularity has grown exponentially and they now have an international following.

Having found the courage to venture outside my comfort zone, I plan to reach further still. The arts have so much to offer and I plan to be there to receive.

And I shall conclude with this outro.

In performance