DakhaBrakha is music quartet from Kyiv, Ukraine. Reflecting fundamental elements of sound and soul, Ukrainian “ethno chaos” band DakhaBrakha creates a world of unexpected new music.

DakhaBrakha was created in 2004 at the Kyiv Center of Contemporary Art “DAKH” by the avant-garde theatre director – Vladyslav Troitskyi – and given the name that means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language. Theatre work has left its mark on the band performances – their shows are always staged with a strong visual element.

After experimenting with Ukrainian folk music, the band has added rhythms of the surrounding world into their music, thus creating the bright, unique and unforgettable sound of DakhaBrakha. They strive to help open up the potential of Ukrainian melodies and to bring it to the hearts and consciousness of the younger generation in Ukraine and the rest of the world as well.

Accompanied by Indian, Arabic, African, and Ukrainian traditional instrumentation, the quartet’s astonishingly powerful and uncompromising vocal range creates a trans-national sound rooted in Ukrainian culture. At the crossroads of Ukrainian folklore and theater, their musical spectrum is at first intimate then riotous, plumbing the depths of contemporary roots and rhythms, inspiring “cultural and artistic liberation”.

In March 2010, DakhaBrakha won the prestigious Grand Prix prize named after S.Kuriokhin, in the sphere of contemporary art, and confirmed its place in the culture once again. In March 2011 DakhaBrakha was discovered by Australian Womadelaide and began their ascent in the international music scene. They have since played more than 300 concerts and performances and have taken part in major international festivals throughout Eastern and Western Europe, Russia, Asia, Australia, and North America. DakhaBrakha has also collaborated with such international musicians as: Port Mone (By), Kimmo Pohjonen Cluster (Fi), Karl Frierson (DePhazz) (Ge), Steve Cooney (IRL), Inna Zhelannaya (Ru), Kievbass (UA), Djam (UA-Iran), and David Ingibaryan (Hu).

Way into the windy halls of human emotions, Big Boss Bubeleh holds a light-as it is words, music, music and words that make this place sensible again. Influenced by our world’s expansive musical culture/history and geographically united in San Diego from much further pebbles, their language shifts frequently and so do the scales. And needing to move their ancient muses back into the foreground, their songs are categorized in gypsy jazzy klezmer pop.

Yael and Vlady began their collaboration in life, love and songwriting years ago and released their first LP, Delicious in ze Middle in 2012. They are the symbiotic hearts of the Big Boss Bubeleh band, and gather other musicians to beat along. Their collective sound of guitar and violin, their groovy bass, their variously crafted melodies make each of their performances uniquely entertaining and stimulating.

Their second LP called A Droite, released in 2017 is an evolution of their forces together. The 14 song bushel connects new musician friends into the Big Boss Bubeleh band, and even keeps a couple of our departed friends remembered. The work was greatly appreciated by the local music reviewers and pushes BBB gently into their latest endeavor, the making of a live recording album. Stay tuned!