Play "Gone Crazy"
Today we played at Golden Fest, the annual Eastern-European music bonanza in New York (a photo from Romashka's set pictured here, photo by Kelly Marshall). There are lots of Roma songs I could record a capella (and maybe I will record some for this project), but for now, this melody from the famous Roma song "Nane Tsoha" was tugging at me, so here it is.
A bluesy bittersweet tune. Not sure how it came about - I was looking at LZ's jeans, and something about the way they were wallowing in the living room, shapeless and sallow made me sing this little verse. Not sure where this Billie Holiday-like vibe comes from - I don't even listen too much to her these days, but her recordings linger on, and I feel her air every time I start singing (in English, that is).
Here's some Morrocan flavor for y'all, a little Mediterranean-like dittie. I'm picturing a steamy desert dance track or a hookah lounge chill-out. I tried for a slightly longer piece yesterday to create more possibilities. 
Having spent much of the day listening to Charles Ives, Gabriel Fauré, and Leoš Janáček , I wanted to record something that sounded pure, classical, but with a certain devilish magnetic pull that those composers' music has on me. The result wasn't perfect, but I relished the chance to improvize on what I was hearing in my ear and struggling to channel my voice in the right direction. 
Here's a quick & lighthearted sample from our brewery - day 2 of Vox365! I'd like to hear this sample on a groovy Latin tune... or a somber lounge track that needs some sunshine... or a burnt-out rocker ballad for a shot of caffeine. 
I set out to record a vocal sample for a tri-borough+beyond famous DJ. Over the weekend, we ran into each other and talked about recording a track inspired by the style of Russian romances. So tonight, musing about this new Vox365 project, I found a book of poetry by Alexander Blok on our book shelf, and this poem sang itself off the page. Ljova pitched in with tasty harmonies, and a song was born. Still in demo stage. | Russian-Alexander Blok Одинокий, к тебе прихожу, Околдован огнями любви. Ты гадаешь.- Меня не зови.- Я и сам уж давно ворожу. От тяжелого бремени лет Я спасался одной ворожбой И опять ворожу над тобой, Но не ясен и смутен ответ. Ворожбой полоненные дни Я лелею года,- не зови... Только скоро ль погаснут огни Заколдованной темной любви? | English Transl.DRAFT-Inna Barmash All alone, I appear before you, I'm bewitched by the blaze of your love. You tell fortunes-but don't you tempt me I myself have cast spells for too long From the turbulent burden of years Telling fortunes-my only relief Once again I divine your tea leaves, But your fortune is clouded with tears My days teeming with fortunes of yore I cling on to those years-don't tempt me... But can flames be extinguished at last (of)This bewitching, coal-dark gypsy love? |
