About
Arhai Project
‘the band should be on the way to conquer the European world music market …..it really is a Balkan Mantra! ‘ FolkWorld Magazine
Arhai project evolved around composer and vocalist Jovana Backovic, and in its current form it is a research into the music tradition of the Balkans and how it influences the individual music identity of the composer.
The word ‘Arhai’ has a Greek root, it can be interpreted as ‘old’, or ‘ancient’, but within the personal sound world of the author it represents the basic urge to communicate and share the musical experience.
Arhai project is based on collaborations with various musicians and with different musical/ cultural background. First release ‘Mysterion’ is done in collaboration with eight musicians who performed both composed music and arrangements of the traditional songs from the region. These compositions covered the wide range of available instrumental and vocal combinations, but still retained the individual stamp of the author as well as reflecting the specific performance of each musician. As Arhai was initially created as purely acoustic ensemble, this release represents the need of the author to follow the natural combinations of instruments in acoustic environment, However, at the same time it was a crossroad – using electric instruments changed the sound and brought new elements into music. As a group of musicians, Arhai performed for several years.
Today, Arhai is a project that can be executed as a solo performance of the author, it can include one or more musicians or a VJ, and it is based on improvisation both with musicians and musical/video material using available technology. Currently, Arhai project performs as a duo Jovana Backovic ( electronic, voice, tarabuka ) and Adrian Lever ( tambura ). The new material is due to be released early spring 2012.
