Marynka

I was born in Moscow and raised to be an “always ready” Pioneer. Looking back I can see I was always searching for freedom and life through music, even during my childhood in the ~~Soviet System. I studied composition (Moskow Muziek school; HK Utrecht) and performance (Theatre Academie, Moskow; Klein Kunst Academie, Amsterdam) and play the piano, organ, accordian and melodica. I was performing in Russia often until 1989, when I was able to relocate to Amsterdam, where I now live. I sing and... Meer »

I was born in Moscow and raised to be an “always ready” Pioneer. Looking back I can see I was always searching for freedom and life through music, even during my childhood in the ~~Soviet System. I studied composition (Moskow Muziek school; HK Utrecht) and performance (Theatre Academie, Moskow; Klein Kunst Academie, Amsterdam) and play the piano, organ, accordian and melodica. I was performing in Russia often until 1989, when I was able to relocate to Amsterdam, where I now live. I sing and play a mixture of musical styles, which includes dance, folk, traditional Russian and cabaret. I see magic and adventure and love all around me and I try to write and play these feelings.

I have been actively recording music for CD releases in Amsterdam with Texas Mike Stewart (the Gourds, Jewel in the Mire, Skip the Rush) since 2002, and more recently 2003-2005 also with DJ Goldfinger (Salon USSR) and Rob Kloet (the Nits). I have been composing music for various film projects in 2004 and 2005 including the Dood & Rauw film for deaf and mute children with a brilliant animation that matches with the music beautifully.

In 2002 and 2003 I travelled to America, German and Denmark to perform. In 2004 adding the UK and more American shows to the big list….. Please see added to this letter a total list of shows in recent years.

In 2004 I experimented with a small International Women’s Day show in Amsterdam. It was good. My friend Raisa Pinchuk came and sang some acapella Russian songs. Mike and Meinrad Kneer played with me, we had fashion show with the artist/designer Nina Konstanti. `this little show was really successful and gave me the idea to pursue doing small extravanganza shows each year for International Womens day.

In 2003 i was able to release my first cd of my own songs and to the public. It was a long time coming but the this collection of music called “Privet” (meaning hello in Russian) is a beautiful painting of feelings from my head and heart and is now released in France, Benelux, the UK and The Nederlands. I have been working on new recordings for a few months, they are now complete and will be released in the spring of 2006.......

I always am trying to write songs about things that are meaningful to me. My newest songs are much further along than the first cd in regard to my life and my history. The Russian texts are very deep and beautiful and I hope other people will see this. Luckily we were able to surround this songs with deep and beautiful music. The songs en Francais’ have been kind of an experiment for me, to write in a language I do not really speak, so I took some French lessons from a fun friend and think it goes ok. Meanwhile my French has gotten a lot better.....

Sometimes people give me little bit of a hard time about always writing songs about love and happy things. Frankly, I think this is a great thing! There is a lot of pain and grief in the world and I would like to think that my songs and singing are helping to balance out this and perhaps help make the world a better place. It is also true that on the next cd there are some songs about other topics. Darker and possibly sexier, (so maybe these people who give me a hard time will be satisfied?). And, yes, there are also songs about love and hopes and dreams and wishes. Perhaps the new cd will be more balanced for more people, letting everyone know I have all of these sides to me”

Very recently, i have been busy with a new multi-media performance project celebrating 100 years of Daniil Charms. MARYNKA participates this Charms project as a writer and performer. I have composed music to go with his stories and will perform these along with Elena Kravtchenko, Stas Kovaljov, DJ Goldfinger and a film made by Texas Mike. The performances are 28 november, 2005 in Rotterdam, Lantaren Venster and 11 december, 2005 in Amsterdam, de Cameleon. More info at www.daniilcharms.nl

My website contains a lot of information about things in my professional life so please feel free to look there. www.marynkanicolai.com

Thank you for your attention to my words


Marynka « Minder