The women in Kitka are fearless sonic explorers, and you can hear their intrepid spirit in every haunting song. For four decades, the nine-woman Oakland ensemble has developed a vast, breathtaking repertoire of traditional songs from the Balkans, Caucasus and Slavic lands, as well as new material composed for the group drawing on those traditional vocal practices. Traveling to rural communities in Armenia and Bulgaria, Ukraine and Georgia, Serbia and Turkey, they’ve gathered songs and communed with elders who are often the last links to centuries-old traditions. The ravishing textures of the women’s voices, unearthly cadences, angular rhythms and unfamiliar languages make Kitka’s performances an enthralling experience.


Banner image credits: Dandelion photo by William Wayland, Baba photo by Dorian Šilec Petek; Kitka forest photos by Velvy Appleton; Kitka line and hearth photos by Vincent Louis Carrella; Kitka sunset photo by Tomas Pacha.