Live review: Otava Yo at Rich Mix (2)

By Ellie Panton 

“Who here speaks Russian?” Asked a band member to the London crowd. A chorus of excited shouts came in response. Otava Yo are a Russian folk band, so there was a language barrier for a few audience members. However, I was not completely lost, as every song had a spoken prelude in English, allowing us to appreciate the band’s quirky humour and even learn a bit about Russian folk culture.

 One of the best things about seeing Otava Yo live was the quality of verbal, audio and visual storytelling. Certain songs had creative lighting and pre-recorded sound effects. As it happens, blue lighting, sleigh bells and the sound of howling wind can make the idea of playing a Christmas carol in March seem sensible. The band’s use of unique instrumentation was also very entertaining. Violins played quasi guitar, two pipes being played simultaneously by one person, and an iPhone being used as a bass drone (to the amusement of the other band members).

My favourite song by far was about pancakes. As we were told in the prelude, pancakes are beloved in Slavic culture, as they represent the sun: warm and circular. And as both Russia and England are in such desperate need of sunshine, the band decided to sing the song to try and summon the sun. About halfway through, the music starts to slow and slide down in pitch, coming to a halt as one of the violinists clutches his stomach and groans. Another band member asks the audience what they should do, until they come to this conclusion: he should eat just one more. And the music starts back up again.

 The skilled, boisterous band seemed to attract one of the best audiences I’ve been in. Not only were most of us dancing and participating, but the band was able to flawlessly coordinate us into a three-part clapping rhythm. But the show’s biggest strength had to be the passionate performance of infectiously catchy music that was still being hummed on the tube back home.

Photo by Merlyn Driver.

Live review: Otava Yo at University of Sheffield

By Joanna Booth

Otava Yo’s performance was intriguing from the beginning, starting with a background soundtrack of bird noises as the lights went down and the performers strolled casually on stage throughout the lively opening number. Their stage presence was cheerful and engaging and their folk tunes managed to be both dark and Slavic and utterly joyful at the same time. The traditional instrumentation and old Russian feel was balanced with a more contemporary sound which merged modern electric guitar solos into the folk texture beautifully.

It was music which told stories and with the help of humorous anecdotal introductions in English before each song, these stories rang through especially in the lovely vocals of fiddle player Yulia Usova, whose soprano voice doubled all the male voices to great effect.

Recorded sound effects returned multiple times, including film crackling to accompany a slow waltz from a very old Russian film. These kind of performance novelties really lifted the show element of the gig. Multi-instrumentalism was a definite theme of the night and a favourite with the audience was the use of pan pipes split into three sections and divided among the performers who danced whilst they played, grins on their faces and the ear flaps of their hats flapping.

By the second half they had a good portion of the audience on their feet dancing at the back of the hall and by the last song of their set list the dancers had moved to the front by the stage and the concert felt more like a festival set. This, they told us later, was first time this has happened to them in the UK and there was a feeling of such mutual delight at this that the band decided to extend their concert beyond its planned end because, as they said, the night was “only just beginning.” Judging from their popularity at this gig, it seems the same can be said of their international careers.

Otava Yo on stage. Photo by Merlyn Driver

Live review: Otava Yo at Rich Mix

By Madeleine Woodley

From the moment I walked into London’s Rich Mix I was intrigued and excited for what the night was to offer. A stage with a washing line, a wooden duck statue and over twenty different types of instruments led to all different kinds of ideas running through my head. From the beginning to the end (of the washing line) not one audience member was disappointed with what ‘Otava Yo’ brought to the stage.

The six-member band from St Petersburg completely filled the room with their delightful fusion of traditional Russian folk and contemporary music. Their motivation was clear from the beginning, to show a revival of their traditional Russian folk heritage, which some would say has been lost, whilst presenting it in a way to make it accessible to the modern listener. Their intention was evident in more than just the music: from the outfits they wore, signature tank tops, peasantry dress and ushanka hats.

The mixture of their own Russian folk songs merged with modern day instruments such as the bass and electric guitar created a sound which was lively, innovative and rich in not only colour but harmony as well. The off-beat and dance like rhythms managed to get the whole audience moving their feet.

Their 21 different instruments definitely didn’t gather any dust either, each was utilized thoroughly, and in such a creative and inventive way to enhance their performance. From the archaic Russian village instruments such as the Gusli (Russian harp), to the Violin and lots of percussion instruments in between, we went on a musical journey through the Russian countryside, with Otava Yo showing fresh and original ways to fuse different instruments with music.

A particular highlight for myself was when the musicians used an iPhone as an instrument and incorporated that into one of the most moving songs of the evening. The use of the iPhone to produce rich cello sounds, mixed with pan pipes whilst the band was singing in harmony allowed the audience to see all sides of Otava Yo. Showing how their fusion of Russian folk music didn’t just produce upbeat, dynamic and danceable tunes, but songs with true raw emotion, capable of moving the audience emotionally too. This presented so much clearer the importance of the revival of traditional Russian folk music, and how integral it was for the band to communicate this to the audience (and the world).

Otava Yo were clearly passionate about presenting Russian folk music in a way which was accessible to 21st century listeners and they did all that and more. The audience was captivated from start to finish from not only the music, but by the band themselves. Communicating with the audience in between songs, telling jokes and educating the crowd on the meaning behind the songs they sung. Creative, inspiring, and genuinely interesting, Otava Yo are definitely one to check out if you get the chance.

Otava Yo at Rich Mix Lndon. Photo by Merlyn Driver

What the audience says: Otava Yo!

Just seen the band at the RNCM in Manchester. Absolutely fantastic, already contender for best gig of the year! Thank you for playing for us!

Had a most agreeable time in Manchester last night at the RNCM catching up with the fabulous Russian folk-regenerators Otavo Yo. A wonderful evening, not a face left unsmiling. They're a simmering samovar full of great tunes. Excellent musicians, singers and, yes, entertainers. All delivered with superb musicianship, dry wit, engaging explanations, ensemble singing and dancing and lots of love. Don't miss 'em!

Best gig in a long long time!@mac_birmingham #OtavaYo! Outstanding! #music #Birmingham #stpetersburg 

Thank you for an unforgettable evening of wit, humour and wonderful joyous music at Bury St Edmunds. You came, you played, you conquered! Please come back to UK soon.

Just to say a very BIG THANK YOU to the most beautiful and talented folk musicians for an amazing performance in Bury St Edmunds.

So glad I took a chance on #OtavaYo @mac_birmingham. Just the thing to brighten up a rainy mid-week evening.

That was fantastic. Amazing music and the most infectious energy. Come back to Sheffield soon. 

Totally hooked from the start, superb gig, great musicianship.

One of the best concerts I've ever been to, even that I didn't understand much. Otava Yo ladies and gentleman! спасибо Oтава ё!

Fantastic Gig here in Sheffield last night @ the University.
* Great venue * Magic music * Superb atmosphere * Wonderful time was had by all
Very nice to see so many people dancing. Thanks Otava Yo - come back soon.  

Vibrant #OtavaYo @sage_gateshead @makingtracks_uk delicious harmonies, verve, wit & huge warmth... Splendid gig!

Saw 'em in Bristol on Tuesday. They were all the things you say, and I was struck by the thought that they'd storm any UK folk festival, especially the bigger ones.

Live review: Otava Yo at RNCM

By Ellie Sherwood

What do you expect from a performance when the first thing you see on stage is a clothes line, twenty different instruments, and a wooden duck statue? Otava Yo obviously like to entertain their audience, and tonight’s gig at RNCM was no exception.

The 6-piece band from St Petersburg played their fusion of Russian folk song and contemporary music with such energy and wit, whilst skilfully revealing their lively, extraordinary, and romantic colours. Their main motive is clear: to communicate the loss of tradition and dying of Russian folk songs, which were once so integral to Russian life. Their way of reviving this tradition is to meld the past and the present by mixing Russian folk songs with a funky bass, electric guitar, zesty riffs, and off-beat rhythms, making it very hard to not immediately get up and dance (although I’m sure this is what happens at plenty of their concerts).

Otava Yo definitely made use of the twenty different instruments on stage, which ranged from wooden spoons to bagpipes. One of my favourite parts of the performance was the way the two violins were used: often in harmony, playing a beautiful folk song melody whilst the electric instruments accompanied, bringing the songs forward into the 21stcentury.

The musicians are clearly passionate about the importance of tradition, and their commitment to reviving their folk music in such a spirited way is extremely powerful. Otava Yo’s music left the audience feeling both nostalgic for the past and excited about the present – a rare sentiment that only a band of such zeal, dedication, and talent can inspire.

A new podcast, with Otava Yo

We have a new podcast!
Featuring the inimitable Otava Yo. Presented by Colin Bass.

About grass, goats and lost bagpipes: Q&A with Otava Yo

What does your band name Otava Yo mean? 
Otava is an old agricultural term, which in Russian means 'after grass' – during summer time if you mow the grass, after couple of weeks new grass (fresh and green) will grow on the same place. To be honest not everybody in Russia knows this word. (‘yo’ is simply the transliteration of the unique Russian letter ё)

Your music has been described as Russian Beat. Can you explain? 
This description was created during our tour in Mexico in 2010. We had just recorded our first album “Once upon a time” on which for the first time we tried playing famous Russian songs in very danceable style. At a press-conference at a big world music festival a journalist asked how we would describe our music style. So the answer came to my mind straight away: Russian Beat, as an analogy to Balkan Beat (everybody knows what does it means). We try to play modern Russian folk music, based on Russian traditional music, but transformed by our minds as cosmopolitan citizens. We are trying to play current folk music, not something reconstructed. And we try to keep it alive, and not hide it in an old cozy museum.

You are from the city of St Petersburg – Can you describe your favorite music club and the music scene there? 
St Petersburg is a very big city - there are a lot of music clubs and we have played almost everywhere. Like everywhere else music clubs are full of people who come to have fun. 10 years ago we had even more clubs and more people interested in partying in clubs. Now there are many more things to do in the city besides that, so clubs have to make more of an effort to attract their audience. I am not sure I have a favorite club in the city but there are couple of places where I like to play – the reopened “Aurora” concert hall and the “Waiting Hall” club in the old train station building. I have to admit I don’t go much to clubs unless I’m playing there.

You revive old tunes – what is special about them and why do these appeal to you? 
I really like to listen to traditional tunes myself. There is something special in them which has kept them alive for centuries and will keep them fresh and alive ever longer and longer. I suppose it is accumulated spirituality. Our forefathers kept those tunes for us, they loved them, played them, transformed them and as the result those tunes got a perfect form now. When you play such tunes with proper attitude you can feel something very important - these tunes make you feel better. And the biggest challenge for us as the musicians is to try and compose something which might sound like a traditional tune. I hope you can find this in some of our songs.

Humour is a big part of your show (you even received an award from the Bratislava Humour Academy!)– do you think the English will get your jokes? 
I hope so! The famous British sense of humour (at least our impression of it) feels quite close to us. I love Monty Python and all that black humour style. In our jokes we try to be understandable to everybody and in the same time to stay natural, not to pretend being just comedians. Our music is about much more than just the jokes, but of course we enjoy to make people smile and have fun - I think it fits folk music very well.

You play some traditional Russian instruments – can you describe them? 
First of all I would like to mention the gusli – the Russian village harp or psalterion. I love this instrument. It is quite simple, but in the same time it gives a lot of possibilities for a musician playing it. Also we have the zhaleika - it could be described like the chanter of a bagpipe [without the bellows]. We don’t have Russian bagpipes anymore, they are totally gone. But the zhaleika is very close to a chanter of a Russian bagpipe. Centuries ago shepherds used zhaleikas for communicating with goats and other livestock. Beside that our fiddler Dima plays an authentic Russian village style which together with the more classical style of our second violinist Julia gives a very interesting sound to our songs.

You have played to audiences all over the world – where is the best audience? 
To be honest almost everywhere we are well received by the audience. People in Latvia and Estonia are very responsive to our music (probably because we show them something which is totally different to what they were taught as Russian folk music during Soviet Union times), we had some great festival experiences in Western Europe, and of course at home.

Will you try to teach the English audiences some Russian? What do you want them to learn from Otava Yo? 
Russian is quite a difficult language to learn. Usually people catch simple words as vodka or privet (hello). So I don’t think the audience will remember any of the Russian words we might sing or say, but I don’t think this matters. What is more important: We want to show that sometimes impressions of somebody else’s music can be very mistaken. We know that all over the world everybody knows there is a very big country called Russia, but almost nobody knows anything about our real music culture, or has the wrong impression about. So our goal is to show the world that there is something else that exists in Russia and it is full of life and energy.

On tour next: Russian post-folk with Otava Yo

Steaming out of St Petersburg in white vests, peasant dress, and ushankas on head with ear-flaps akimbo, Otava Yo bring the abandoned traditions of Russian folksong to the 21st century. They offer a glimpse into life in an old Russian village, replete with romance, melancholy and merrymaking, a fierce sense of pride and a good dose of surreal humour. With lyrical gusil, global guitar, wailing bagpipes, expert fiddle-scraping, pumping bass and pounding drum, their songs of rural passions, heroic sailors, goats and pancakes are delivered with casual wit playful imagination. They don’t care much about convention: “if you find that you hear something you do not expect to hear, that's exactly what we wanted.” They have performed at major European folk festivals and as far afield as Mexico and India, and received an award from the Bratislava Humour Academy; it only seems natural to take on charming British audiences next.
Surreal, humorous and danceable – if you liked the Yiddish Twist Orchestra you’ll love this!