MONARHA - Monarha

Ой Ти Дубе Кучерявий is the opening track, and honestly, the intro bassline reminded us of Tin Tin Out - What I Am ft. Emma Bunton.

Straight away, we’re not going to be deeping the lyrics. Mostly because any song, when translated into English, in almost any circumstances, lack their real meaning and becomes bland. So we’re just going in to see what we’re feeling and how it is to listen to.

The opening track reminds us of something late 90’s, early 00’s - thanks to the bassline. It rolls along beautifully, letting the keys move us up and down. Vocal crisp, enjoyable to listen to, then suddenly out of nowhere we switch from lounge-esque vocals to speedier rap, then a bit of flair at the end. Lovely.

Here’ the track listing:

A note from the artist herself:

“These songs were written in the first months of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, when MONARHA remained in Kyiv. Days were spent volunteering for the military; nights were spent at the piano, composing by candlelight - during blackouts, under air-raid sirens, between explosions. What began as emotional survival became a body of work carrying both the rawness of wartime experience and the resilience of a heart refusing to close. The album explores themes of identity, inner liberation, awakening, vulnerability, and love as an act of courage.

In a bold artistic choice inspired by the golden era of funk, the entire album was recorded in a single take, with all musicians performing live together in one room. No overdubs. No edits. No reconstruction.”

It’s fun to listen to, because for those who don’t speak Ukrainian, you miss the nuance and the subject in the lyrics. Icoupl