Toy Bastar is a traditional wedding folk song from the Almaty region of Kazakhstan. Toy translates to Wedding or Celebration, Bastar translates to Beginning. The song is celebratory, sending blessings and abundance to the bride and groom at their wedding feast. Dedicated to the host of the event, the song praises his generosity. He is a noble man who generously distributes gifts to the guests including a chapan (traditional cloak), horses and jewelry. The song describes the thunder of loved ones who come from far away on horseback to attend the wedding, and the presence of all the ancestors who look down from the heavens, showering the newlyweds with blessings for a good future.

Produced by: Nastasia Y
Co-Produced by: Andrew McAnsh, BLISK
Mixing: Wojciech Lubertowicz
Mastering: Reuben Ghose at Mojito Mastering 

Vocals: Ekaterina 
Vocals: Nastasia Y
Vocals: Stephania Woloshyn
Merlin: Ekaterina
Zills: Stephania Woloshyn
Percussion: Nastasia Y
Artwork: Stephania Woloshyn

BLISK

Toy Bastar

Blisk performing Hraj More live in Toronto at Hugh's Room Live, June 2018

Hraj More - Live at Hugh's Room Live in Toronto 2018

Blisk performing a medley of Rusalky songs from Ukraine/Belarus/Russia Live at the Labyrinth Festival in Toronto, June 2018.

Rusalky - Live at Labyrinth Ontario

In Slavic folkore, women draw their power from nature, and there’s a fine line between ritual and truth, whether you’re asking for good harvest from the soil, or love to come to you. We draw power from the four elements: earth, water, wind, and fire.

Blisk is: 
Stephania Woloshyn - voice and drymba (jaw harp)
Stacey Yerofeyeva - voice and tapan
Ewelina Ferenc - voice and Polish frame drum
Ekaterina - voice and frame drum

Recorded: Darren McGill at Dream House Studios, Toronto, Canada.
Mix: Wojciech Lubertowicz, Warsaw, Poland

Zemlia / Soil

BLISK is a polyphonic Slavic & Balkan vocal experience backed by hypnotic percussion and dance.. It is described as a musical journey travelling through Ukraine, Poland, Macedonia, Serbia and beyond. Based in Toronto, the members of the group hail from Canada, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.

BLISK

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