This is one of the first songs I recorded (multi-tracked it all by meself) at age 19. I played all the instruments.  It's called Oolong Tea, and was written around the time I was breaking up with a boy...  didn't we all write about that kind of thing at that age?   Apologies for totally cliche oriental music riff.

Oolong Tea

Українська народна пісня в обробці Наталії Кулинич на слова Т. Шевченка.

Якби Мені Черевики - "Мальви"

Rehearsal recording of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" Darka Dusty on vocals and glockenspiel. Miri Stebivka on guitar.

Both Sides Now (Rehearsal)

About "Verbovaya Doshchechka" (Вербовая Дощечка) 

My whole life, I've always wanted to sing with the Veryovka Ukrainian National Academic Folk Choir. Prior to traveling to England for my brother in law's wedding in September 2015, I enlisted the help of my friend Greg Kowalczuk to help me perform this song with some singers he knew would be at the wedding. I only sent Greg an mp3 of a multi-track recording I made. Greg, together with musical arranger Mike Onyskiw, created a score for the Manchester Ukrainian Chamber Choir to follow. They listened to my recording, as well as the original Veryovka recording and notated the harmonies exactly. The choir rehearsed this song only one time prior to my arrival, then on the night of the wedding, I was introduced to the choir for the first time, we sang this song through only twice, and ten minutes later performed it as you hear in this recording. Joining us were bride and groom Anna Kuszta and Andy Stebiwka, who were familiar with the song from a year prior, when I taught it to them during their first visit to the US.

This whole thing was a dream come true for me personally, and the members of the choir all had similar emotionally powerful experiences. I didn't know the choir, and they didn't know me to begin with, and yet, thanks to Greg and Mike's efforts, we came together to make this unbelievably beautiful song come alive - as a gift to Anna and Andy. 

Вербовая Дощечка

Here's a sweet, old Ukrainian tune called "Nese Halia Vodu" which roughly translates to "Halia Carries Water." About a flirtatious and dramatic moment between a girl (Halia) and her beau (Ivanko, or "Johnny")including flirtatious invitations, accusations of deception, promises and pleas... All taking place at the village well.  Darka Dusty is the vocalist, accordion player, arranger and co-producer. Miri Stebivka played guitar, bass, percussion, mandolin -- AND was the recording engineer and co-producer. Whew!  I need some water!  (P.S. Darka's mother's name is Halia!)  

Nese Halia Vodu | Несе Галя воду | Halia Carries Water

Sob Group, The

Dva Kolory

Here's a quick recording of "The Butcher's Boy" from a rehearsal (for a Harry Smith 90th Birthday concert in Portland, Oregon on May 18, 2013)  

Darka Dusty is on accordion and lead vocals, Miri Stebivka on harmony vocals and mandolin, Tucker Drez on harmony vocal and guitar and Jason Montgomery on upright bass. 

The Butcher's Boy

LIVE!  Singing a Ukrainian jazz song called "Again" (Я знов тобі) performing with my former musical partner Slau Halatyn as "Darka & Slavko"  Also playing, the incomparable John Stetch on piano, Greg August on bass and George (Uki) Hrab on drums.

Again (live!)

Here is an original song which I wrote with my former musical partner Slavko Halatyn (Slau). We recorded it while living in London in 1993-1995. 

Funny story, we were in the midst of recording our 3rd album, and then I got a job offer in London at The Economist. Sight unseen, we picked up and moved *everything* including our entire music studio... The flat we got in Wimbledon Park was tiny, but we managed to fit everything in.... 

It came time to finish recording this song, we wanted a pedal steel player (which is quite common in the US, but we were in England)... we walked into a music shop and asked, "are there any pedal steel players around here?" And we got the name of the best guy around, (the only guy around!) Melvin Duffy... who is now part of the UK band Squeeze... Ukrainian lyrics to country music feels alright to me still....

Again (live!)

DarkaDusty