IVA NOVA

Five women powerful folk-rock

Country: Russia

The five ladies of IVA NOVA were inspired by the Slavic folk music, but they gave it a personal touch. A rather wild touch, we might add. Don’t expect traditional Russian folk, these ladies rock a little too hard for that. But when the two lead singers do some harmonies, they make one think of Vartinna. Their sonic expression is girlish and playful, yet feminine and proud. And if the accordion player picks up accordion, she can make you dream of the Russian countryside. But when one of the singers picks up her guitar, she brings you right back to the big city.

The band was formed in 2002 in St. Petersburg, and traveled to Western Europe for the first time in 2004, after the release of their debut album. Ever since, they’ve been touring extensively, playing numerous clubs and festivals in eleven countries (even Iceland). In the meantime, they’ve released two albums “Chemodan” and “Treat Tenderly”, energizing and passionate recordings.

Besides lyrics on Russian IVA NOVA have songs on Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Georgian and even Tatar languages. Along with exploiting endless folklore resources they creatively experiment with other styles.

“Iva Nova is the coolest Russian female band”, wrote once Russian Rolling Stone Magazine.

Inka Lishenkevich: vocals, guitar
Yekaterina Fedorova: drums
Natalia Potapenko: accordion
Anastasia Postnikova: vocals, keyboards, percussion
Natalia Nasarova -- bass

IVA NOVA performed on festivals:

Oerol (the Netherlands 2004), Fusion (Germany 2004), Faces (2004 Finland), Doun By The Laituri (Finland 2004), Open Ohr (Germany 2005) , Progress Festival in Vooruit (Ghent) Belgium 2005), Eurofolkfestival Ingelheim (Germany 2006), Intercultural women’s music festival (Hunsruck/Germany 2006), Pflasterspektakel Street Festival (Linz Austria 2006), Sommerfest in Wetzlar (Germany 2006), Le LeTre Festival (Germany 2006), Wilwarin festival (Germany 2007), International accordion festival Vienna (Austria 2007), Festival Wazemmes l’Accordeon (Lille France 2007), Mundial festival (Tilburg the Netherlands 2007), Amsterdam Roots festival (the Netherlands 2007), Donauinselfest Festival (Vienna Austria 2007), Folkwoods (the Netherlands 2007), Winter Lights (Reykjavik Iceland 2008), Festival du Gibloux (Switzerland 2008), Summer Openair Burg Reichenstein - Frauen_Stimmen (Austria 2008), Zomer van Antwerpen (Belgium 2008), Pohoda Festival (Slovakia 2008), Ethnoambient Salona (Croatia 2008), International Festival of Contemporary Arts City of Women (Ljubljana, Slovenia 2008), Les Nuits Européennes Strasbourg (France 2008), Fusion (Germany 2009), Wereldfeest (Utrecht The Netherlands 2009), Urkult (Sweden2010) and many venues in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland.

LINKS

iva-nova.ru
myspace.com/ivanovaextremegirlfolk
facebook.com/IVA.NOVA.ru

PRESS

They’re out on the edge, bursting through musical barriers – folk, punk rock, rock ’n’ roll, art rock – with an energy and talent which would have given John Bonham a run for his money, and might get Jimmy Page practising heavy guitar riffs. fRoots Magazine

It is fast, fun, rocking -- and for the dancers. Lyrics are in Russian as well as in other Slavic languages. One of the most exciting bands coming from Russia in quite some time, the girls probably bring every house down. www.folkworld.de

Reviews of the album “Chemodan”:
… This is a lithe, noisy, scatty beast that really does give off vibes of its homeland, the creation of five liberal-minded, radical thinking female musicians who partied up some old Russian folk songs for a one-off rally in 1998. Now the plan has coalesced into this second studio set, Chemodan, or Suitcase to you.
It’s an album that reels and totters from Brecht black theatre one moment to almost oi the next, rooted in a big fat Russian accordion that sounds like it’s heralding a Cossack dance troupe. Ska and jazz get nods as well as a huge, dirty guitar sound and a rim shot rhythm section that’d do the Stray Cats proud. With songs in a variety of tongues including Georgian, Tartar and Bulgarian, thankfully there is an English insert, Suitcase being a very apt title for a CD built up of character sketches, experiences, observations and a singular intention to party hearty. I like this, I like it loads and I think you will too; real shame they’re only touring on the continent, Iva Nova really would set a fire on our side of the North sea. Never a dull moment. Simon Jones fRoots Magazine

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