GANNA: ‘I Want Ukrainian Folk Music to Be Heard for Its Beauty, Not Because of War’
For more than a decade, Berlin-based Ukrainian artist GANNA has explored and reimagined traditional Ukrainian songs through jazz, electronics and improvisation. Ahead of her performance at the Vyrii Festival, she speaks to Kyiv Post about preserving living traditions, Europe’s growing interest in Ukrainian culture, and why folk music continues to shape her artistic mission.
Ukrainian singer GANNA has been instrumental in introducing traditional Ukrainian music to Europe since 2013. Her 2022 album HOME won Album of the Year by DLF Kultur and Jazz Event of the Year by Bayerischer Rundfunk. Her music is described as distinctive and powerful, combining jazz, electronic music, improvisation, and contemporary composition with ancient Ukrainian folk songs.
GANNA's mission is to present Ukrainian folk music as beautiful, profound, and contemporary, emphasizing its capacity to tell universal stories and support Ukraine globally. Despite the war causing a surge in interest in Ukraine, GANNA remains committed to preserving and reinterpreting traditional Ukrainian music rather than preserving it in a static, museum-like state.
Her performances, including at the upcoming Vyrii Festival, reflect her belief that Ukrainian tradition is dynamic and can inform new music and identity.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
