Representing their war-torn homeland fighting for survival, four Ukrainian women are bringing traditional music and calls for resilience and freedom to the U.S.
The group, called YAGÓDY (“berries” in English), is on an extensive American tour of some 20 cities, which began in March in Silver City, New Mexico, and will end this month in Lafayette, Louisiana. YAGÓDY will perform at Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage on April 20.
Founded in 2016 by actress and vocalist Zoriana Dybovska, the ensemble features singing and various instrumentals by Dybovska, Vasylyna Voloshyn, Tetiana Voitiv, and Nadiia Parashchuk, plus Vadym Voitovych on bass guitar, Teimuraz Gogitidze on drums, and Vasyl Parashchuk on cymbals.
The group’s self-titled debut album, released in 2020, spotlights renditions of Ukrainian, Bulgarian, and Serbian folk songs. In 2024, YAGÓDY’s original song “Tsunamia” was considered as a finalist for Ukraine’s entry into the Eurovision Song Contest, ultimately placing fifth in the national selection process.
The group has performed at major festivals across Europe and recently released a song titled “BRamaYa,” pulsing with the chant “Yanara,” a word inspired by the Roman god Janus, symbolizing both the pain of the past and the courage to move forward. The song’s rhythms are influenced by musical traditions from Georgia, Turkey, and beyond.
“The song speaks to unwavering loyalty to the ideals of freedom, even in the darkest times,” says Dybovska. “It carries the weight of grief and loss, yet within that wound lies a source of strength where the human spirit finds its rebirth.
In advance of concerts in Ohio, the group told the Dayton Daily News:
“Today, we are working to give folk songs new life, making them relevant and accessible to the modern listener. Especially in times of global instability, music becomes a force that unites us, helps preserve our connection to our roots, and gives us strength.
“Russia’s full-scale invasion [of Ukraine] has brought us pain and challenges, but at the same time, it has united us around our heritage. Since 2022, we have witnessed a true renaissance of Ukrainian music.
“This brings us joy and inspiration because, through our music, we strive to help people feel connected to their homeland — no matter where they are, whether in Ukraine or far beyond its borders.”
