During the lockdown of Covid19, Yelena found herself isolated and in need of some creative expression. A born and bred Latvian, she found solace in the music from her family's origins,those of Russian folk and Romani songs she fondly remembers singing well into the night at her childhood family gatherings, her uncle on guitar, her mother dancing, and her grandmother's sweet voice echoing down through memories. Her grandmother, Valerievna explains, had a beautiful voice and talent for many instruments, thus this music is that of Yelena's soul. So it was this music she found herself learning and playing every night and during the isolation of 2020, she found solace.
However, these songs, she explains, are not meant to be solo, romani music is part of a collective. Therefore, she was led to reach out to others, via online sites such as craigslist, and was first connected with Stephany Smith-Pearson. Meeting first outside, then later Smith-Pearson came over every week and although sitting outside maintaining the social distance requirements, they still managed to form a warm connection.
Later on, Tim Kelly discovered them via another online site and the band slowly began to emerge. Together, the three began performing, discovering the beautiful sounds coming forth from their creations and also realizing how much affection they shared for one another. From there, their first gig was booked at Paschal Winery.
Then, a week before their debut performance, Stephany brought in Lawrence Newcomb, a clarinet performer, who joined and the band was fully formed.
That next Sunday, the four had their first gig, Yelena Valerievna as lead vocalist and guitarist, Stephany Smith-Pearson as vocalist and on mandolin and accordion, Tim Kelly on the upright bass, and Lawrence Newcomb on the clarinet and soprano saxophone. Yelena is grateful for her bandmates, grateful for their friendship as well as their talents. Stephany brings such a gift with her harmonies and talents on her instruments, Tim with his classical training is a gem of a bassist, and Lawrence rounds it out with his divine soloist skills breathing life into the the music with his melodies.
Malinka is quickly being known and loved throughout the Rogue Valley and Yelena believes its due to the need for connection and community which was lost during the pandemic. Through the music, the history of Yelena's culture and personal family background is shared, with hopes that even though a language barrier, connection of the heart can be reached. Audience members are encouraged to dance and be lively, this music is to be shared within a vibrant community forming into family.
Yelena believes that a thriving artist is one who continues to grow in their art, something that is different for everyone. Right now, she feels herself to be a thriving artist, because daily she picks up her guitar to practice, sing, and perform, finding that her songs evolve and are reaching new horizons, and in that deep satisfication of her soul, she finds herself thriving in all areas of her life.
For more information about Malinka: World Folk, check out the links below:
https://archive.org/details/zvezdochka_202105
https://archive.org/details/malinka-ochi-chyornie_202107
https://archive.org/details/malinka-kalinka
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