Whispers

Pianist Roksana Smirnova and guitarist Misha Kalinin have over the last seven years have been developing their duo sound. The result inspires a ride through an imaginary world of landscape and story. The combination of Roksana’s delicate yet playful piano playing with Misha’s atmospheric soundscapes creates a unique, almost unidentifiable new ensemble sound that eludes genre.

Roksana and Misha came together from different musical backgrounds, and their scope of experience is easily heard in their artistry. Misha Kalinin takes the guitar out of its traditional place. Brimming over with ideas, he creates something remarkably unexpected. Pianist Roksana Smirnova combines spontaneity of improvisation with a sense of form influenced by her classical background. Their performances feature original compositions by both members of the duo.

The music brings together strongly contrasting elements: spacious impressionistic sound, improvisational interaction, dynamic
rhythmic structures and sounds dissolving in silence. Musical dialogues are configured into captivating compositions that connect deeply with listeners.
Channeling the flow of inspiration, the duo actively paints pictures in the mind.

A residency program for Ukrainian artists was initiated by the Estonian Creative Residencies Network LOORE to provide opportunities for Ukrainian artists to connect with a supportive artistic community across Estonia and to give artists a safe space in which to continue their creative practices. Roksana and Misha are spending their creative residency at the Arvo Pärt Centre, after being actively performing at festivals and concerts everywhere in Europe. This artist residency is organised by the Estonian Creative Residencies Network LOORE and is funded by Nordic Culture Point.