Biography
VARONA started performing about three years ago. First gigs took places at friends' houses, streets, laundromats, cafes and small bars. These days the band plays at places in Bay Area like The Fillmore's poster room, Rickshaw Stop, Blank Club and others.
Influences range from classical to jazz, Doors to Radiohead, tribal drumming and singing to psychedelic trance and ambient... Tom Waits, Yma Sumac, Manu Chao, Auktyon, Pink Floyd, Gotan Project, Beck, Devotchka, Gogol Bordello... and many many others.
The music of VARONA is going through never-ending metamorphosis that always allows room for new influences, experiments, and creative ideas.
VARONA released their debut album in July, 2007. This self-titled album captures the two-year beginning period of band's life. It reflects the energy and the spirit of ten musicians from different parts of the world each of whom contributed their talent and became a part of VARONA.
Band's second album Egoist was recorded live in the studio and reflects on VARONA's stage performances. Most of the album is available on Sonicbids, and the entire record will be available for streaming at http://www.varonasf.com shortly.
Instrumentation
Zhenya Kogan - vocals, guitars
Keith Yates - saxophones, clarinet
Elyse Weakly - keyboards
Brandon Bradshaw - drums, percussion
Chris Lorentz - electric bass
Brian Rourke - upright bass
Discography
2009 - Egoist
2007 - Varona
Links
| VARONA's website |
| VARONA's MySpace |