Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
“Boldly beautiful, intriguingly intelligent and a voice that makes you feel
like you've been caressed by an broken angel. The first time I heard
Grushenka perform, I just sat there and listened. Nothing else in the room
existed apart from her songs. I wasn't just captivated, I was totally
immersed into her music. Her songs are not just honest by nature, they are
honest to the point of brutality. And that's why you laugh with her,
because the songs are about her, and about you; her love, your love; her
pain, your pain.
She writes music from the depths of her heart, and from the furthest
recesses of her mind. She explores emotions; she dissects social issues; and
she strips humanity to its barest forms. She doesn't write pop songs, she
creates art. Art that is painfully truthful and uncompromising. Art that is
delicately fragile and yet wilfully strong.
Her performance is raw and alive.
Her music is honest and pure.
It doesn't matter whether you love or hate her . . . . you'll never forget
her”.
Norman Cristofoli, Founder of the singer/songwriter coffeehouse network, Canada
www.coffeehouse.ca
- Norman Cristofli
Wicklow songstress, Grushenka, has been honing her talents on the Coffee bar
circuit in Canada and this was very evident during her accomplished, well
crafted sets for On The Verge, (both at SIN É and on the radio show). A
particular favourite of mine is "I Hope that Nothing Goes Wrong"
Brendan Hickey On The Verge
www.ontheverge.ie
- Brendan Hickey www.intheverge.ie
Wicklow singer/songwriter Grushenka has recently announced the launch of her new website.
Grushenka has been singing and writing songs for the past ten years. After playing in a local band for two years, she went solo in 2003.
Since then, she has been performing in the local and Dublin area as well as various venue’s throughout Ireland. In 2004, she won the singer/songwriter category of the Wicklow Regatta festivals “Battle of the bands”.
Having spent the last four months living in Canada, she has been performing in venue’s in Toronto, recorded an EP and launched her website.
Grushenka returns home this month and will be interviewed on Dublin’s “DSFM” radio on the 16th of February, followed by appearances at “Finnegans” Gorey on February 21st and “Sinn e” Dublin on the 22nd.
You can visit www.grushenka.com for more information.
- "Wicklow people" newspaper, Jan '06
Discography
"Waiting for something to happen" EP
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Grushenka was born in Dublin, but was not without musical influences as her father was part of the “Showband” era in the 1960’s. Brendan Arnold played rhythm guitar with the “Royal Blues” showband fronted by Doc Carroll.
Taking up piano at an early age, Grushenka was also taught guitar by her father. Following on to secondary school, she then took up saxophone and clarinet in a local marching band.
After School she studied at the Bull Alley College of Performing Arts, a course which included voice training, singing/dancing and acting.
Grushenka began writing songs when she was 16, but it was not until the age of 21 that she would perform them in Public. Since then, Grushenka has been performing and playing in bands while constantly writing new material. She played bass with a local covers band called “Off the wall” for two years before deciding to perform as a solo artist. This led to Grushenka winning the 2004 “Battle of the bands/singer/songwriter” competition as well as various other talent contests.
Her first demo was recorded in 1999 followed by her EP in 2006 whike Grushenka was residing in Canada. She is now working towards recording an album to be completed shortly.
An album was recorded independently and released in 2004, featuring a selection of artists that performed at the “Irish songwriters” open mic nights. “Sacred” and ‘This Love” written and performed by Grushenka can be found on this album which is available at “www.irishsongwriters.net”
Earlier this year, Grushenka appeared on televisions TG4's "Deis rock" playing bass for Dublin band "Waif".
She has also just completed recording a song which appears on Galway band "The Deans" debut album. The song "home in the past" was penned by the Deans frontman Gavin Dean.
Links
