And The Winners Are...

Oratnitza, a group that came together whilst busking near the Bulgarian sea side a few years ago. The group interprets traditional songs through elements of hiphop, dubstep, irregular rhythms, and Australian aboriginal music.

Listen to the winning track Mari Mariiko

WMN's Battle of the Band had some fantastic entrants! Unfortunately we could only select one winner, so with the help of WMN fans, Oratnitza has been successful for this battle of the band competition. Their song will appear on a forthcoming project with World Music Network and the group will receive press coverage with Songlines.

The band stood out for its unusual fusion of Bulgarian folklore with other music styles and infectious rhythms. With folklore music seen as old fashioned in Bulgaria, Oratnitza tries to reintroduce folk songs to younger generations, as it is rich in culture as proves to be a creative foundation which ought not to be disregarded. As the basis of their music is traditional, the name 'Oratnitza' unsurprisingly refers to a Bulgarian cleansing ritual which takes place before lent.

The group consists of four men; Popa on vocals, Hristiyan on the kaval and backing vocals, Horhe brings in Australian aboriginal sounds on didgeridoo, and Buny is responsible for percussion on the tupan and the cajon. They met whilst busking at the sea side in 2009 and have since then won several awards and competition such as the Sofia Fusion Rally in 2010. 

The winning song, 'Mari Mariiko' can be found on their album Oratnitza. Although the mix of music is unusual, the style is consistent throughout the album which is Oratnitza's signature. Only the last track is different to the rest of the material as it is a remix by Kottarashky. Knowing that the songs are based on traditional Bulgarian folk songs, their take on them is inventive, fresh and of a high creative standard. Unlike the usual perception of the didgeridoo, Oratnitza uses it in many other ways than a drone. In 'Sharena Gaida' and 'Lele Scashke' Horhe plays with rhythmic patterns and melody lines of the other instruments, adding bass, rhythms and various pitches to create an impressive structure that would make electronic trance wizards jealous. The album is an absolute pleasure to listen to and can be purchased here.

So far, the band has performed all over Bulgaria and has been on two European tours. They have many gigs lined up this summer in their home country, but will be honouring Belgium with a performance on the 14th of July at the Brosella Folk & Jazz Festival in Brussels. Do watch this space as we will announce when further dates are confirmed. Who knows, they might perform in a city near you soon!

The winners have been announced, but the battle goes on and the competition has reopened - apply here for the next round, and a chance to be part of a forthcoming project with World Music Network! Previous Battle of the band winners and entrants are appearing on The Rough Guide to Undiscovered World which will be released by the end of July.