HARNESSING THE POWER OF FOLK POLYPHONY
Andrea Kuzmich’s songSCAPIN’ flips the script on folk polyphony. Bringing jazz improvisation and groove into dialogue with more than two decades of work with the rich vocal traditions of Georgia and Ukraine, Kuzmich creates bold, immersive performances where visceral vocal textures, spontaneous interplay, and the spirit of collective music-making converge.
A versatile, seasoned artist, Kuzmich (voice, guitar) has collaborated across genres with artists and ensembles including Tafelmusik, Aradia Ensemble, Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Dave Restivo, Kevin Turcotte, Moskitto Bar, DIVKA, Ori Shalva, and Kosa Choir. Her distinct voice can also be heard on the film soundtracks for The Witch (2015), In the Tall Grass (2019), and Bohyni (2023) and as the vocalist on the big band album with Swing’s Mistress (1999).
ONTARIO ARTS COUNCIL FUNDING AWARDED
FALL 2026 FOR A songSCAPIN’ ALBUM!
EXPECT NEW TRACKS SUMMER 2027!
For more info, audio and video or to contact, see Andrea’s Electronic Press Kit.
Please follow Andrea on Instagram to keep track of the eclectic musical projects she’s involved with
Andrea first made her mark in the music scene as a versatile Toronto singer with performance, leadership and/or composition/arranging roles in classical choral, Congolese gospel, South Indian singing and drumming, vocal jazz (both big band and small ensembles), as well as contemporary improvised new music.
Yet, perhaps drawn by a musical thread from her Ukrainian heritage, her professional development got sidetracked early on by the mystique of traditional vocal polyphony – first Georgian, then Ukrainian. She went on to lead the Kosa Choir (2023-) and co-found Kalendar (2013-) and Sing with Ukraine (2022-), while also becoming recognized as one of Canada’s foremost practitioners and scholars of Georgian polyphony (Ori Shalva (2020-) ZARI (2003-2018), and Darbazi (1995-2013).
Now based in Toronto, Andrea intuitively weaves this rich diversity into unique arrangements of traditional ritual and lyrical songs from Eastern Europe, her own originals, and spirited reinterpretations of standards. Her performances are fresh and groove-oriented, “drawing her listeners into a world of sensuality” (Rudy Blair Entertainment Media).
Another project to come out of Andrea’s recent musical explorations at the Tranzac is POLYPHONICA: an electro-acoustic project born from the collaboration between Andrea and electronic musician and jazz keyboardist Daria Morgacheva. By weaving ritual and lyrical songs from Georgia and Ukraine with live looping, keyboards, and improvised vocals, the group creates a distinctive fusion of beats, soundscapes, folklore, and song. Their music evokes the ancient traditions of communal gatherings to celebrate cosmic events like solstices, seasonal changes, and personal milestones. Click the image to jump to POLYPHONICA’s playlist on Soundcloud.
As an award winning singer, a teacher, an ethnomusicologist, and music facilitator, Andrea has performed in and/or recorded with numerous ensembles and choirs throughout Toronto: from Whitney Smith’s Big Steam Band to the conventional SATB Choir of Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church; from the contemporary improvised new music of the Element Choir and vocals she provided for the soundtracks of The Witch and The Tall Grass, to the traditional folk music (see above). She can be heard on Veryan Weston’s “Make” (2017); Tanya Tagaq’s “Retribution” (2016); DoVira’s “DoVira” (2016); Kalendar’s “Sichen” (2016); ZARI’s “ZARI” (2008); Whitney’s Smith Big Steam Band’s “Swing’s Mistress” (1998); movie soundtrack “The Witch” (2015); documentary soundtrack “What is Love” (2016), among others. She has worked and performed with many of Toronto’s finest musicians, including Maryem Tollar, Bernie Senenski, Kevin Malon, Alex Samaras, Christine Duncan, and many others and has also played and/or shared the stage with international greats like Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner, Dave Holland, Christine Jensen, Maryna Krut, Lena Bloch, and others.
