New Podcast episode from Steinar Jeffs: Mariam Kharatyan, Alessandra Bossa and The Re-Creation Project: Armenian Folk Music and Live Electronics
In this special episode, pianist Mariam Kharatyan and electronic artist Alessandra Bossa discuss their collaboration on the Re-Creation Project, where Armenian folk music meets improvisation and live electronics, in Dolby Atmos. You also get to listen to some beautiful tunes from their upcoming album.
Mariam shares how her classical training initially made her hesitant to improvise on folk melodies, but through research and performance, she found a way to merge tradition with spontaneity. Alessandra explains how she uses live electronics to transform subtle sounds—like breaths and instrument noises—into an “untraceable” sonic landscape that enhances rather than disrupts the music’s essence.
They explore the microtonal nature of Armenian folk music, how language shapes melody, and why cross-disciplinary collaboration is good for creativity. The conversation also touches on their upcoming double album, featuring both acoustic and electronic interpretations of Armenian folk songs, recorded live and mixed in Dolby Atmos for an immersive experience.
The episode ends with reflections on folk music as a mirror of identity, its timeless emotional depth, and how technology helps bring its accumulated wisdom into the future.