Music
Music
“Scholar turned songstress – where Oxford intellect meets artistic intuition.”
- Would That I Could
- Roads Travelled
- Orpheus Sings
Irina (aka Irinushka) has released three CDs of her poetry set to music, writing in a range of genres from New Age folk to contemporary art song to rock opera and theatrical soundscapes. She is both a singer-songwriter and a composer of contemporary new classical music who has written for voice and piano, chamber ensemble, choir and electronic soundscapes. For Irina, music is a universal language crossing boundaries and genres. Her poetry is at the heart of all her work: in every case she allows the poem itself to tell her what the music should sound like, hence the eclectic mixture of styles.
Irinushka’s music offers a depth that evokes the ethereal wisdom of Kate Bush and Lisa Gerrard, creating a sound that embraces both the ancient and the contemporary. “Most importantly though,” she says, “I was taught the importance of art itself – art having a sacred mission to uplift, create beauty, inspire, and say the truth.”
Irinushka’s music also mystically spans the ages, creating a sound that embraces both the ancient and contemporary. “I believe that the musical future holds greater synthesis of Western and Eastern styles, and of classical and popular styles as well, with more subtle shadings and emphasis on colour,” she explains.
Roads Travelled
Roads Travelled – rose to #46 on the global ZoneMusicReporter chart for Ambient/World/New Age music after receiving extensive airplay on over 40 US college radio stations peaking between #2 and #10 on their New Age/Ambient charts.
“The voice of Australian-born Irina Kuzminsky stuns you immediately with the wonderful intensity created by her unique operatic voice … Vibrant, mesmerizing and emotive, this is a lovely musical effort that touches you in so many ways.” http://musicmorsels.wordpress.com/tag/irina-kuzminsky
“With her album “Roads Travelled”, [Irinushka] captures the purity and natural energy that comes from New Age folk music. Irinushka’s vocal range is unsurpassed as she effortlessly pours her heart and soul out through the beautiful music that makes up the album. The instrumentation flows seamlessly along with the hauntingly beautiful vocals Irinushka displays in her work.”
– Elizabeth Learned https://thecelebritycafe.com/2014/08/review-of-irinushkas-roads-travelled
Track Reviews
1. “This Floating World” – “A haunting and meditative experience”
“At the core of This Floating World is Irinushka’s poetry, a testament to her dedication to the written word and her unique ability to communicate complex emotions through both sound and text.”
“Kuzminsky’s voice is at once ethereal and grounded, resonating with a warmth and fragility that amplifies the song’s themes. Her vocal performance has a mesmerizing quality that draws listeners into the intimate emotional space of the piece”
“In combining her poetry with music, Kuzminsky channels a neo-classical style that transcends traditional genres. She uses her formal training and her experiences in various art forms – including opera, dance, and spoken word – to create a unique, cross-genre sound”
“A testament to Irinushka’s commitment to truth and emotional authenticity in her work”
“A work that resonates with a broad audience, especially those who have experienced loss or feel deeply attuned to the delicate balance of life and death. This piece could resonate with fans of artists like Loreena McKennitt or Ludovico Einaudi, who similarly merge poetic narratives with rich, expressive instrumentation.” “Irinushka’s ability to intertwine language and melody in a way that speaks to both the mind and soul makes this piece unforgettable, leaving listeners with a lingering sense of peace even amidst the sorrow.”
– The Concert Chronicles
https://theconcertchronicles.com/2024/11/14/irinushkas-this-floating-world-weaves-poetry-and-neo-classical-soundscapes-to-capture-the-ephemeral-beauty-of-love-and-loss
“A heartfelt ode to loss with neo-classical elegance”
“Irinushka’s ability to shift genres based on text results in a seamless blend of classical and modern elements, producing an immersive and timeless listening experience that feels intimate.”
“Music that seems to be hanging in time”
“Her voice expresses both power and susceptibility, giving the listener a feeling of a delicate world hovering just beyond grasp. Every verse of the song evokes feelings of sorrow and inner strength, offering solace for those experiencing grief and yearning.”
– Lyrical Odyssey
https://www.lyricalodyssey.com/2024/11/irinushka-delivers-heartfelt-ode-to.html
“Your vocals brought a vulnerability that made the lyrics feel like they were coming straight from the heart. It’s clear you’re creating from a place of truth, and that’s what makes this song stand out. Keep sharing that voice: it’s powerful”
– New Sauce
“Connected Disconnection” – “a profound meditation on the modern condition”
“This is music with a mission – deeply felt, beautifully executed, and impossible to ignore.”
“Irinushka’s “Connected Disconnection” is not just a song – it’s an artistic statement, a wake-up call wrapped in an ethereal, unsettling sonic experience. As a poet-turned-composer, Irinushka wields both words and music with intention, crafting a piece that challenges the listener to question the modern world’s increasing reliance on digital communication at the cost of genuine human presence.”
“The production – enhanced and remastered by Stuart Epps – leans into the eerie beauty of Irinushka’s sound, blending ambient, electronic, and new age elements into a hypnotic yet disconcerting soundscape … it is both mesmerizing and dystopian, reflecting the paradox at the heart of the song’s message.”
“Irinushka’s voice is the soul of “Connected Disconnection” … There’s an almost sacred quality to her singing – like an ancient oracle warning of a future we are blindly stepping into.”
“Her ability to blend the ethereal with the intense recalls artists like Kate Bush and Lisa Gerrard, yet her approach remains distinct.”
“ “Connected Disconnection” exists in a liminal space between beauty and unease.”
“Irinushka’s music exists at the intersection of multiple genres – New Age, experimental, folk, and indie singer-songwriter. “Connected Disconnection” will resonate deeply with listeners who appreciate thought-provoking, avant-garde compositions, particularly those drawn to the darker, more philosophical side of music. Fans of artists like Björk, Dead Can Dance, and Florence + The Machine’s more ethereal moments will find much to admire here.”
– The Concert Chronicles
https://theconcertchronicles.com/2025/03/19/a-haunting-reflection-on-the-loss-of-true-human-connection-connected-disconnection-by-irinushka
“A warning and … a cry for humanity and personhood in music.”
“With this release Irinushka dares us to remember our humanity, protect it, and rejoice in it.
“Connected Disconnection” is movement, a message, and a beautifully haunting reflection of the times we live in, and with listening comes the responsibility of listening with open ears and, more importantly, an open heart.”
“An anthem that hits where we live in this day and age of endless connection and yet,
somehow, disconnection, authentic or otherwise.”
– Lyrical Odyssey
Irinushka delivers plea for humanity in new single, “Connected Disconnection” – Home –
Welcome to Lyrical Odyssey
“A chillingly perceptive work!”
“A deeply memorable listening experience from end to end
– Jon Wright
“Raw, authentic, and deeply relatable”
“Every element feels intentional, weaving together a soundscape that is both captivating and thought-provoking”
“A polished yet emotionally stirring piece that lingers in the listener’s mind”
– Tehillah (Dulaxi team)
“Deeply intriguing and uniquely expressive”
The instrumental backdrop is ethereal and immersive, complementing the vocal beautifully to create a mesmerizing soundscape”
– Dulaxi
https://dulaxi.com/discovery-10-10-3/
“The perfect single to listen to if you are a person that is engrossed within technology and using AI to create art such as photos or even music and losing your true creativity as an individual”
– The Concert Chronicles
“A unique sound that is experimental, interesting and captivating”
– Darren Stone (stoneymusicman)
YouTube music video:
Connected Disconnection
A Verse Novel
Orpheus Sings
Orpheus Sings – a genre-straddling CD which received airplay in the US on some 38 college and alternative radio stations.
Evocative, haunting and deeply poetic, Irinushka’s third album deepens her eclectic mix of neo-classical, orchestral, experimental and New Age songs inspired by her poetry
Orpheus Sings navigates the evolution of the art and theatrical song in the 21st century as the album traverses a wide-ranging mix from nouveau-folk to ballads, rock opera to contemporary art songs, and theatrical landscapes to New Age spoken word.
“The sounds vibrate, force us to listen on, to think on … Irina Kuzminsky’s concert was convincing.
She will and she must continue on her musical path. Many stand to gain from it.”
– Pfälzischer Merkur
Track reviews
1. “Orpheus Sings”
“Incredibly beautiful, featuring otherworldly vocals and captivating instrumentation”
– Lyrical Odysse
“Magnificent. The performance is sensual and filled with deep emotions. I especially want to highlight the wonderful instrumental parts.”
– Voxwave Magazine
“A masterpiece. It is a song that will linger in my mind and heart for a long time”
“From the first notes, I was transported to a realm of deep emotional resonance, where the music spoke directly to my heart … your vocal performance is breathtaking”
“A sense of timelessness. Your song feels both ancient and modern, drawing upon timeless themes and emotions while remaining utterly contemporary”
– Dulaxi
“Mesmerizing”
“Irinushka’s calming and expressive singing seems like it has been taken from a different time period, adding an element of age-old enigma and intense feeling into the song.”
– Lyrical Odyssey
https://www.lyricalodyssey.com/2024/10/irinushka-releases-mesmerizing-new.html
Would That I Could
Irina’s first foray into setting her poetry to music, Would That I Could is experimental, New Age, genre-bending and contemporary, incorporating spoken word.
Irina formerly gave recitals both as a pianist and as a classical singer, also being broadcast live by the ABC in their Young Australia in Concert series and has sung principal roles in small professional opera companies in the UK.
“Irina Kuzminsky brought drama and lyricism together … proving yet again how much her gift has to offer.”
– Zweibrücker Rundschau
“In … Millicosmos Kuzminsky magically transformed from an accomplished ballerina into a first rate soprano”
– Border Mail
“Besides being a trained dancer, she is a concert pianist, her voice has an incredible range and she has a doctorate from Oxford,”
– London Evening Standard
Irinushka’s poetry has also been set by other composers:
Kevin George Brown:
– Requiem: Remembering Artemis, music theatre piece (premiered at the ISCM Festival, Manchester)
– Night Ravens
Amanda Lee Falkenberg:
– A Midsummer Night, The Weavers
James D’Angelo:
– Eyeing Death (premiered by Rosy Voices, London)
