Irka is a key figure among world music songwriters and performers in the Dominican Republic. She is considered one of the most outstanding artists of this country for the quality of her music and lyrics and her contribution to the spreading of the Dominican cultural diversity.
Her musical background is Brazilian music which she performed for more than 14 years in Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.
After travelling around the world Irka felt the need to know her own culture and return...
Irka is a key figure among world music songwriters and performers in the Dominican Republic. She is considered one of the most outstanding artists of this country for the quality of her music and lyrics and her contribution to the spreading of the Dominican cultural diversity.
Her musical background is Brazilian music which she performed for more than 14 years in Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.
After travelling around the world Irka felt the need to know her own culture and return to her native country where she spent 10 years immersing her with its folk music, popular religion and Taino culture.
She began to compose songs based on these experiences; writing lyrics that speak of love, folklore, traditions and Taino culture. These new harmonies, melodies and interpretations of the songs lead the listener into dream and magical states. They are full of passion and mystery of the legends of these people--a people rooted in the legacy of their aborigine’s and African ancestors. In her lyrics she is a kind of a Griot ,a storyteller narrating events of the world, its people and herself.
Irka with Bohuti had a great impact on the Dominican music scene, generating much public attention in the cities of the D.R., with great emphasis on youth in search of identity, artists and scholars of social sciences.
She played at festivals, nightclubs, seminars, as well as a performance for the current president of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández. She has performed in Jazz and World Music Festivals in Canada: Montreal Jazz Festival, Ottawa International Jazz Festival, Festival Cultures Canada, Ottawa, Hull Jazz & Blues Festival, Multi-Montreal World Music Festival. In Mexico: Festival de la Primavera, Teatro Benito Juárez, Mexico City, Festival of the Caribbean, Veracruz. In the Caribbean in: Festival of Fire, Santiago de Cuba, Carifesta VII, St Kitts, Opening for the Fugees in Pot-au Prince, Haiti to name a few.
Since 2007 Irka has established her residence in New York City where she is performing her music with great success. Her CD Anacaona saw the light this year.
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