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Folk influences are particularly strong in most parts of the former USSR. Folk traditions were strong under tsarism, remained largely supported under Communism, and have remained an intricate part of national identity into the modern era. Many successful pop and rock bands maintain a distinctive and marketable sound by using elements of folk music. Particularly striking examples can be found in metal, punk, and dance music. Elements used can include cord patterns, vocal stylings, instrumentation, as well as costuming and stage presence. Pop folk is a genre that makes wholesale use of traditional songs and introduces pop, rock, or electronic influence.
Note that none of the bands below are wholly folk. If you are interested in more purely folk music, see the folk music section at our sister site, Folkways.today.
Languages: Search for folk-influenced music performed in Uzbek, Kyrgyz, or Tatar, or in Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, or Belarusian, or in Baltic, Caucasian, or Other languages.
Rosava (Росава; real name Olena Yanchuk, Олена Янчук) is a contemporary Ukrainian folk, electronica, and pop singer. She has been on the scene since 2001, with varying degrees of popularity, and has recently had something of a resurgence, appearing in the top ten of Ukraine’s hit parades. Rosava grew up near Kyiv in a musical family. Her father […]
