About Pearl Hunting
The opening track of the Pearl Hunting album is both a metaphor and a journey – an exploration of contrasts, beauty, and hidden treasures within the darkest depths. It embodies the album’s central theme: venturing into unknown waters to discover pearls of meaning and emotion.
Featuring Celtic bouzouki (Max Kerner), Germanic lyre (Caterina Castiglioni), Belarusian duda and Ukrainian sopilka (Yanina Yakshevich), and backing vocals by Ada Rusinkiewicz, the track embodies the spirit of collaboration and exploration at the heart of the album.
The atmosphere of this piece introduces us to a unique world. There is no place for heavy playing; instead, it is very folk-like, almost seeming as if we are transported to the Middle Ages—but not the ones we know from old books, rather imagined, fantastical, Witcher-like.
Pearl Hunting review by Mariusz Fabin
🇺🇦 MAX KERNER
MAX KERNER is a Ukrainian musician, multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, sound engineer, and arranger. He collaborates with numerous bands and orchestras such as Lumos Orchestra, Kings and Beggars, Rockfellers. Max leads his own jazz-blues solo project, the Max Kerner Group.
🇮🇹 CATERINA CASTIGLIONI
CATERINA CASTIGLIONI is an Italian musician specializing in ancient and folk music. Since 2014, she has mastered the Celtic harp and performed across Northern Italy. In 2019, she began playing replicas of bowed and ancient lyres. Now, she works as both a musician and producer, reviving the sounds of the past.
🇧🇾 YANINA YAKSHEVICH
YANINA YAKSHEVICH is a Belarusian musician skilled in playing the sopilka, zhaleika, flute, Belarusian bagpipe, Spanish gaita, and Uilleann pipes. She is a laureate of both national and international awards.
🇵🇱 ADA RUSINKIEWICZ
ADA RUSINKIEWICZ is a Polish vocalist and vocal coach specializing in extreme vocal techniques. Inspired by Melissa Cross, she aims to follow in her footsteps as a vocal instructor. Ada is a singer-songwriter in the progressive-depressive band HETHET.
Ethnic instruments used in Pearl Hunting
Celtic bouzouki
The Celtic bouzouki is a stringed instrument adapted from the Greek bouzouki by Irish musicians in the 1960s and 1970s. It is primarily associated with Ireland and Scotland, known for its bright, resonant tones. The Celtic bouzouki is used for both melodic playing and rhythmic accompaniment, adding a distinctive and vibrant sound to traditional and contemporary folk music.
Germanic lyre
The Germanic lyre is an ancient stringed instrument widely used in Northern Europe during the early medieval period. Originating from Germanic tribes, it typically consists of a wooden soundbox, two arms, a crossbar, and several strings that are plucked or strummed. The lyre used in Pearl Hunting is a replica of the 6th-century Trossingen lyre, an ancient Germanic instrument.
Belarusian duda
The Belarusian duda is a traditional bagpipe from Belarus, featuring a leather bag, chanter, drone, and blowpipe. It produces a distinctive, rich sound with continuous drone notes and melodic tunes. This unique instrument comes in various types and is crucial in preserving Belarus’s musical heritage.
Ukrainian sopilka
The Ukrainian sopilka is a traditional woodwind instrument from Ukraine, similar to a recorder or whistle. It is typically made from wood, with 6-8 finger holes and an end-blown mouthpiece. The sopilka produces a sweet, melodious tone and is widely used in Ukrainian folk music.
Explore Pearl Hunting songs
