• artist:
  SHUKAR COLLECTIVE
• country:
  Romania
• release year:
  2005
• style(s): Electronic Roots
• formats:
  • CD (Compact Disc)
• record submitted by:
  ONE group
• label:
  World Music Network

The inspiration for Shukar's music comes from ages ago, when Tatars and Mongolians invaded Dacia (Romania's ancestral name). Shukar has very original sound called ursari music (ursar means bear tamer, bear handler). A few men sing, shout and play percussive instruments while a bear is "dancing" around them. This practice unfortunately still goes on in Turkey and some Balkan countries.

Shukar have given up this kind of awful practice many years ago and are now only concerned with the sound part of the "ursari" experience. Shukar Collective live shows promise to be very exciting, featuring traditional gipsy dancing, live musicians playing various instruments and a DJ. And now, there will be NO dancing bears... for sure! When they perform, Shukar (original members) use primitive "instruments" like spoons, wooden barrel or darabuka. The music is very powerful and "aggressive" but emotional, soulful at the same time.

The Shukar Collective idea came after Lucian Stan and Dan Handrabur heard some original Shukar tracks and saw them perform in a well known Bucharest jazz club. This idea consists of re-orchestrating these fabulous folkloric pieces with current technologies while preserving and even emphasizing the archaic aspect. The result is what you are listening to right now!

Shukar's original members are Napoleon, Tamango and Clasic (all are the real name, not nick-names).
Napoleon - He is the main vocalist and also plays the wooden barrel percussion by hitting it with his foot and stones picked from the alley. He comes from a 12 children family; the name of his father is Cocoş (Rooster) and the name of his mother Salcia (Willow). Napoleon appeared as special guest on Taraf de Haïdouks' album "Dumbala Dumba" (Crammed Discs 1998).
At 38, he is married to Nadia (the group's unique dancer) and father of five children: Razbunător (Avenger), Armando, Indonezia (Indonesia), Bilclinton (Bill Clinton) and Lovenţa (Beauty in Rroma language). He currently lives in the village of Gratia, Teleorman County - Romania.

The Shukar Collective's debut album "Taves Bahtalo!" will be out soon in Europe and US!

"I think Shukar Collective is very, very cool! Is very funky and tasteful merging of traditional and electronic. That dude has the coolest voice. And the funky bass keeps it going. I really love it!" - Dmitri Vietze, Rock Paper Scissors USA

"The sound of Shukar Collective is very special; the hybrid of this ancient style of singing merged very well with contemporary dance and hip-hop beats." - Pamela Lillig, Bug Music, Inc. USA