Briga

Briga’s songs are half instrumental, in French and English, all accompanied by her fervent violin firmly rooted in eastern European and Romani folk sounds. Her unique sound is described as being delivered with a Turbo Folk edge, with Balkan & Moroccan grooves, and her wailing violin and sweet voice.

Born in Québec and raised in western Canada before her return to Montréal, Briga’s music is a reflection of her fragmented identity: a hybrid of songs written in French and English, all accompanied by her fervent violin firmly rooted in eastern European and Romani folk sounds. Nicknamed Briga by her fellow band mates in the ex-Yugoslavian band Les Gitans de Sarajevo, her name means sorrow or burden. Her 2nd album Turbo Folk Stories was released in 2012, Featuring a mix of traditional Bulgarian, Macedonian & Serbian songs, as well as original repertoire that makes a light reference to the musical genres of Serbian Turbo Folk & Bulgarian Chalga. Turbo Folk Stories was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award as well
as Quebec’s ADISQ awards. Recently awarded the 2013 Galaxie Rising Star Award, Briga released her 3rd album “Wake” in 2014, a concept album with Turbo Folk edge, wrapped up in heavy Balkan & Moroccan grooves, and polished with
lamenting judo-arabic strings, Briga is a rare breed of violinist. Not only is she classically trained, but she has a life time’s experience travelling the world with a fiddle on her back, learning songs from local folks by ear.