VERBO I VODA is a London-formed duo by Ukrainian opera singer and improviser Milana Sarukhanyan (vocals) and improviser and lap steel guitarist John Bisset.

The project began as a freely improvised collaboration. Over time, however, Ukrainian folk songs emerged as a powerful anchor — offering both musical focus and deep cultural resonance. Milana’s interweaving of Ukrainian and English reflects her own lived journey, while the raw, earthy and at times visceral imagery of traditional texts shapes what Ashley Wales has described as “dark music for dark times.”

When Milana relocated to Bradford, the duo entered the studio to capture the intensity of their live work. What might have been a simple document of a collaboration instead became the beginning of a continuing artistic evolution. The resulting album marks the first chapter of an expanding project, with performances across the North of England (2024–2025) and new collaborators joining the journey, including Jem Finer on hurdy-gurdy.

Artist Reflections

John Bisset:

“Improvising with Milana is a rich and enlivening experience. I’m never sure where we’re going from one piece to another, emotionally or musically. Her wide dynamic range — from full-blown operatic fortissimos to tiny whisperings and plosive babblings — interacts with the equally wide tonal range of the lap steel. A nightmare to record, but one from which we’ve woken with a dream album.”

Milana Sarukhanyan:

“Working with John is a special kind of art for me. He brings exceptional musicality, deep attention to micro-sonic detail, and a rare generosity of spirit. He is honest, warm-hearted, and wholly committed — both to the music and to the people he works with. It is a huge honour to create together.”

Follow the project on Instagram: @verbo.i.voda