New York Ukrainian Polka band Hrim releases new album

Hrim is a Ukrainian band based out of New York City which just released their self-titled debut album in May 2011.

Since its inception in 2005, Hrim has performed at festivals, weddings, zabavas, and other functions throughout North America in cities including New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Buffalo, Washington D.C., Toronto, Montreal, and many more.

The band recently performed at the Hopak in the Park festival in Melbourne, Australia along with a sold-out zabava there.

The band continues to perform non-stop and hopes to explore other areas of the Ukrainian diaspora with their music.

Their sound is a mix of traditional music styles – polkas, tangos, and waltzes fused with more modern rock, ska, and punk styles. It is a distinctly Ukrainian sound, yet absolutely unique to the group.

Hrim consists of Roman Palylyk (bass and vocals), Peter Drobenko (accordion), Will Wyatt (guitar), Peter Kolinsky (vocals), and John Drobenko (drums).

The band was fortunate to collaborate with other talented musicians on the album including Slau Halatyn (backing vocals and guitar), Andrij Stasiw (piano and composer), and Olenka Dolak (cello).

You can find out more about Hrim at their MySpace page.You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook. To purchase the album, visit their CD Baby page where you can either download mp3s or buy a physical CD. Hrim will be releasing the album on iTunes as well.

You’ll be able to hear Hrim on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, here’s a sneak preview from a couple of years ago at the Toronto Ukrainian Festival.

Enjoy!