Singer Julia Kozakova is best known for her solo work and her previous album Manuša, released in 2022, saw her bring new life into traditional Roma songs originally from Slovakia and Central Europe. Julia’s band are a group of exceptional Roma musicians from her home town of Bratislava who perform on cimbalom, violin, viola, double bass and guitar.

Since she was 13, Julia has worked closely with Roma artists and has collaborated with Czech singer Ida Kelarova and toured Europe with her Romany children‘s choir Čhavorenge. Her breakout and internationally released debut album Manuša brought Julia an new audiences performing in UK, Czech Republic and Slovakia and also received positive media feedback – it was the best performing world music album from Slovakia according to the World Music Charts Europe (WMCE) and has been nominated for Radio Head Award as the ‘best Slovak world music album’ of 2022. Julia studied at London’s SOAS and continues to study ‘jazz voice’ at Janačkova Akademie in Brno (Czech Republic).

Voice: Júlia Kozáková
Violin: ViliamDidiáš
Cimbalom: Ľubomír Gašpar
Viola: Vojtech “Bélu” Botoš
Double Bass: Ján Rigo
Guitar: Zsolt Várady (special guest)

Manuša

Manuša means people in the Roma language.
People, the ancestors of the Roma, left us the songs to create this album. Written by life and confirmed by many generations. Treasure. We are all people, too, regardless of origin or skin color. We live together on the same Earth and have many differences and peculiarities that can enrich each other. And so it has happened to me, a person without Roma roots, that I have been enriched on my journey by Roma traditional songs. I am enchanted by their depth, simplicity and passion. They teach me that sadness is as beautiful and necessary as joy. I have adopted these songs into my life so they are now a part of me. With sensitivity, love and respect, I take the liberty of interpreting them on my first album.
I wish that we would let ourselves be enriched by the gifts of others and share our own. It is an incredibly rich and adventurous journey.