Sen Svaja

Mystery of the Woods

They charm, they enthral, they invoke the spirits, the legends and the myths of the Baltic and like most sorcerers, they are most powerful away in the depths of the forest.

"They are witches", I overheard a lady saying while standing close in a concert where this very interesting trio was playing. Sen Svaja has revived much of the mythology forgotten generations ago and brought it back to a entire new generation of followers.

Dorotė, Živile and Agota conform this unusual band that performs post-folk songs that incorporate ancient melodies enriched with oriental, Slavic and Jazz elements, all of which exude meditative qualities. Every performance is based on a theatrical experiment to surprise and invite the audience to wonder

The name "Sen Svaja" derives from it's original in Prussian ("sen swajjais") and translate to English in different ways: "with our own", "with those we know" or "with relatives". In many ways their name is an invitation to the audience to form part form part of their musical rituals

Lena Mori (Лено мори)

"Lena Mori" is a Macedonian folk song about an ideal woman. It is full of sensual metaphors and figures all conveying admiration, desire and longing for this beautiful woman

Lena Mori's translation

Your eyes, Lena*, mori*, are as the cherries of Voden
Give them to me, so that I eat them!
Desire, Lena, mori, so that I quench my desire
Longing, my longing, so that my longing goes away

Your face, Lena, mori, is as a simit from Lerina
Give it to me, so that I eat it!
Desire, Lena, mori, so that I quench my desire
Longing, my longing, so that my longing goes away

Your lips, Lena, mori, are as a jewel box from Kastoria
Give them to me, so that I open them!
Desire, Lena, mori, so that I quench my desire
Longing, my longing, so that my longing goes away

Your body, Lena, mori, is so thin and tall
Give it to me, so that I hold it!
Desire, Lena, mori, so that I quench my desire
Longing, my longing, so that my longing goes away