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"upwelling" is Irina's Rivkin's 2004 release on Rose Street Records

Gutsy poetic vocal world originals with textured harmonies and insightful lyrics that bite back

A few reviews (more reviews at "Irina's Press" to the left)

Sing Out! Vol48 #2 Summer 2004 by Angela Paga "Irina Rivkin was born in Leningrad (St. Petersburg, Russia. She moved to California as a young child. Now, at 32, with her first release Upwelling, she is political, jazzy, and rhythmic. Spanish and Russian are laced throughout the English lyrics. Impeccable enunciation and hot, harmony-rich vocals carry each track. The vocals are always so close that it’s as if she was lip-close to our ears sharing the intimate agony of Guatemalan women losing family members to cycles of fire and blood, or her ecstasy of finding true love. One highlight is “Ya Eyo Lublu” (Russian for I love her). She sings undaunted and upbeat as she brings her lover home, despite her mother’s admonishing, “I don’t like that you’re like that.” On three tracks she includes Maria Quiles and Rebecca Crump as the trio Making Waves. Singing “Glass House” their rhythm and sound would pass as a Russian Sweet Honey in the Rock. It is easy to forget that many of the songs have no instruments beyond vocals. We feel no loss musically. As she sings on “Taking Our Freedom” her father was caught and threatened by the K.G.B. for spreading the love of poetry. Coming to America was their attempt to find some freedom somewhere. Here is a woman who knows the treasure of freedom and is singing for and about it both worldwide and inside." -Angela Page

Author: CD Reviews of Muse's Muse, Reviewer Stacey Board The first thing you notice about Irina is that she is very brave. Then immediately after you realize that she is also very talented and very unique. Her voice is like a fine liquid glass ribbon. It is versatile, solid, fragile and flowing. Her songwriting voice is also very unique and strong. Her melodies soar and swoop but still stand solid and balanced. She writes with what I imagine is a mirror and flowers in one hand, and a pen and sword in the other. She is not afraid to be vulnerable, and she’s not afraid to tell you how it is, even when the flaws are yours. Rivkin is a modern poet, protester, trailblazer and compassionate artist. The varied harmonies that are added by Making Waves, her trio that includes partners Maria Quiles and Rebecca Crump simply shine. Their voices are lovely and they sound lovely together. If you appreciate music with a heart, a brain and a message you will adore Irina Rivkin’s “Upwelling”.

Review from The Ectophiles’ Guide to Good Music: Anna Maria Stjärnell Irina Rivkin's music is a nice mix of a cappella tunes and full-band compositions. She's got a warm, passionate voice that suits both kinds of songs. She mixes personal songs (like "Ya eyo lublu, I love her") with political ones like "See Through Bush"(George, not Kate obviously). "Hold the Moment" poignantly speaks of not being able to still time. Ironically songs are one of our means of holding the moment, like musical snapshots of feelings and events. upwelling is full of moments, captured for us by a gifted singer and writer. http://ectoguide.usrbin.ca/alpha/r/rivkin.irina