The Path of Life to the Truth in Love, Unity, and Fidelity…
In their third album Şăltăr Vitĕr Şol Korănat, the Chuvash group DIVA Ethno Future Sound offers a historical and folkloric journey through time, ancestry, and emotion. DIVA, founded in 2019, is not merely a musical act — it’s a cultural mission. Their very name, composed of ancient Chuvash runic symbols, translates to “The path of life to the truth in kove, unity and fidelity, in creation and mutual assistance” —a poetic mantra that sets the tone for the entire album.
DIVA reimagines tradition. Drawing from the songs of Chuvash recruits across the vast geography of the Chuvash people — Turi, Anatri, Anat-Enchi, and others from Samara, Bashkir, Orenburg, and even Siberia —this album breathes new life into folk expressions from the 18th to 20th centuries. Through the group’s signature fusion of haunting vocals, earthy acoustic textures, and shimmering electronic elements, the past is not only remembered, it’s relived and reframed for the future.
The second track, “Utatăp-utatăp” (I Walk and Walk), stands as a poetic cornerstone of the album. It is a lament, a meditation, and a metaphor for the universal journey of leaving home, of separating from family, of carrying memories. The lyrics, deeply metaphorical, transform loved ones into objects of everyday life — a silver watch for a brother, a thaler for a mother, a bracelet for a younger sister — each a treasure too personal to leave behind. The song’s cyclical structure, its soft yet persistent rhythm, mirrors the trudging pace of a recruit walking away from home, heart heavy with longing. It’s a lullaby for the soul and an elegy for innocence.
Musically, Şăltăr Vitĕr Şol Korănat is as diverse as the regions it represents. Tracks like “Ah Kayappăr” (We’re Leaving) and “Tăvansenchen Mĕnle Oirălas” (How Can I Leave My Family) open the album with emotional intensity and nostalgic resonance. Meanwhile, “Horăn Tărri Ai Homhanat” (The Top of the Birch Tree, Oh, Trembles) and “Vărman Hĕrrine Ai Pas Tytnă” (The Hoarfrost Has Covered the Edge of the Forest) paint vivid landscapes into a witness of human stories.
Here is a live performance of track 7, “Ăsatărah Tăvansem.”
By the time we reach the titular closing track “Şăltăr Vitĕr Şol Korănat” (The Road Paved by Stars), the album’s narrative arc feels complete. The journey is not linear; it spirals like the Chuvash symbols, circling through generations, emotions, and places.
DIVA’s approach to ethno-futurism isn’t about making the past palatable to modern ears. It’s a reclamation and a reawakening. Şăltăr Vitĕr Şol Korănat is a living archive of collective memory, wrapped in sonic experimentation and emotional honesty.
Standout Tracks:
“Utatăp-utatăp,” “Epîr Kayas Şol Şinche,” “Horăn Tărri Ai Homhanat,” “Şăltăr Vitĕr Şol Korănat” – a spiritual finale, worthy of its title.
(Ruslan Solovev, 2025)
