Harpist Alina Bzhezhinska is collaborating with electronic music producer and mix engineer Tulshi to release the digital single “Whispers of Rain” on March 18 with Tru Thoughts Recordings. According to a press release, the composition is intended to depict “the fleeting beauty of a rainstorm” and is the first single from their forthcoming album of the same name.
Tulshi says the inspiration for “Whispers of Rain” came from a moment of quiet reflection on his home island of Ibiza (a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea). “I remember standing with a cup of tea at the front door, watching the rain wash over the hills while the sun shone through. Water dripped everywhere; the ground was sodden,” Tulshi says. “It felt like a moment of deep gratitude—for the island being nourished, for everything being washed clean, and for a great thirst being quenched.”
Bzhezhinska says she found an immediate connection to John Coltrane’s "After the Rain," one of her favorite pieces. “The way Coltrane translated rain into sound has always inspired me,” Bzhezhinska says. “I realized how gracefully those falling droplets could be expressed through the harp, and in ‘Whispers of Rain,’ we created our own version of the rain.”
Both Tulshi and Bzhezhinska describe the creation of the track as an instinctive, effortless process, with Tulshi first laying down a synth foundation that Bzhezhinska responded to in real time, leading to further layers of granular synthesis effects. “I didn’t plan how I wanted to play—I just let it happen. We never even needed another take,” Bzhezhinska says. “I love how we explored different harmonic layers after I recorded my melody. Tulshi added so many textures to strike the perfect balance. The whole process felt as fresh as the rain itself.” Similarly, Tulshi summarizes the collaboration as “pure flow state.”
As a contemporary harpist, composer, bandleader, and collaborator, Bzhezhinska has worked alongside legendary artists including Brian Jackson, Chaka Khan, Shabaka Hutchings, DJ Spinna, and Slide Johnson, performing across international stages. Her HipHarpCollective was named Best Ensemble of the Year at the 2024 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. The group’s double LP Reflections (BBE Music) was awarded Best Album of the Year 2023 by Presto Music. Her other albums include Inspiration (Ubuntu Music, 2018) and Altera Vita (BBE Music, 2024). In addition, Bzhezhinska has performed live at venues and festivals such as WOMADelaide, EFG London Jazz Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, Paris Jazz Festival, Royal Albert Hall, and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.
Learn more on Bzhezhinska’s website. Her arrangement of the traditional Ukrainian song “Plywe Kacza” (The Duckling Swims) is available on Harp Column Music to support her native country.
