Noted Ukrainian singer Inna Kovtun has been collaborating with composer and producer Jon Durant since 2021. But when the Russian invasion began, Kovtun, fearing for her safety, took her daughter and left her home to relocate to Portland, OR, where she has made a home for herself as a vital part of the local Ukrainian community conducting workshops in traditional folk singing. 

“Burning Fires,” the title track of her new EP, is based on an old Ukrainian poem about a fallen soldier who sends his horse home to let his parents know what has happened to him. You may not be able to understand what she’s singing, but you can feel this artist’s passion.