Taarka joined Ginger Perry in the KGNU studio to talk about their long-running musical partnership, which began in New York City in 2001 and has since evolved into a genre-blending sound rooted in folk, jazz, and global influences. Now based in Colorado, the duo—joined by their teenage son on upright bass—shared stories of their early days busking, their move west after 9/11, and how their collaborative songwriting process has grown over time.
During the session, Taarka performed live in studio, including their newly released single “Have You Ever,” offering listeners a preview of their dynamic, multi-instrumental style. They also discussed a February 22 show at the Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder as part of the Musical Vanguard series. (Air Date 2/17/2026)
Listen to the local gold here:
Transcript:
Ginger Perry: And now, special guest Taarka—spelled T-A-A-R-K-A. We’ve got Enion and David here, two-thirds of a trio. Taarka will be performing very soon at the Dairy Center, 4:00 PM, February 22nd. What day of the week is that?
Taarka: Sunday.
Ginger Perry: Sunday at 4:00. You can get tickets at the Dairy Center for the Arts, and there’s a student price as well.
Anyway, Enion and David, welcome.
Taarka: Thank you. Thanks so much for having us.
Ginger Perry: We’re happy to have you here. We’ve heard a lot about Taarka over the years. You’ve been together since 2001?
Taarka: Yes.
Ginger Perry: That’s remarkable.
Taarka: We met in New York City and moved out west.
Ginger Perry: And you’re married to each other?
Taarka: Yes.
Ginger Perry: Tell us how the band got started.
Taarka: We met because we were hired by the same bluegrass band, Brooklyn Browngrass, in New York City. They had a weekly gig at The Stinger. We were both hired within two weeks of each other, coming from subway busking.
That band was fun, but we discovered shared musical interests that went beyond it. We started playing and writing together. After the Twin Towers fell, we decided to leave New York City.
David knew people in Portland, Oregon who were looking for musicians, so we moved there and began developing the music we’d been writing.
Ginger Perry: That was the beginning of Taarka. What does the name mean?
Taarka: We were playing a mix of world-influenced and jazz-inflected music—gypsy swing, Romanian music, and more. We were also listening to Ravi Shankar and saw him at Carnegie Hall.
We were brainstorming names, and “Taarka” stuck. It’s an onomatopoeia—the sound of roasting spices when making curry—reflecting a blend of influences.
Ginger Perry: Perfect. How would you describe your instrumentation?
Taarka: It’s evolved, but always includes violin—six-string violin—and David on mandolin and guitar. He brings several instruments to shows.
We also have upright bass, currently played by our son.
Ginger Perry: Excellent.
Taarka: We made and grew our own bass player.
Ginger Perry: You created him.
Taarka: We got lucky—he’s a brilliant musician.
Ginger Perry: How old is he?
Taarka: He’s 17 and about to go to jazz school.
Ginger Perry: So you’ll lose him as your primary bass player?
Taarka: For some things, yes.
Ginger Perry: You’ll also be playing the Magic Rat in Fort Collins on April 19 and Black Rose in Colorado Springs on June 26. Let’s hear some music.
Taarka: We’d love to. We’re releasing a new song today. You’ll be able to find it on our website and Bandcamp at noon. Since we can’t play the recorded version, we’ll perform it live.
Ginger Perry: Great. I’m Ginger, and I’m very happy to be hosting Enion and David.
[SONG: “Have You Ever”]
Ginger Perry: Wow. What was that called?
Taarka: “Have You Ever.” It’s a single we’re releasing today.
Ginger Perry: How can people access it?
Taarka: At taarka.com or our Bandcamp page. It’ll be available after noon.
Ginger Perry: What can people expect at your upcoming show?
Taarka: It’s part of the Musical Vanguard series at the Dairy Center. We play mostly original music blending folk, jazz, and global influences.
With our son on bass, the jazz element has expanded our sound.
Ginger Perry: Who does the songwriting?
Taarka: Both of us. Sometimes together, sometimes separately. The full band shapes the final sound.
Ginger Perry: Where have you toured?
Taarka: Across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Mexico.
In 2013, during the Colorado floods, we lost our house and then left for a Mexico tour three days later.
Ginger Perry: What will you do when your son leaves?
Taarka: We’ll adapt—there are great bass players around.
Ginger Perry: Let’s hear another song.
Taarka: This one is “Under the Influence,” from David’s upcoming solo record.
[SONG: “Under the Influence”]
Ginger Perry: That’s beautiful. We look forward to the solo album.
Taarka: It’s finished—we’re planning the release.
Ginger Perry: Thanks for being here. One last reminder about your show.
Taarka: We’re playing at the Dairy Center this Sunday at 4:00 PM. There are $10 student tickets. We’ll perform as a trio with our son on bass.
Ginger Perry: And the release today?
Taarka: “Have You Ever” will be available at noon on our website and Bandcamp.
Ginger Perry: In honor of Mardi Gras—laissez les bon temps rouler. Thanks for coming in.
[SONG: “Miss Ohio”]
Ginger Perry: Beautiful sound from Taarka, performing Sunday at 4:00 PM at the Dairy.
