Theodor Bastard
Theodor Bastard is a band, from St Petersburg, Russia. Theodor Bastard were pioneers of world and neofolk music genres in Russia.[1] Also elements of dark wave, trip hop and ambient are present in the band's music. The themes of band's songs are very far from everyday problems, they are based on mythology and fantasy. The hallmark of the band is a female vocal by Yana Veva – the lead vocalist and author of many songs. She often sings in idiosyncratic language invented by her and in rare languages ranging from African and Asian to Native American and many more. Theodor Bastard albums were released in 5 countries: Russia, Germany, Turkey, Mexico, Argentina.
Theodor Bastard | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Фёдор Сволочь (Fedor Svolotch) (1995–1999) |
| Origin | St Petersburg, Russia |
| Genres | World music, dark wave, trip hop, neofolk, ambient |
| Years active | 1999 – present |
| Labels | Fulldozer Records, Q-Code Records, Planktone Productions, Species Of Fishes, Pandaimonium Records, The Art Records, Noise Kontrol, Muzikal Yapım, Manchester Files, Twilight Records, Theo Records, Danse Macabre Records, Season of Mist |
| Members | Fedor Svolotch Yana Veva Kusas Alexey Kalinovskiy Vyacheslav Salikov Sergey Smirnov Ekaterina Dolmatova |
| Past members | Taras "Monthy" Frolov Max Kostyunin Anton Urazov Andy Vladych |
| Website | theodorbastard.com |
Theodor Bastard's musicians use classical instruments: cello, harp as well as electronic instruments: synthesizers, samplers, theremin and ethnic instruments: nyckelharpa, jouhikko, darbuka, ashiko, conga, djembe, daf, didgeridoo, bağlama, gusli, cimbalom, dulcimer, caxixi, agogô, bawu, mbira, marimba, udu, reco-reco, ocarina, morin khuur, tibetan horn, kangling, cajón, jew's harp, spring drum and many other.
History edit
The band was founded in 1995 by Alexander Starostin – guitarist and composer – as a solo project. His stage name is Fedor Svolotch and the birth name of the band was the same. More members joined the band later, in 2000's, including vocalist and composer Yana Veva who also later participated in Shiva in Exile.[2] In 1999 the band's name became Theodor Bastard as the English translation of the stage name 'Fedor Svolotch'.
In 2004 Theodor Bastard released the album Pustota. The album name is a Latin transliteration of the Russian word for emptiness, voidness. Considering a Buddhist concept Shunyata.
The band performed at famous festivals in Europe: Fusion Festival (2004[3]), Wave-Gotik-Treffen (2011,[4] 2014,[5] 2017[6]), Dark Bombastic Evening (2012,[7] 2013,[8] 2016[9]), Castle Party (2014[10]), Castlefest (2015,[11] 2017), Mėnuo Juodaragis (2008,[12] 2012,[13] 2016[14]) and others.
Theodor Bastard collaborated with many artists: Martin Atkins, Peter Christopherson,[15] Stefan Hertrich,[2] Fun-Da-Mental,[16] Julien Jacob and others.
In November 2011 the album Remixed was released – the collection of remixes of Theodor Bastard's songs. Such artists from all over Europe as Riz Maslen, Animals on Wheels, Up, Bustle and Out, Robin Rimbaud, State of Bengal, Geomatic, and others took part in the work on the collection.
All 2011 Theodor Bastard worked on the new album. They recorded it in several studios at the same time. British band Fun-Da-Mental, African band The Mighty Zulu Nation, French singer Julien Jacob – took part in the recording. Many ethnic instruments as udu, mbira, marimba, reco-reco, caxixi, ashiko, and spring drum were used. Fedor Svolotch also used the instruments that he had invented and made of improvised materials, such as coconuts, door springs, empty bottles, and plastic. In February 2012 the album Oikoumene was released. Its name comes from Ecumene – an ancient Greek term for the known world.
In May 2015, Theodor Bastard released the album Vetvi. Its name is a Latin transliteration of the Russian word for branches bearing in mind the branches of the World tree. The work on this album took three years.
On December 4, 2017, Theodor Bastard released the soundtrack album Utopia[17] for the game Pathologic 2[18] – the remake of the game Pathologic from Ice-Pick Lodge.
In the beginning of 2018 Theodor Bastard have finished the whole soundtrack for another awaited game – Life is Feudal: MMO, with 30 tracks, with many instruments including medieval and with vocal by Yana Veva.[19]
10 year anniversary edition of the album Beloe was released in November 2018. The album Volch'ya Yagoda was released in April 2020. The album name means literally "Wolf's Berry" – the berry that belongs to a wolf. This is a common Russian name for forest dangerous (poisonous) berries.
Members edit
Current members edit
- Fedor Svolotch — guitars, sampler, vocals (1999–present)
- Yana Veva — vocals, bawu, ocarina (1999–present)
- Alexey "Kusas" Kurasov — ethnic percussions, winds (1999–present)
- Alexey Kalinovskiy — keyboards (2014–present)
- Vyacheslav Salikov — cello (2019—present) (live member from 2018 to 2019)
- Sergey Smirnov — drums (2019—present)
- Ekaterina Dolmatova — backing vocals, gusli, flute (2019—present) (live member from 2018 to 2019)
Former members edit
- Taras "Monthy" Frolov — keyboards (1999–2008) (live in 2014)
- Maxim "Max" Kostyunin — bass (1999–2008) (live in 2014)
- Anton Urazov — programming, sampler, jew's harp (2001–2005)
- Andrey "Andy Vladych" Dmitriev — drums (2009–2018)
Former touring/session members edit
- Alexey Bazhenov — electric piano (2003)
- Mila Fedorova — cello (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008)
- Thorsten Berg — acoustic guitar (2004)
- Gregh Dotson — electric piano (2005)
- Maria Akimova — gusli (2008)
- Alexey "Prokhor" Mostiev — theremin (2008, 2010, 2015)
- Yan Nikitin — vocals (2007, 2008, 2010)
- ? — percussion (2009)
- Zmitser von Holzman — theremin, clarinet (2010, 2012)
- Vladimir Belov — cello (2010, 2013)
- ? — bass (2010)
- ? — drums (2011–2012)
- Valeria Atanova — backing vocals (2012)
- Eduard Dragunov — jew's harp, singing bowl, didgeridoo, throat singing (2012)
- Taras "Monthy" Frolov — keyboards (2012, 2014)
- Radik Tyulyush — shoor (2012)
- ? — keyboards (2012)
- Alia Sagitova — keyboards (2013)
- ? — cello (2013)
- ? — harp (2013)
- Vasil' Davletshin — bass (2013, 2016)
- Filipp Barskiy — harp, dulcimer (2013)
- Viktor Kabanov — theremin (2013)
- Maxim "Max" Kostyunin — bass, double bass (2014)
- ? — flute (2014, 2015)
- Natalia Nazarova — cello (2015)
- Kirill Sekerzhitskiy — bass (2015)
- Olga Glazova — gusli, backing vocals (2015, 2017)
- ? — backing vocals (2015)
- Ilya Kartashov — cello (2015, 2016, 2017)
- Ekaterina Dolmatova — backing vocals (2016, 2018–2019) (official member since 2019)
- Evgeniy Vikki — balalaika, bouzouki, flute (2017)
- Vitaliy Pogosyan — duduk (2017)
- Timofey Smagliev — drums (2018–2019)
- Vyacheslav Salikov — cello (2018–2019) (official member since 2019)
- Christine Kazaryan — harp
Directors of the group edit
- Alexey Bazhin — director (2009–2014)
- Maxim Krupoderya — director (2014–2016)
- Denis Knyazev — director (2017–2021) († 2 May 2021)
Timeline edit
Discography edit
(official video)
Fedor Svoloch (Фёдор Сволочь) edit
| Original title | Transliterated Title | Translation | Year of release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Восемь способов добиться леди | Vosem' sposobov dobit'sya ledi | Eight methods to pick lady up | 1996 |
| Как не нужно делать попсу | Kak ne nuzhno delat' popsu | How not to create pop music | 1997 |
| Зверинец Крафта-Эбинга | Zverinec Krafta Ebinga | Krafft-Ebing's Bestiary | 1998 |
Wave Save edit
| Original title | Transliterated Title | Translation | Year of release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave Save | Wave Save | Wave Save | 1999 |
Theodor Bastard edit
Studio albums edit
| Original title | Transliterated Title | Translation | Year of release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agorafobia | Agorafobia | Agoraphobia | 2000 |
| BossaNova_Trip | Bossa Nova Trip | Bossa Nova Trip | 2002 |
| Pustota | Pustota | Voidness | 2004 |
| Белое: Ловля Злых Зверей | Beloe: Lovlya Zlyh Zverei | White: Hunting For Fierce Beasts | 2008 |
| Белое: Предчувствия И Сны (alternative/re-recorded version of "Белое: Ловля Злых Зверей") | Beloe: Predchuvstviya I Sny | White: Premonitions And Dreams | 2009 |
| Oikoumene | Oikoumene | Ecumene | 2012 |
| Vetvi | Vetvi | Branches[20] | 2015 |
| Волчья Ягода | Volch'ya Yagoda | Wolf's Berry | 2020 |
Live albums edit
| Original title | Transliterated Title | Translation | Year of release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live In Heaven | Live In Heaven | Live In Heaven | 2000 |
| Sueta | Sueta | Bustle | 2006 |
Compilation albums edit
| Original title | Transliterated Title | Translation | Year of release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remixed | Remixed | Remixed | 2011 |
Soundtrack albums edit
| Original title | Transliterated Title | Translation | Year of release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music For The Empty Spaces (soundtracks written for documentaries for Brazilian director Gustavo Santos, for the film "Secrets of Ourselves" by Viktor Fokeev and for Japanese designer Yushi Kuroda's show) | Music For The Empty Spaces | Music For The Empty Spaces | 2012 |
| Utopia (soundtrack for the Pathologic 2 game) | Utopia | Utopia | 2017 |
| Life is Feudal (soundtrack for the game Life is Feudal: MMO) | Life is Feudal | Life is Feudal | 2018 |
| Ash of Gods: The Way Soundtrack (soundtrack for the game Ash of Gods: The Way) | Ash of Gods: The Way | Ash of Gods: The Way | 2023 |
Reissue albums edit
| Original title | Transliterated Title | Translation | Year of release | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agoraphobia (remastered and partially re-recorded) | Agoraphobia | Agoraphobia | 2007 | ||||
| Pustota (Remastered) (remastered and partially re-recorded) | Pustota (Remastered) | Voidness (Remastered) | 2014 | Белое: Ловля злых зверей (10th Anniversary Edition) (both versions from "White: Hunting For Fierce Beasts" and "White: Premonitions And Dreams" are merged + partially re-recorded again in 2018) | Beloe: Lovlya Zlyh Zverey (10th Anniversary Edition) | White: Hunting For Fierce Beasts (10th Anniversary Edition) | 2018 |
Singles edit
| Original title | Transliterated Title | Translation | Year of release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Мир | Mir | World | 2008 |
| Будем жить | Budem zhit' | Will Live | 2009 |
| Tapachula | Tapachula | Tapachula | 2010 |
| Serp | Serp | Serp | 2017 |
Festivals edit
- 2000 - Свободный Полёт-2 (Russia)
- 2000 - Другая Культура (Russia)
- 2000 - Ушки В Трубочку-4 (Russia)
- 2001 – V международный фестиваль им. С. Курехина (СКИФ) (Russia)
- 2001 - Свободный Полёт IV (Russia)
- 2001 - Кислотный Тест (Russia)
- 2001 - Индустрия Звука (Russia)
- 2002 – Radio Inferno (Russia)
- 2003 – Faut Qu'ca Bouge (Belgium)
- 2004 – Fusion Festival (Germany)[3]
- 2008 – Mėnuo Juodaragis XI (Lithuania)[12]
- 2010 - Этномеханика (Russia)[21]
- 2010 – Queer festival (Russia)[22]
- 2011 – Wave-Gotik-Treffen (Germany)[4]
- 2012 – Dark Bombastic Evening 4 (Romania)[7]
- 2012 – Fekete Zaj (Hungary)
- 2012 – Mėnuo Juodaragis XV (Lithuania)[13]
- 2012 – KAMWA (Russia)[23]
- 2012 – Дикая Мята (Russia)
- 2013 – ReRe:Riga (Latvia)[24]
- 2013 – Dark Bombastic Evening 5 (Romania)[8]
- 2013 – Fekete Zaj (Hungary)
- 2013 – Вольнае паветра (Belarus)
- 2014 – Wave-Gotik-Treffen (Germany)[5]
- 2014 - Движение (Russia)[25]
- 2014 – Castle Party (Poland)[10]
- 2014 – Labadaba (Latvia)[26]
- 2014 – Дикая Мята (Russia)
- 2015 - Бродский Drive (Russia)[27]
- 2015 - Зов Пармы (Russia)
- 2015 – Castlefest (Netherlands)[11]
- 2016 – Tallinn Music Week (Estonia)[28]
- 2016 - Троица: Всё живое (Russia)[29]
- 2016 – Дикая Мята (Russia)
- 2016 – Dark Bombastic Evening 7 (Romania)[9]
- 2016 – Mėnuo Juodaragis XIX (Lithuania)[14]
- 2016 - Алтея (Russia)[30][31][32]
- 2017 – Music Drive (Armenia)
- 2017 – Wave-Gotik-Treffen (Germany)[6]
- 2017 - МИР Сибири (Russia)
- 2017 - Белый шум (Russia)
- 2017 - Метафест (Russia)
- 2017 – Castlefest (Netherlands)
- 2017 – FourЭ (Kazakhstan)
- 2017 - Камяніца (Belarus)
External links edit
- Theodor Bastard official site
- Theodor Bastard Youtube channel
- Theodor Bastard on Facebook
- Theodor Bastard on Instagram
- Theodor Bastard on SoundCloud
- Theodor Bastard on Bandcamp
- Theodor Bastard at Last.fm
- Theodor Bastard at Discogs
- Theodor Bastard at CdBaby
- Theodor Bastard on Myspace
References edit
- ^ "Theodor Bastard – Volch'ya Yagoda – GRIMM Gent".
- ^ a b "Shiva In Exile – Nour (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.
- ^ a b "Fusion Festival 2004".
- ^ a b "~ Official Website Wave-Gotik-Treffen Leipzig ~".
- ^ a b "~ Official Website Wave-Gotik-Treffen Leipzig ~".
- ^ a b "~ Official Website Wave-Gotik-Treffen Leipzig ~".
- ^ a b . Archived from the original on 2017-01-08. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
- ^ a b . Archived from the original on 2013-11-23. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
- ^ a b "Theodor Bastard – Dark Bombastic Evening 7".
- ^ a b "Castleparty – Czy można prosić o rozpiskę jaki zespół w który dzień?" [Castleparty – Could you tell what bands on what day?] (in Polish).
- ^ a b "Theodor Bastard @ Castlefest 2015". YouTube.
- ^ a b . Archived from the original on 2017-01-13.
- ^ a b . Archived from the original on 2017-01-16.
- ^ a b "PROGRAMME OF MJR XIX".
- ^ "Various - ...It Just Is (In Memoriam: Jhonn Balance) (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.
- ^ "Theodor Bastard – Remixed at Discogs". Discogs.
- ^ "Utopia by Theodor Bastard on Amazon Music – Amazon.com". Amazon.
- ^ "Theodor Bastard – Ice-Pick Lodge".
- ^ "Development News #112 — Behind the Music: Interview with Theodor Bastard".
- ^ Meaning the branches of World tree
- ^ [Third World Music festival Ethnomechanics] (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2010-10-10.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Rock Festival – International festival of Queer culture in St. Petersburg".
- ^ "Участник фестиваля Kamwa 2012: группа Theodor Bastard" [Participant of the Kamwa 2012 festival: Theodor Bastard band] (in Russian).
- ^ "Theodor Bastard (Russia) invites to the festival RE RE Riga! from August 9 till 11 in Riga".
- ^ "Участники фестиваля Движение 2014" [The participants of The Moving 2014 festival] (in Russian).
- ^ "Mūzika un teātris – LABADABA" [Music and theater – LABADABA] (in Latvian).
- ^ "Федор Чистяков, Theodor Bastard и другие группы в саду Фонтанного Дома" [Fedor Chistyakov, Theodor Bastard and other bands in the Fountain House garden] (in Russian).
- ^ "Theodor Bastard – Tallinn Music Week".
- ^ [Festival of live music Trinity. All Living – Participants] (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
- ^ "Своя атмосферность: Случилось ли обещанное волшебство на фестивале "Алтея"" [Its own atmosphere: Did the promised magic happen at the festival "Alteya"] (in Russian). 16 August 2016.
- ^ ["Nevermind, dance": atmospheric music festival "Alteya" in Kalilinigrad] (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2017-08-21. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
- ^ "Космос внешний, космос внутренний: как прошёл фестиваль "Алтея" на "Вагонке"" [Outer space, inner space: festival "Alteya" at "Vagonka"] (in Russian).