OTYKEN – Storm

Description

Otyken (Old Turkic:𐰇𐱅𐰜𐰤, romanized: Ötüken; Russian: Отукен, OH-too-kyen) is a Russian Siberian indigenous music group that mixes elements of modern pop with local folk music, incorporating traditional instruments, lyrics, and languages. ‘Otyken’ is a word that is used in Chulym and other Turkic languages for a sacred land where warriors would lay down their arms and talk. The band was formed in 2015 by Andrey Medonos, and their debut album was released in 2018. As of January 2023, the group has over two million followers on Tiktok, over one hundred and twenty thousand monthly listeners on Spotify, and seven hundred seventy five thousand subscribers on YouTube. The band members are of Siberian ethnicities and live in tiny villages along the Chulym river in the taiga of Krasnoyarsk Krai.

Genre and style

The group’s career began by performing traditional songs representative of their culture; later, modern elements of rock and pop were blended over this folk foundation to create greater appeal for global audiences. Their homemade costumes also incorporate historic and modern design elements for this same reason. Otyken’s music is performed with traditional instruments such as the komuz, igil, jaw harp, rattle, tambourine, and leather drum, although modern instruments such as the keyboard, bass guitar, and saxophone have been used. Throat singing is also frequently implemented. Many of the group’s sounds, both instrumental and vocal, attempt to mimic the sounds of nature and animals, while the lyrics try to capture the practices, beliefs, and spirit of the indigenous people. The language is mostly in Chulym Tatar, which had only 44 speakers in 2010 and about 25 speakers in 2020; some songs are also sung in Khakas or Russian.

History

Formation

Otyken was formed by its producer, manager, and songwriter, Andrey Medonos, in order to preserve Chulym folklore, traditions, and songs which are nearing extinction. Medonos, though not of Siberian ethnicity, grew up at his family’s apiary in the Siberian wilderness among its indigenous people, who maintained a longstanding beekeeping partnership with the Medonos lineage. There he entered into the beekeeping trade, but also engaged in Chulym culture: hunting, fishing, and foraging with the people and marrying an indigenous woman. He founded The Ethnographic Museum of Honey in Krasnoyarsk city and became its director to preserve the cultures of the Chulym, Tatarlar, Ket, Khakass, and Selkup indigenous peoples, while also hosting lectures and gatherings. The museum attracted visitors (Native Americans in particular) who also wanted to hear the traditional instruments and songs played by indigenous people. This inspired Medonos to find locals who would demonstrate their ethnic music at museum concerts. Medonos’ wife was among the first performers and later went on to create their costumes.

In 2013, Medonos started a YouTube channel to share Chulym culture. There he showcased an apiary made with traditional log beehives and Chulym folklore, dances, and songs that had historically accompanied honey production. In 2015, Otyken was formed and was partnered with Medonos in the production of wild Chulym honey. Their honey products (Ethno-Honey) became popular in Japan and the sales helped to establish the band through funding music production, instruments, equipment, and costumes. They released their first album in 2018. A yurt was constructed at the apiary in the following year to host rehearsals and meetings, and they began holding concerts regularly at the museum.

The music video was filmed in Siberia, Krasnoyarsk Territory, on the Chulym River. 30 km from the village of Pasechnoye (the capital of the Chulyms). This is the birthplace of the members of the OTYKEN group. Chulyms are the smallest indigenous peoples of Siberia. According to one version, the Chulyms are the ancestors of the Japanese Ainu and the indigenous peoples of North America. According to another version, the Chulyms are an ancient Turkic tribe.

The song OTYKEN – STORM talks about the difficulties that people face while traveling to the East. The music of the OTYKEN group is dedicated to giving kindness and warm light to all people on the Earth! The magical power of our music will heal your soul and your body as well, and it can even send you into trance.

 

Members of the music video OTYKEN – STORM:

Producer, songwriter – Andrey Medonos

Sound – Dmitry Kruzhkovsky

Vocal – Azyan

Drums – Hakkaida Vargan

(Jaw harp) – Tsveta Throat Singing

(Synthesizer) – Ach Ikili

(Morinhur) – Kunсhari Maracas

(deer antlers) – Kykakacha Khomys

(string instrument) – Otamay

Shaman recitative – Sandro

 

Our products: https://andreymedonos.ru/

OTYKEN concert schedule: https://otyken.ru

TikTok OTYKEN:   / otyken  

Instagram OTYKEN:   / otyken_official  

Instagram Andrey’s:   / andreymedonos  

Instagram Ethno – Honey:   / ethno_med  

FB group:   / otykenofficial  

Twitter:   / otyken_official  

ВК Музей Мёда и Этнографии: https://vk.com/museumofhoney

ВК группы OTYKEN: https://vk.com/otyken\