A-Studio
Encyclopedia
A-Studio is a Russia-based pop
music group originally consisting of Kazakh
musicians Vladimir Mikloshich (bass), Baigali Serkebayev (keyboard), Baglan Sadvakasov (solo guitar), and frontman Batyrkhan Shukenov (vocal and sax). The band was created in 1982 in Almaty
, then called Alma-Ata, hence called "Alma-Ata Studio". Later, the name was changed to "A-Studio".
In 1989, the A-Studio song "Джулия" ("Julia") caught the attention of Russian singers Philipp Kirkorov
and Alla Pugacheva
. Pugacheva invited them to her annual "Christmas Meeting" in 1990 and introduced them as the best band in the country (at that time, the USSR
). The song, as well as the band, immediately became popular across the USSR.
In 2000, Shukenov left the band to pursue a solo career, while A-Studio introduced a new vocalist, Polina Griffith. The band released several singles of songs with Griffith on vocals, including "S.O.S", which reached #64 on the UK Singles Chart
and gained popularity in Europe and the USA.
In August 2004, Griffith left the band to pursue solo work. As a result, a new vocalist, Katy Topuria, originally from Tbilisi, Georgia
, joined A-Studio. Together, they released popularly acclaimed singles such as "Улетаю" ("Flying Away"), "Ты" ("You"), "Ночь-Подруга" ("Night-Friend"). "Улетаю" hit the charts across the former Soviet Union, bringing the band a new wave of popularity. However, this successful new beginning was clouded by the death of Baglan Sadvakasov on 2 August 2006 as the result of a car accident. His place in the band was taken by his son, 17-year-old Tamerlan Sadvakasov. Later, as the younger Sadvakasov left the band to pursue education, Fedor "Federico" Dossumov became the solo-guitarist for A-Studio.
At different times during the late 1990s, A-Studio worked with Greg Walsh, famous UK sound-producer.
Since 1988, A-Studio has released 13 albums, including 10 studio albums, 2 live albums and 1 compilation album
. These include:
Their latest single
, "Fashion Girl", was released in mid-2010 and is included in the album "Волны". It achieved modest popularity
in Russia
and former Soviet Union
countries. The music video
shot for the song was finished on November 8, 2010, according to their official website
. In the video, the members of the group are trying to construct a female robot in a laboratory
, set in a 60-70s setting. The director of the clip is German Glinski, a Ukrainian
video designer. The single reached No. 23 on the Russian singles chart.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
music group originally consisting of Kazakh
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
musicians Vladimir Mikloshich (bass), Baigali Serkebayev (keyboard), Baglan Sadvakasov (solo guitar), and frontman Batyrkhan Shukenov (vocal and sax). The band was created in 1982 in Almaty
Almaty
Almaty , also known by its former names Verny and Alma-Ata , is the former capital of Kazakhstan and the nation's largest city, with a population of 1,348,500...
, then called Alma-Ata, hence called "Alma-Ata Studio". Later, the name was changed to "A-Studio".
In 1989, the A-Studio song "Джулия" ("Julia") caught the attention of Russian singers Philipp Kirkorov
Philipp Kirkorov
Philipp Bedrosovich Kirkorov is a Bulgarian-born Russian singer and producer living and working in Moscow.-Biography:Philipp Kirkorov was born on April 30, 1967 in Varna, Bulgaria. His father is Bulgarian singer of Armenian and Belarusian ethnicity Bedros Kirkorov. His mother, Victoria, is...
and Alla Pugacheva
Alla Pugacheva
Alla Borisovna Pugacheva or Pugachova , born 15 April 1949), is а Soviet and Russian musical performer. Her career started in 1965 and continues to this day...
. Pugacheva invited them to her annual "Christmas Meeting" in 1990 and introduced them as the best band in the country (at that time, the USSR
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
). The song, as well as the band, immediately became popular across the USSR.
In 2000, Shukenov left the band to pursue a solo career, while A-Studio introduced a new vocalist, Polina Griffith. The band released several singles of songs with Griffith on vocals, including "S.O.S", which reached #64 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and gained popularity in Europe and the USA.
In August 2004, Griffith left the band to pursue solo work. As a result, a new vocalist, Katy Topuria, originally from Tbilisi, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, joined A-Studio. Together, they released popularly acclaimed singles such as "Улетаю" ("Flying Away"), "Ты" ("You"), "Ночь-Подруга" ("Night-Friend"). "Улетаю" hit the charts across the former Soviet Union, bringing the band a new wave of popularity. However, this successful new beginning was clouded by the death of Baglan Sadvakasov on 2 August 2006 as the result of a car accident. His place in the band was taken by his son, 17-year-old Tamerlan Sadvakasov. Later, as the younger Sadvakasov left the band to pursue education, Fedor "Federico" Dossumov became the solo-guitarist for A-Studio.
At different times during the late 1990s, A-Studio worked with Greg Walsh, famous UK sound-producer.
Since 1988, A-Studio has released 13 albums, including 10 studio albums, 2 live albums and 1 compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
. These include:
- "Путь без Остановок" ("Road with No Stops", 1988)
- "Джулия" ("Julia", 1990)
- "А-Студио" ("A-Studio", 1993)
- "Солдат Любви" ("Soldier of Love", 1994)
- "A-Studio Live" (1995)
- "Нелюбимая" ("Unloved", 1996)
- "The Best" (1997)
- "Грешная Страсть" ("Sinful Passion", 1998)
- "Такие Дела" ("Such Things", 2001)
- "Улетаю" ("Flying Away", 2005)
- "905" (2007)
- "Total" (2008)
- "Волны" ("Waves", 2010)
Their latest single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Fashion Girl", was released in mid-2010 and is included in the album "Волны". It achieved modest popularity
Popularity
Popularity is the quality of being well-liked or common, or having a high social status. Popularity figures are an important part of many people's personal value systems and form a vital component of success in people-oriented fields such as management, politics, and entertainment, among...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
countries. The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
shot for the song was finished on November 8, 2010, according to their official website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
. In the video, the members of the group are trying to construct a female robot in a laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
, set in a 60-70s setting. The director of the clip is German Glinski, a Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
video designer. The single reached No. 23 on the Russian singles chart.
External links
- http://www.astudio.ru/
- http://www.shanson.net/site/artist.php?act=show&entid=13215 Brief history of the band in Russian
- http://www.lizmedia.ru/press/astudio/004.htm
- http://www.laurentpons.com/astudiodisc.htm
- http://polinagriffith.com/