Welcome to our exclusive interview with OTYKEN, a Siberian Indigenous group that has recently taken the music world by storm with the release of their highly anticipated full-length album, Phenomenon. Mixing the rich traditions of Siberian Indigenous culture with the cutting-edge sounds of Folktronica, OTYKEN has created a fascinating musical experience. We recently spoke to the group about the inspiration behind their unique sound, the significance of their cultural heritage in their music, and their beautiful clothing.

Without a doubt, OTYKEN is one of those sensational bands where ancient traditions and modern innovation converge to create an extraordinary musical phenomenon. Just listen to their music – in place of the “stop” button, you will find yourself pushing the “rewind” button instead.

Can you tell us about the history and background of your music group, OTYKEN? And what does the name of your group mean? 

The history of OTYKEN begins with the foundation of the Museum of Ethnography in Krasnoyarsk which is focused on the minor ethnic groups of Siberia. The museum guests, especially foreigners, were very interested in ethnic music. Andrey Medonos, the museum’s director, was born among Siberian aborigines in Krasnoyarsk Krai. He married a Chulyms girl, and [later on] he found the first OTYKEN members [who lived] in the nearest villages. None of our members had any special musical education, but the Native people are usually very creative, so in every family, there is someone who sings or plays musical instruments.  

Then, OTYKEN’s collective grew and became [a household name] that [is also recognised] internationally. The name OTYKEN means “holy place”, a place of power – a place where warriors put their weapons away.

What kind of music do you play, and how is it unique from other forms of Indigenous music in Siberia? You mainly sing in Khakass and Chulyms. Would you tell us more about the subject of your songs? 

At the beginning, we performed our traditional music, our Folk music, but then we started to improvise to search for our own unique sound and to compose our own songs. We wanted to share our music and culture with a bigger audience, so we decided to combine some popular music trends with our instrumental music.  

OTYKEN is unique because it integrates the tradition, culture, and music of different Siberian nations. We sing our songs in Khakass, Chulymian, Dolganian, and Russian. These songs [tell stories] about Siberian nature: mountains, stormy rivers, the cold Tundra, and the impassable Taiga. We sing about friendship and love while also adding some words of wisdom, such as “heal with nature – it heals better than a shaman” [lyrics from the “Genesis” song].

How important is preserving and promoting Indigenous Siberian music, culture, and traditions to your group? 

Special public organisations and youth associations are engaged in the preservation and popularisation of the music, culture, and traditions of the Indigenous people of Siberia. We cooperate with them, exchange knowledge and experiences, and participate in modern projects. This is very important to us.

Can you walk us through the creative process behind your music, from composing to performing?

In our team, we have one particular member called Ach. He is the only person in our band who has an education in music; he is a multi-instrumentalist. He records different sounds and instruments, and then puts everything together under the guidance of our producer, Andrey Medonos. 

Andrey composes his own songs in the native languages of the Siberian aborigines and then works on those songs with the singers and other members of our band.

What message do you hope to convey through your music, and what impact do you hope it has on your audience?

In our songs, we tell people about Siberia and its Indigenous people. We are very happy when people all around the world get acquainted with the ethnic genre of music through OTYKEN. Our songs are listened to by a large variety of people, including fans of Pop, Rock, R&B, Jazz, and many other genres, and that’s wonderful!

What challenges have you faced as an Indigenous music group in Siberia, and how have you overcome them?

We haven’t faced any serious problems, so our way to success was straightforward. If we cannot do something, [or we struggle with something], we try again and again until we get [to a place where we want to be]. We never complain, that’s our worldview. Our songs inspire people to push forward, to look into the future, and to search for the spiritual light in their hearts; all of this is connected.

I would love to learn more about your beautiful outfits as well. Could you tell me more about them? 

Our clothes are based on the traditional clothing of different Native people of Siberia. We also like to add some modern designs and accessories to our outfits. We pay a lot of attention to the headpieces; we incorporate pieces of mammoth trunks, wolf fangs, bear claws, and also surmeski (traditional pigtails) into the design. A very important detail of our image is Khakass pogo – a necklace made of coins, beads, and shells. All of our dresses are specifically stylised, Central Siberian, and shortened for convenience. For example, they have some ribbons on the sleeves – such ribbons are usually tied to branches and are said to bring good luck. Our coats and patterns are those of the Chulyms and Ainu people, while our shoes are from the people of Taimyr. The paintings on our faces represent mountains, rivers, rocks, and the wind.

Have you collaborated with other artists or music groups, and if so, how has that impacted your music and your message?

We collaborated with a French DJ, DJ Billx, and that was an interesting experience. We really liked his remix of our song “My Wing”. We usually combine modern trends with Folk music in a ratio of 50/50. DJ Billx made it in a 70/30 ratio, and it was good; we got a lot of attention from Rave fans. 

We would also like to mention the Dutch DJ and producer, DJ Jaydee, who dedicated a mixed track to our song “Storm” and gave us a couple of new ideas. Soon, there will be another interesting collaboration with a famous European artist. You will definitely like it.

In your opinion, what does the future of Indigenous music in Siberia look like? And what role do you hope OTYKEN plays in the future? 

OTYKEN is the first multinational group of the Indigenous people of Siberia. We foresee the birth of a new musical genre like K-pop or J-pop. Maybe someday it will be called S-pop (Siberian Folk-Pop music). Anyway, it is not for us to decide, but for our listeners and music critics.

Improvisation is a large part of the creative process for many artists. How strictly do you separate improvising and composing in your work? 

We often improvise between songs at live shows. It’s fun and very energising for the audience, but we rarely use improvisation when creating studio compositions.

When you aren’t working, what do you like to do in your free time? 

Azyan:  I like to spend time with my loved ones at home, fishing, and eating our national food.

Tsveta: Personally, I really like sewing different details for our clothes and listening to modern music.

Hakaida: I love painting, and I even organise exhibitions for my art.

Kunchari: I like dancing and horse-riding. During the winter, I try to snowboard whenever I get the chance to do so.

Otamay: I like spending time near nature. Overall, I lead an active lifestyle and [find pleasure] in attending national festivals.

Maya: I’m quite passionate about martial arts; I have a punching bag in my house.

Ach: I’m a very musical person, and I enjoy playing the piano. I’m interested in classical music, so I tend to sing a lot and experiment with my voice.

Sandro: I like snowboarding and travelling.

Is there a particular place where you feel most creative? 

We are very attached to our native land, to our relatives, and to nature. [I think] we feel most creative at home.

Lastly, what upcoming projects can your fans look forward to? New music, perhaps?

Soon, we will release a new single, which will be a mixture of Folk and Rock & Roll. It will be something fresh and modern. We will continue to experiment with genres since it’s something that we really enjoy doing. 

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

_{View of the Arts is a British online publication that chiefly deals with films, music, and art, with an emphasis on the Asian entertainment industry. We are hoping our audience will grow with us as we begin to explore new platforms such as K-pop / K-music, and Asian music in general, and continue to dive into the talented and ever-growing scene of film, music, and arts, worldwide.}