Our appearance is very important, says lead singer Azyan of their striking looks.
People who happen to find our music from our photos and videos can form the right impression of us.
Its hard to perceive folk music without visualizing it.
Photo: Sergey Ivanov
Who exactly is this intriguing (and well-dressed) group of rising performers?
Otykenis fast becoming one of Russias most exciting musical acts.
The group, founded in 2015, hails from Russias Krasnoyarsk region.
Video: Courtesy of Otyken
Through their music, Otyken champions elements of their culture in modern, unexpected ways.
Cue an unlikely sonic combination that, somehow,totally works.
In the early years, we only produced traditional music, says Azyan.
Photo: Sergey Ivanov
Later we thought about how to bring our voice and culture to a wider audience.
We [try] to retransmit Siberian folk music through modern sounds.
The groups recent singles perfectly exemplify how theyre pushing traditional Siberian culture forward.
Many of their lyrics also nod back to Siberian landscapes or old folklore tales.
We use everything new and modern, as well as the well-forgotten old, says Azyan.
This is the most remote and hard-to-reach place in Siberia.
We wanted to tell the whole world about this place.
There are a lot of beautiful, fabulous, and exciting things to see.
The members make most of their distinctive ensembles, referencing traditional Siberian garments worn for centuries.
(The headdresses and hats are made using mammoth trunks, wolf fangs, or bear claws.)
Our group is multinational, and this is reflected in our stage image, says Azyan.
We present a collective image of the Indigenous peoples of Siberia.
The group makes modern alterations to some looks, mainly in the form of accessories and silhouettes.
We have also shortenedtraditional Siberian dressesa bit to perform comfortably in hot regions and countries, says Azyan.
We usually do this at home, between concerts, in our free time.
It was an amazing show, says Azyan.
We were asked to sing the new track, Belief, as an encore.
The audience was delighted.
We will also release a joint music video, Azyan teases.
The music and lyrics are a perfect blend of hip-hop style.
This is the most unusual and spontaneous collaboration ever.
