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 asFedor Svoloch (1996 - 1999)
OriginSt Petersburg, Russia
GenresWorld music, dark wave, trip hop, neofolk, ambient
Years active1999 – present
LabelsFulldozer 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
Associated actsДети Солнца, Samka, Shiva in Exile, SpiRitual, Театр Яда
Websitetheodorbastard.com
MembersFedor Svoloch
Yana Veva
Kusas
Alexey Kalinovskiy
Past membersTaras "Monthy" Frolov
Max Kostyunin
Andy Vladych

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

The band was founded in 1996 by Alexander Starostin - guitarist and composer - as a solo project. His stage name is Fedor Svoloch 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 Svoloch'. At the beginning they played mostly electronic, industrial, noise music but later, after Yana Veva joining, their style started to crystallize gradually, balancing on the edge of dark wave, world music, neofolk and trip hop.

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. This album has a great success, it was released in Germany (Pandaimonium Records), Mexico (The Art Records, Noise Kontrol) and Turkey (Muzikal Yapım[3]). In 2014 the remastered version named Pustota (Remastered) came out.

The band performed at famous festivals in Europe: Fusion Festival (2004[4]), Wave-Gotik-Treffen (2011,[5] 2014,[6] 2017[7]), Dark Bombastic Evening (2012,[8] 2013,[9] 2016[10]), Castle Party (2014[11]), Castlefest (2015,[12] 2017), Mėnuo Juodaragis (2008,[13] 2012,[14] 2016[15]) and others.

Theodor Bastard collaborated with many artists: Martin Atkins, Peter Christopherson,[16] Stefan Hertrich,[2] Fun-Da-Mental,[17] 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, Flint Glass 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 Svoloch 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 the album we can hear many guest artists: Buryat singer Namgar Lhasaranova from the band Namgar, multi-instrumentalist Phillip Barsky (harp and cimbalom), Olga Glazova (she plays the world's largest gusli), Chamber choir Lauda, vocalist Alexander Platonov (Ensemble of Ancient Peasant Music), Gulya Naumova (violin), Natalia Nazarova (cello). Russian horn, traditional Mongol violin morin khuur, ritual tibetan horn dungchen, ancient Russian gusli (a species of zither), cajón, jew's harp, dulcimer - this is incomplete list of instruments. This album is characterized by special atmosphere of northern dawn.

On December 4, 2017 Theodor Bastard released the soundtrack album Utopia[18] for the game Pathologic 2[19] - the long-awaited 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.[20]

10 year anniversary edition of the album Beloe was released in November 2018. This is the new version, re-mixed and remastered by Fedor Svoloch. The best tracks (according to musicians) are collected from the both releases of the album - Russian Белое: Ловля Злых Зверей 2008 and Argentinian Beloe: Hunting For Fierce Beasts 2010.

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. The widespread translation as wolfberry is a misunderstanding, wolfberry is not dangerous and doesn't grow in the wild in Russia.

Theodor Bastard concert on July 19, 2015 at GlavClub, Saint-Petersburg

Members

Current members
  • Fedor Svoloch - guitars, samplers, vocal (1999–present)
  • Yana Veva - vocal, bawu, ocarina (1999–present)
  • Kusas - ethnic percussions, winds (1999–present)
  • Alexey Kalinovskiy - keyboards (2014–present)

Former members
  • Taras "Monthy" Frolov - keyboards (1999-2008, 2014)
  • Max Kostyunin - bass (1999-2008, 2014)
  • Andy Vladych - drums (2009–2018)

Discography
Yana Veva - concert on December 22, 2016 at 16 tons, Moscow

Fedor Svoloch (Фёдор Сволочь)
Original titleTransliterated TitleTranslationYear of release
Восемь способов добиться ледиVosem' sposobov dobit'sya lediEight methods to pick lady up1996
Как не нужно делать попсуKak ne nuzhno delat' popsuHow not to create pop music1997
Зверинец Крафта-ЭбингаZverinec Krafta EbingaKrafft-Ebing's Bestiary1998

Wave Save
Original titleTransliterated TitleTranslationYear of release
Wave SaveWave SaveWave Save1999

Studio albums
Original titleTransliterated TitleTranslationYear of release
AgorafobiaAgorafobiaAgoraphobia2000
BossaNova_TripBossa Nova TripBossa Nova Trip2002
PustotaPustotaVoidness2004
Белое: Ловля Злых ЗверейBeloe: Lovlya Zlyh ZvereiWhite: Hunting For Fierce Beasts2008
Белое: Предчувствия И Сны (alternative/re-recorded version of "Белое: Ловля Злых Зверей")Beloe: Predchuvstviya I SnyWhite: Premonitions And Dreams2009
OikoumeneOikoumeneEcumene2012
VetviVetviBranches[21]2015
Белое: Ловля злых зверей (10th Anniversary Edition)Beloe: Lovlya Zlyh Zverei (10th Anniversary Edition)White: Hunting For Fierce Beasts (10th Anniversary Edition)2018
Волчья ЯгодаVolch'ya YagodaWolf's Berry2020

Live albums
Original titleTransliterated TitleTranslationYear of release
Live In HeavenLive In HeavenLive In Heaven2000
SuetaSuetaBustle2006

Compilation albums
Original titleTransliterated TitleTranslationYear of release
RemixedRemixedRemixed2011

Soundtrack albums
Original titleTransliterated TitleTranslationYear 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 SpacesMusic For The Empty Spaces2012
Utopia (soundtrack for the Pathologic 2 game)UtopiaUtopia2017
Life is Feudal (soundtrack for the game Life is Feudal: MMO)Life is FeudalLife is Feudal2018

Reissue albums
Original titleTransliterated TitleTranslationYear of release
Agoraphobia (remastered and partially re-recorded)AgoraphobiaAgoraphobia2007
Pustota (Remastered) (remastered and partially re-recorded)Pustota (Remastered)Voidness (Remastered)2014

Singles
Original titleTransliterated TitleTranslationYear of release
МирMirWorld2008
Будем житьBudem zhit'Will Live2009
TapachulaTapachulaTapachula2010
SerpSerpSerp2017

Festivals
Yana Veva - concert on July 19, 2015 at GlavClub, Saint Petersburg
  • 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)[4]
  • 2008 - Mėnuo Juodaragis XI (Lithuania)[13]
  • 2010 - Этномеханика (Russia)[22]
  • 2010 - Queer festival (Russia)[23]
  • 2011 - Wave-Gotik-Treffen (Germany)[5]
  • 2012 - Dark Bombastic Evening 4 (Romania)[8]
  • 2012 - Fekete Zaj (Hungary)
  • 2012 - Mėnuo Juodaragis XV (Lithuania)[14]
  • 2012 - KAMWA (Russia)[24]
  • 2012 - Дикая Мята (Russia)
  • 2013 - ReRe:Riga (Latvia)[25]
  • 2013 - Dark Bombastic Evening 5 (Romania)[9]
  • 2013 - Fekete Zaj (Hungary)
  • 2013 - Вольнае паветра (Belarus)
  • 2014 - Wave-Gotik-Treffen (Germany)[6]
  • 2014 - Движение (Russia)[26]
  • 2014 - Castle Party (Poland)[11]
  • 2014 - Labadaba (Latvia)[27]
  • 2014 - Дикая Мята (Russia)
  • 2015 - Бродский Drive (Russia)[28]
  • 2015 - Зов Пармы (Russia)
  • 2015 - Castlefest (Netherlands)[12]
  • 2016 - Tallinn Music Week (Estonia)[29]
  • 2016 - Троица: Всё живое (Russia)[30]
  • 2016 - Дикая Мята (Russia)
  • 2016 - Dark Bombastic Evening 7 (Romania)[10]
  • 2016 - Mėnuo Juodaragis XIX (Lithuania)[15]
  • 2016 - Алтея (Russia)[31][32][33]
  • 2017 - Music Drive (Armenia)
  • 2017 - Wave-Gotik-Treffen (Germany)[7]
  • 2017 - МИР Сибири (Russia)
  • 2017 - Белый шум (Russia)
  • 2017 - Метафест (Russia)
  • 2017 - Castlefest (Netherlands)
  • 2017 - FourЭ (Kazakhstan)
  • 2017 - Камяніца (Belarus)

References
  1. "Theodor Bastard - Volch'ya Yagoda - GRIMM Gent".
  2. "Shiva In Exile - Nour (CD, Album) at Discogs".
  3. "Muzikal Yapim organizasyon - Muzikal productions & entertainment".
  4. "Fusion Festival 2004".
  5. "~ Official Website Wave-Gotik-Treffen Leipzig ~".
  6. "~ Official Website Wave-Gotik-Treffen Leipzig ~".
  7. "~ Official Website Wave-Gotik-Treffen Leipzig ~".
  8. "Theodor Bastard - Dark Bombastic Evening".
  9. "Theodor Bastard - Dark Bombastic Evening 5".
  10. "Theodor Bastard - Dark Bombastic Evening 7".
  11. "Castleparty - Czy można prosić o rozpiskę jaki zespół w który dzień?" [Castleparty - Could you tell what bands on what day?] (in Polish).
  12. "Theodor Bastard @ Castlefest 2015".
  13. "MJR 2008 • PROGRAMA". Archived from the original on 2017-01-13.
  14. "The programme of the festival Mėnuo Juodaragis XV". Archived from the original on 2017-01-16.
  15. "PROGRAMME OF MJR XIX".
  16. "Various - ...It Just Is (In Memoriam: Jhonn Balance) (CD) at Discogs".
  17. "Theodor Bastard - Remixed at Discogs".
  18. "Utopia by Theodor Bastard on Amazon Music - Amazon.com".
  19. "Theodor Bastard - Ice-Pick Lodge".
  20. "Development News #112 — Behind the Music: Interview with Theodor Bastard".
  21. Meaning the branches of World tree
  22. "Третий World Music фестиваль Этномеханика" [Third World Music festival Ethnomechanics] (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2010-10-10.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  23. "Rock Festival - International festival of Queer culture in St. Petersburg".
  24. "Участник фестиваля Kamwa 2012: группа Theodor Bastard" [Participant of the Kamwa 2012 festival: Theodor Bastard band] (in Russian).
  25. "Theodor Bastard (Russia) invites to the festival RE RE Riga! from August 9 till 11 in Riga".
  26. "Участники фестиваля Движение 2014" [The participants of The Moving 2014 festival] (in Russian).
  27. "Mūzika un teātris - LABADABA" [Music and theater - LABADABA] (in Latvian).
  28. "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).
  29. "Theodor Bastard - Tallinn Music Week".
  30. "Фестиваль живой музыки "Троица. Всё живое" - Участники" [Festival of live music Trinity. All Living - Participants] (in Russian).
  31. "Своя атмосферность: Случилось ли обещанное волшебство на фестивале "Алтея"" [Its own atmosphere: Did the promised magic happen at the festival "Alteya"] (in Russian).
  32. ""Да и похрен, дискотека": как в Калининграде прошёл фестиваль атмосферной музыки "Алтея"" ["Nevermind, dance": atmospheric music festival "Alteya" in Kalilinigrad] (in Russian).
  33. "Космос внешний, космос внутренний: как прошёл фестиваль "Алтея" на "Вагонке"" [Outer space, inner space: festival "Alteya" at "Vagonka"] (in Russian).
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