Russian techno
Encyclopedia
Russian techno has emerged late after the fall of the Iron Curtain
, with the inflow of modern synthesizer
s and sophisticated sound mixing equipment - an area where the USSR
was trailing significantly behind the West
. Import of the new hardware defined the transition from VIA
s - the vocal-instrumental-ensembles - Soviet-era
bands with specific sound defined by cheap electronics. These had been in effect replaced with more Western-sounding groups slowly gaining momentum circa 1990s.
The target audience of the new techno
bands was the urban population of Russia
, comprising most of the country population by 1991, when USSR was dissolved. However, due to then-blossoming period of "wild criminal capitalism
", promotion and marketing of new venues was defined not by popularity or public demand, but rather through stand-alone projects funded and marketed by single individuals, capable of capital investments. These investors were often driven by their own personal tastes and ideas (typical example - Ivan Shapovalov
, creator of t.A.T.u.
), while the empty techno-music market was readily bracing virtually any new domestic techno singer.
All this defined the phenomena of Russian techno scene - with its significant domination by female singers and girl-bands
, performing sophisticated techno narrowly bordering trance
and dance music
. Thus, Russian techno relied a lot on vocals, and has distinct romantic tones, which makes is quite different from male-dominated German techno
, which may sound more metallic with less reliance on vocals. One of the few traditional Western-style techno bands was Technologia, an attempt of Russian localization of Depeche Mode
.
Since the beginning of 21st century, the aforementioned situation started changing due to the swift economic growth in Russia, fueled by growing oil prices, as well as the development of the music business infrastructure. Oddly enough, that also set the former techno sector to a level of decline, with a drift towards MTV-sation of Russian pop. This was mainly characterized by lack of significant new names in the techno stream.
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
, with the inflow of modern synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s and sophisticated sound mixing equipment - an area where 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....
was trailing significantly behind the West
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
. Import of the new hardware defined the transition from VIA
VIA
- Science and technology :* MOS Technology 6522, Versatile Interface Adapter* Via , a through-connection* VIA Technologies, a Taiwanese manufacturer of integrated circuits, subnotebooks, and Ultra-Mobile PCs...
s - the vocal-instrumental-ensembles - Soviet-era
History of the Soviet Union
The history of the Soviet Union has roots in the Russian Revolution of 1917. The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, emerged as the main political force in the capital of the former Russian Empire, though they had to fight a long and brutal civil war against the Mensheviks, or Whites...
bands with specific sound defined by cheap electronics. These had been in effect replaced with more Western-sounding groups slowly gaining momentum circa 1990s.
The target audience of the new techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
bands was the urban population of 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...
, comprising most of the country population by 1991, when USSR was dissolved. However, due to then-blossoming period of "wild criminal capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
", promotion and marketing of new venues was defined not by popularity or public demand, but rather through stand-alone projects funded and marketed by single individuals, capable of capital investments. These investors were often driven by their own personal tastes and ideas (typical example - Ivan Shapovalov
Ivan Shapovalov
Ivan Nikolayevich Shapovalov is a musical producer based in Moscow, Russia. He is best known for being the founder and former executive producer/manager for t.A.T.u.- Early life and career :...
, creator of t.A.T.u.
T.A.T.u.
t.A.T.u. was a duo formed in Moscow, Russia in 1999 by Ivan Shapovalov. The group consisted of Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova.Their debut single "Ya Soshla S Uma" was released in December 2000. The single had a huge success in Russia and Eastern Europe...
), while the empty techno-music market was readily bracing virtually any new domestic techno singer.
All this defined the phenomena of Russian techno scene - with its significant domination by female singers and girl-bands
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
, performing sophisticated techno narrowly bordering trance
Trance music
Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...
and dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
. Thus, Russian techno relied a lot on vocals, and has distinct romantic tones, which makes is quite different from male-dominated German techno
German electronic music
The electronic music of Germany consists of a number of genres that are popular around the world today.-Styles originating in Germany:*Electroclash*Trance*Schranz*Krautrock*Minimal*Berlin School of electronic music...
, which may sound more metallic with less reliance on vocals. One of the few traditional Western-style techno bands was Technologia, an attempt of Russian localization of Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
.
Since the beginning of 21st century, the aforementioned situation started changing due to the swift economic growth in Russia, fueled by growing oil prices, as well as the development of the music business infrastructure. Oddly enough, that also set the former techno sector to a level of decline, with a drift towards MTV-sation of Russian pop. This was mainly characterized by lack of significant new names in the techno stream.