Regional Integration and Rock Music in the South Caucasus
Live Journal has a post on a new album by Azerbaijani rock band Aprel. A friend forwarded me the post which also includes a link to a downloadable track by the band. Thanks Katy, and not least since I’m a big fan of the Azerbaijani international jazz star, Aziza Mustafa Zadeh. Nice to hear some Azeri rock for a change.
Today bought a new (and first) album of Azeri rock band –> Aprel ! It’s name is “Səni sevən insan” (The man, who loves you). This album is very limited. (around 200 copies) Some of songs are really nice, One of the soft songs is “Baku” .. I put it here for you to download. So, forever Azerbaijan, forever Aprel, forewer nationalism and forever me!
Not sure about the reference to nationalism, but anyway, the track is pretty good although it’s different from the type of rock I’m used to hearing in Armenia and Georgia. That’s not so bad, of course, as variety is the spice of life and all that. It certainly beats some of the mugham-influenced rock music I’ve heard from Azerbaijan in the past.
Anyway, in recent months it’s become obvious that rock music in the South Caucasus represents something more progressive than pop. I guess that’s the same everywhere, but the genre takes on a new dimension in a region blighted by poverty, the lack of democracy and conflict.
As an example, in November 2005, Armenian rockers Bambir shared the stage with Georgian and Azerbaijani groups during a festival held in Tbilisi. Last September, two Georgian bands performed at the Rock ‘N People Festival in Yerevan and one of them, the excellent Young Georgian Lolitaz, will again be performing here on 20 January.
Meanwhile, as Armenia’s pop stars become a political tool in the hands of the government and their government connected paymasters, groups such as MDP and Bambir have instead been used to raise civic awareness on the need for young people to participate in the democratic process or environmental damage in Yerevan.
No wonder then that the Open Society Institute has funded the development of two internet rock portals for Armenian and Azerbaijani rock groups. Ironically, however, I can’t seem to find something similar for Georgian groups despite the fact that the local rock scene in Tbilisi is meant to be more evolved than in Baku or Yerevan.
Think I’ve found Aprel’s web site:
http://www.aprel.az/
Unfortunately, it’s still under construction.
There’s a forum though, but like local Armenian forums, it’s in Russian.
Comment by Onnik — January 11, 2006 @ 1:44 am
The more I listen to this track the more I like it. Very catchy.
Comment by Onnik — January 11, 2006 @ 2:48 am
Azeri rock will sound tomorrow at Half Way Inn
22 October 2005 [18:51] - Today.Az
A rock concert of Azeri rock group Aprel called “Men seni sevirem” will kick off tomorrow at Half Way Inn.
On October 23 in the bar & restaurant Half Way Inn will be a concert of leading rock group of Azerbaijan Aprel.
The concert’s program called “Seni Sevan Insan” will not be limited only to the compositions of the group. Organizers also promise that the audience will be able to listen to the rock classics as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Doors, the Beatles, Nirvana, Lenny Kravitz, Bryan Adams and others.
The concert will start at 5 p.m. Tickets are available at Half Way Inn, str. “28 May” 6.
The ticket’s price is $4 or 20,000 AZM
http://www.today.az/news/society/20927.html
Comment by Onnik — January 11, 2006 @ 2:58 pm