Amalgama
Russia- Formation of the Band
- Changes in Membership
- Recording and Recognition
- Departure and New Name
- Search for a Drummer
- Consolidation and Continuation
Formation of the Band
In 1997, Alexander Romitsyn and Anton Gubaydullin, former members of the bands "Ulenspigel" and "Diligence" respectively, joined forces to create a new project. They were later joined by Yaroslav Mistrikov on lead guitar and Katerina Boldyreva on vocals. This lineup performed a single concert before half of the members decided to move on.
Changes in Membership
The band underwent a significant change in membership, with Yaroslav Krutov (bass guitar) and Evgeny Zalaliev (vocals) replacing Mistrikov and Boldyreva. Romitsyn and Gubaydullin remained the only original members. The group continued to perform frequently in their hometown, including at festivals, radio shows, and clubs.
Recording and Recognition
In 2000, the band recorded their first and only CD, "My Alive," from a live performance at "Rock Chapel." This led to an invitation to the annual "Learn to Swim" rock festival in Yoshkar-Ola, where they shared the stage with notable bands like TEQUILAJAZZZ and Va-Bank. MTV Russia praised the band's music as "quality pop," a direction that aligned with the group's own artistic vision.
Departure and New Name
In 2001, internal disagreements led to the departure of Romitsyn, who took the band name with him. To continue their work, they chose a new name: "Amalgama," which had multiple meanings and reflected the band's eclectic nature.
Search for a Drummer
The band temporarily halted concert performances due to the lack of a drummer. After auditioning several candidates, they found a permanent replacement in Konstantin Varkasov, a young and talented musician from the band "Euphoria."
Consolidation and Continuation
With the addition of Varkasov, the band was once again complete and ready to pursue their musical journey. They developed new ideas and songs, and continued to entertain audiences with their unique sound and infectious energy.
