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Soki-vodiuRock band
Date of Birth: .
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- The Genesis of the Band "Sokh-Vody"
- The initial lineup consisted of:
- The "Kadr" Era: Punk Roots
- The "Vingret" Period: Expanding the Sound
- Vova Orlov – acoustic guitar, vocals
- Lena Alferova – synthesizer
- The "Sokh-Vody" Era: A New Name and a Changing Lineup
- The "Myusli" Album: A Moment of Inspiration
- "Today, we are recording an album."
- The "Orange Juice" Cycle: A Rich Tapestry of Melodies
- The "Zhum" Effect: A Sonic Experiment
- "No melody," they
The Genesis of the Band "Sokh-Vody"
In the hallowed halls of Moscow School No. 200, amidst the cacophony of adolescence, a musical spark ignited in the hearts of a group of 10th-graders. The year was 1994, and the month was November, when the band "Sokh-Vody" (Juices and Waters) was born.
The initial lineup consisted of:
Vova Orlov:Armed with an acoustic guitar.Dima Shabaev:Master of the "Svicharny Bambry" homemade electric guitar, a peculiar contraption crafted from a plywood body, an acoustic fretboard, and a solitary pickup, resulting in a decidedly off-key sound.
Anton Kalashnikov:Bassist extraordinaire, alternating between an acoustic six-string and a legendary "Ural" bass guitar, occasionally borrowed from classmate Sergei Kuzub. This period marked the pinnacle of Anton's musical journey.
Despite lacking a dedicated drummer, the band improvised, with Artem Belyanushkin (the group's sound engineer) and Danila Devtkin taking turns on a solitary orchestral bass drum. Vocal duties fell upon Dmitry Budkevich, whose endearing lack of pitch necessitated head nods to indicate when he should start singing.
The "Kadr" Era: Punk Roots
In its early days, the band embraced a punk aesthetic, adopting the name "Kadr." Song lyrics were penned by Budkevich, while the music was a collective effort. However, the emphasis was more on having fun than crafting polished compositions. During this period, "Kadr" performed exclusively in the geography classroom, leaving behind a legacy captured on a cassette tape called "Bud-Rock," featuring an eclectic blend of songs by Budkevich, Orlov, Shabaev, Kalashnikov, and longtime friend and collaborator Sergei Burtsev on synthesizer.
The "Kadr" era proved to be short-lived, dissolving in the throes of internal conflicts between January and February 1995. Yet, the musical flame still burned brightly in the hearts of Vova Orlov, Dima Shabaev, and Sergei Burtsev. They continued rehearsing as a trio in Vova's apartment, awaiting the next surge of inspiration.
The "Vingret" Period: Expanding the Sound
After graduating high school (Burtsev, pursuing a separate path, attended Lyceum), the band members enrolled in different universities. This period witnessed the birth of a new cycle of songs. Vova's acoustic guitar and vocals formed the foundation, while Dimochik Shabaev added melodic solos. Sergei played bass on Kuzub's borrowed instrument, though he rarely considered himself an official member, preferring to lend his support as needed.
In the winter of 1996-97, the band's search for a drummer bore fruit in the form of Misha Vorontsov. Vova and Dimochik had first encountered Vorontsov during the "Kadr" days, when he rehearsed in their school's basement with the band "Raritet."
The first rehearsals with a real drummer at Ivan Kurnaev's studio (of "Klyuchi" fame) were captured on tape with a sound quality that could best be described as "passable, at best." The resulting recording, titled "Vingret" (Vinegrette), featured:
Vova Orlov – acoustic guitar, vocals
Dimochik Shabaev – electric guitar solosSergei Burtsev – bass (missing a string during the second recording, compromising the basslines in certain songs)
Misha Vorontsov – electronic drums (the only type available at Ivan's studio)
Lena Alferova – synthesizer
Lena, a former classmate of Vova and Dimochik, who had always studied piano at a music school, was enlisted to contribute on the keys.
Even at this juncture, Sergei Burtsev was contemplating pursuing his own musical endeavors. To prevent the band from losing its bassist, a diligent search commenced.
The "Sokh-Vody" Era: A New Name and a Changing Lineup
Among Vova's fellow students in a parallel class was Lesha Grechishnikov, a novice guitarist with no prior experience on bass. It was Vova who approached Lesha with the invitation to join the band. During the initial rehearsals at the studio, Lesha sat quietly on a chair, observing.
As the band gradually parted ways with Sergei, Lesha took on the bass-playing duties full-time, diligently practicing on Kuzub's trusty "Ural." However, acquiring the instrument on a permanent basis proved challenging. Through a combination of persuasion and a paltry 100 rubles, Lesha became the proud owner of this musical relic.
With Lesha's gradual integration, the band's sound continued to evolve. In their university years, the members discovered the joy of participating in student festivals. As the prospect of performing loomed, the pressing need for a band name emerged.
Misha's suggestion of "Zhopa" (Ass) met with immediate rejection, and the search continued in earnest. Creative musings accompanied the band's daily routine, and one day, while returning from university, Vova began jotting down every sign and name he encountered. Among them, "Sokh-Vody" (Juices and Waters) resonated strongly with the entire group, and the name stuck.
Following their debut at the "Fest" student festival, doubts surfaced within the band regarding Lesha's bass-playing abilities. Onstage, he exhibited a lack of stage presence, played with limited technique, and failed to engage the audience. These concerns might have led to his dismissal had it not been for Vova's family, who recognized Lesha's good nature and urged the band to reconsider. To this day, Lesha remains an integral part of "Sokh-Vody," his presence now universally appreciated.
The "Myusli" Album: A Moment of Inspiration
In the annals of "Sokh-Vody" history, a time came when Vova Orlov found himself grappling with melancholy, expressing his emotions through somber songs. When his bandmates discovered these compositions, they urged him to record them. Thus, Vova gathered the band together and declared:
"Today, we are recording an album."
"Excellent," replied the others. "What songs?"In a whirlwind of inspiration, the album, dubbed "Myusli" by Dima Shabaev, was born in just three hours. Virtually all the songs on the record were unveiled to the band for the first time on that fateful day. Recorded on three acoustic guitars without bass or drums, the album was performed by Vova, Lesha, and Dimochik. These songs remained largely unplayed thereafter, shared only with particularly sentimental friends.
The "Orange Juice" Cycle: A Rich Tapestry of Melodies
The period spanning 1997-98 witnessed the creation of a new cycle of songs, known as the "Orange Juice" cycle. While these compositions were not recorded at the time, fragments would later find their way onto the "Nevezhenie" (Bad Luck) album, while others would linger in memory through live performances and concert recordings.
The band continued to perform with its classic lineup, but the absence of keyboards left a void. Thus, the idea of expanding the band once more began to gain traction. In a parallel class to Vova and Lesha, Tanya Buchko emerged as a potential candidate for the keys. She was approached with an offer to join, contingent upon her acquiring a synthesizer in the future.
Tanya proved to be an enthusiastic and unconventional addition to the band, perhaps overly so at times. She resided far from the rehearsal space, necessitating lengthy escorts home after late-night practices, a task that "Sokh-Vody" initially performed with good grace, albeit with increasing reluctance. To the band's collective horror, Tanya purchased an enormous "Casio" synthesizer, which Vova and Lesha struggled to transport to their rehearsal space in Yasenevo.
"Sokh-Vody" played one final festival with Tanya in the spring of 1998 before deciding to part ways. The separation was not amicable, to the band's discredit, as they feared Tanya's volatile nature. On one occasion, she had threatened to spray Dimochik with a canister for attempting to take her backpack. When Tanya discovered that the band continued to perform without her, she ceased all greetings when encountering Vova and Lesha. Thus ended the "Sokh-Vody" era marked by Tanya's presence.
The "Zhum" Effect: A Sonic Experiment
During the winter of 1998-99, "Sokh-Vody" underwent a major shift with the departure of drummer Misha Vorontsov. Tensions had been building between him and the other band members, who, raised on communist principles, adhered to the tradition of dividing rehearsal fees equally. Misha's refusal to contribute was met with resistance, leading to his dismissal.
The search for a replacement drummer began immediately, resulting in the addition of Zhenya Kamkin to the lineup. Apart from being an accomplished drummer, Zhenya shared a surprising connection with Lesha and Vova, having attended the same university.
With Zhenya on board, the band performed a memorable concert at the "Forpost" club in the spring of 1999. On that night, Dimochik rented a "Zoom" effects processor, which sent ethereal sounds throughout the venue. While the band reveled in the performance, the audience remained less impressed.
