Moscow Grooves Institute
Moscow Grooves Institute is a Russian electronic MusicAL project.
It was created in 1995 by two Moscow musicians - Arkady Martinenko (MEGAPOLIS, HEAT of the EARTH, EJECT PROJECT) and Boris Nazarov. During the next several years collective was searching for its own style and sound. Together with the «Ministry of Psycho» project MGI was playing live electronic concerts at independent experimental «Substation» radio. These lives provided background for the first studio album of the project called «Surround Wednesday», that was released by Citadel records independent electronic label in 1997.
At the same time MGI started giving concerts in Russia and abroad. For 14 years of its existence the band has had gigs in many countries: France, Germany, Monaco, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Japan etc. MGI takes part in international music festivals such as Kazantip (Ukraine), Subtropique (Georgia), Popkomm (Germany), Grimaldi forum (France), Nu Jazz, NOKIA Lab (Russia), MIDEM (France).
At the end of 1998 the third participant Sergei Belyaev (Rovniy) joined the band. He participated in the record of MGI second album called «Pizza». The basis of the release is funk with elements of drum-n-base and ethnical trip-hop. Moscow Grooves Institute invited Sergei Klevensky and the members of «Detsky Panadol» project to take part in the record of the album.
In 2000 MGI released a new album called «Commercial» and also filmed four video clips of the compositions “Stereophonique”, “Voyage”, “2 professors” and “Dancing”. Later two videos of OLF (Olga Noel & Moscow Grooves Institute) project – “Les Chrysanthemes” (2001) and “Na Zare” (2003) were shot. MGI clips are rotated on MTV Russia, Muz-TV, Music box, A one, o2Tv as well as on Ukrainian and Belarusian musical channels. In 2001 MGI together with «Mummy Troll» group recorded version of Victor Zoy’s song “Malysh” that had never been released before. For several months this song was the leader of radio «Maximum» music chart.
In June of 2002 MGI new album «Tangibility» was released. Such well known foreign labels as Netlmage Foundation (Great Britain) and MPLS. Ltd (USA) released vinyl singles from the album.
The fifth studio album of the project «Les etoiles sont plus proches avec les yeux fermes» was released in April of 2006, but actually musicians had been gathering the material for it since 2003. Olga Noel beautified with her back vocal several compositions of the album. Such musicians as participant of German band N.O.H.A MC Chevy whose rap diversified MGI electric sound and the old friend of the project Daria Rodcher known for MGI concert activity from 2000 till 2003 participated in the record of the album.
Several times during the latest years MGI project has become the finalist of international contest of electronic music Qwartz Electronic Music Awards. MGI tracks are often included to music compilations, issued by such foreign record companies as Pork recordings, George V, Les Maquis, Pschent, Petrol records etc.
Arkady Martinenko and Boris Nazarov are authors of the music to such films as «Native and intimate» (2007) and «Dance, don’t stop» (2007) by E. Lavrentiev. They were working at the remixes of compositions by t.a.t.u, Vitas, Mummy Troll, Enrique Iglesias & Alsou and also wrote music for TV advertisement (Head&Shoulders, Orbit Watermelon, Orbit Pineapple etc.)
In 2007 Citadel records releases a multicolor version of Moscow Grooves Institute debut album «Surround Wednesday», partly rearranged by sound producer Sofia Kruglikova in 2004-2005.
Since the summer of 2008 MGI consists of Boris Nazarov (vocals, samplers and groove boxes), Yuri Shulgin (bass guitar, cuts) and Pavel Khotin (synthesizers). Before the gig in Japan, that took place in July 2008, the project was working at the new program that will soon provide basis for the sixth studio album of the collective.
In 2009 a performance by Moscow Grooves Institute and Olga Noel opened the concert program of the forty third MIDEM. The show was attended by musical professionals from all over the world and had a great success.
BORIS NAZAROV – one of founders and the constant member of Moscow Grooves Institute. Among the latest projects of the musician is collaboration with famous actor and director Mikhail Efremov. At the stage of Moscow Sovremennik theatre Efremov staged Andrei Platonov’s play “Musical box” and Boris wrote music for the performance. He was also working at the LEVITATION program (together with famous Tony Levin and members of Goatika Creative Laboratory) and participated in concerts of Goatika project together with Pete Lockett, Kai Eckhart and George Brooks.
PAVEL KHOTIN – keyboard player. In 1984-1990 was a member of underground art-punk group “Sounds MU”, whose producer in the West was Brian Eno. Since 1991 till 1995 participated in the project MD&C Pavlov, the winners of “Generation 94” contest. In 1996 – 1997 was an art director of “Water area” club. In 1998 was a musical co-producer of Cosmos Production label. Since 1996 till 2004 was a participant of TETRIS electronic project, the compositions of which were included to Café del Mar and Water Music compilations. In 1999-2000 the albums of the project were released by a famous British label Pork recordings. Since 2005 till now Pavel Khotin is playing in REUNION “Nikolai Kopernik” group. Since 2006 is collaborating with PAPA Z – TRIO project, released by Bagpak Music label based in New-York.
YURI SHULGIN - disk jockey, musician, bass guitar player. In 1995-2001 was getting jazz music education. In 2004 his first DJ set took place; at the same time he – as a bass guitar player – became the member of PAPA Z – TRIO project. Then Yuri starts collaborating with ISCRA DISCO project. In 2008 was called the best scratch DJ at the international festival “Doors to the summer”, held in Yaroslavl. In his creation works Yuri combines jazz, funk, hip-hop and turntablism.
Moscow Grooves Institute official web-site