Atalyja

Atalyja ? one of the most popular lithuanian folkrock group. The band Atalyja, founded in 1998, presents an exciting combination of folk, rock and funk, with some features of Indian classical music. Here the electric guitar or melancholic flute blend into the sound of the sutartin?s (ancient polyphonic songs); traditional kankl?s (the Lithuanian type of zither), bagpipes or Jew's harp are unexpectedly combined with classical violin or viola; well-known Lithuanian musicians and ethno-musicologists are among the members of the band.

There are two albums:
The first album of the band, Atalyja (2001), was an enchanting introduction to the Lithuanian modern folk music; their second album, released four years later, Mo?ia (Mother), became one of the most significant recordings in the history of the Baltic modern folk music.

Members of group:
Salvijus ?eimys - percussion
Gedimina (?alkauskait?) Statulevi?ien? - vocal
Ernest Jepifanov - fiddle, vocal, bagpipe, bansure
Ugnius Keturka - guitar
Gediminas ?ilys - bass guitar, kankl?s
Rytis Ambrazevi?ius - kantele, vocal, bagpipe
Audron? Poci?t? - vocal
Eirimas Veli?ka - fiddle, vocal, bagpipes,
Darut? Matulionyt? - vocal, kantele

Atalyja often performs at various folk music festivals in Lithuania and abroad; their tracks have been used in many art projects, film and theatre productions.
Address of official band website - www.atalyja.com