Artur Meschian
Many
still hold memories of live recordings of Meschian and "Apostles” in the late
60′s and 70′s recorded on boom-boxes. They began as three architecture students
at Yerevan Institute of Technology — the "Apostles” quickly rose to become the
voice of a generation. Amalgamating Armenian gospel with rock rhythms, the band
left an unforgettable impression on their audience. Those were the times of
suppression and Soviet censorship. The voices of the "Apostles”, like many in
that era, were heavily muffled and even banned. Yet repetitive attempts of the
governing powers to ban or sabotage the band’s concerts by shutting down the
electricity, or blocking entrances of the concert venues, were in vain. Some
still remember the candlelit concerts where Arthur’s voice soared over his
acoustic guitar and reached every person in the back row clear as day. Nor will
they ever forget the sight of thousands of students breaking though police
barricades to get into concert halls where the "Apostles” were performing.Still
the band managed to find ways to avoid the red tape. In 1970, the "Apostles”
performed a theatrical piece "The Insane Asylum”, which quickly became
recognized as the first Armenian rock opera. Then they went on to tour a number
of Soviet Republics, playing at college campuses across the USSR.In 1988 a new
political movement started. The Armenian region of Artsakh (Karabakh) decided
to declare autonomy from the republic of Azerbaijan. A giant wave of supporters
began gathering in front of Yerevan Opera House in demonstration of their
support for the struggling region. This is the kind of movement Meschian had
been waiting for. New faces began to emerge as leaders of this political
movement. They soon became known as the Pan Armenian Movement Committee (PAMC).
During this time Meschian, along with others , staged a concert to uplift the
spirits of the protesters who would sleep on the steps of the Opera House. The
concert caused an unexpected controversy. PAMC saw this concert as a threat.
Still, they could not stop the concert from happening. Imagine the look on
Arthur’s face when the electricity went off after his fourth song. His first
thought was "the communists?” — imagine his surprise when a representative of
the Pan Armenian Movement Committee claimed the responsibility for shutting
down the electricity…In 1989 Arthur moved to the US, seeking opportunity to
record and document twenty years of musical work. He settled in Watertown
Massachusetts, blissfully unaware that he had an amazing fan base abroad. It
would not be long before he would appear on concert stages throughout the US
and in 1990 released First album, appropriately named "Catharsis.”
What began as an end to twenty years of work marked the beginning of a new
musical and creative journey.Post-Soviet turmoil back home weighed heavily on
Arthur. And while he made every effort to make a life for his family Stateside,
his entire being was dedicated to following, analyzing and reliving every
little piece of news that he could get. His personal agony, worry,
longing, nostalgia and a healthy dose of guilt, in 1992 gave birth to a body of
work known as "Monologue of the Crazed Violinist.” The record landed itself to
a theatrical production, and a chain of sold-out concerts took place at various
venues across the US, among them the famed Ambassador Auditorium.In 1996
another controversial body of work was released. "Communion” raised questions
many of us would not dare to ask and a gut ranching prayer for the betterment
of men kind. It too found a place in an entire second half of concerts that
followed.No matter what the next chapter of Arthur Meschian’s biography brings,
it will always have an unwavering point of view, an impeccable work ethic, and
a clear orientation towards the present and the future.
Astghik Safaryan
A
stghik Safaryan is a girl who is not affraid to show who she really is. This talented girl, named a "Star”, was born in 1986, on the 3rd of September, in Yerevan, Armenia. She is from a family of creative people – her father is a writer, her mother is a singer. Astghik started to sing when she was 10. She took part in many musical groups for young singers in Armenia. After graduating from school, she continued her education at Armenian State University of Economics.
She became widely known and popular, when she took part in the worldwide famous international project called "POP-IDOLS” in Armenia, where Astghik took the 5th place.
After, she started her own solo career.
In 2007 she took part in one of the famous radio competition in Armenia, called "Voske Qnar”, and got the "Best New Act” award in 2007.
Astghik also revived some of Armenian national songs from 70’s-80’s, that were beloved by the public and took the first places in many radio charts.
In 2008, September, Astghik released her first music video, shot on the pop-rock song called "Meghavor es…” ("You’re guilty…”) (music/lyrics by Astghik Safaryan). She has worked with Empyray(famous rock-group in Armenia), with Martin Mirzoyan (talented arrangement-maker in Armenia). Now she is working with Garik (from the "Vitamin-CLUB”).
In 2009, March, Astghik released her second music video, shot on the soft-rock song, called "Fabulous Boy” (music & arrangement by Garik, lyrics by Astghik Safaryan). Both the song & the video are beloved among the Armenian listeners. ”Fabulous Boy” was in the first places in the radio and TV-charts. With this song Astghik has been fastened in her musical style. And now she is known as the first female-singer in Armenia, who creates in pop-rock genre.
In 2009 in July at the annual Modern Music Awards, she was awarded as "Best Modern Female Singer”.
Astghik had many concerts in different regions of Armenia. "Fabulous Boy” has brought her a lot of success and many serious suggestions from abroad.
Recently she was invited to France, Paris to a concert (in Issy les Moulineaux), dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the company SSF Provence-Armenie, where she performed with honored аrtists of Armenia such as Nune Yesayan, also Eurovision-2009 representatives Inga & Anush Arshakyans.
In 2009, Astghik released her first album, called "The Music Has Found Me”, which contains 12 songs, all in pop-rock genre. Some of the songs were composed by Astghik herself.
At the end of 2009 Astghik was awarded as "Best Female Singer” by Armenian Music Television.
In December 2009, she was recognized as an "Artist Bringing Freshness” by the leading Armenian youth magazine "YES”.
Now "the Armenian princess of pop-rock”, as she was called by Armenian magazines, is looking forward to concerts abroad, shooting her 3rd music video and starting her album promo-tour in regions of Armenia.
In October of 2010, Astghik released her 3rd music-video "Mi Patuhan" (music/lyrics by Astghik Safaryan),which was shoot in Madrid(Spain).The song has been loved by everyone because of its frankness.On November 21st,2010, Astghik released her Second CD-Album called "Im Dzeragrov..."(In My Own Way).She prepared this authorized album during a year.In this CD,Astghik included 11 songs,all in POP/ROCK music-genre. The Musics and Lyrics for all included songs were written by Astghik.The whole fotoshoot for this album was done in Paris (by fotographer Anto').On December 9th,2010, Astghik Safaryan had a Pretty "Evening" in One-Club,Live-Concert with Live-music-Band,in which Astghik performed the best rock-songs for all times,and also some songs from her song-list. In this live-concert the club was full,all the tickets were sold out,and Astghik passed this rock-concert with honour.
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