Theodor Bastard is a band from St Petersburg, Russia. Theodor Bastard were pioneers of world and neofolk music genres in Russia. Also elements of dark wave, trip hop and ambient are present in the band's music. The themes of band's songs are very far from everyday problems, they are based on mythology and fantasy. The hallmark of the band is a female vocal by Yana Veva – the lead vocalist and author of many songs. She often sings in idiosyncratic language invented by her and in rare languages ranging from African and Asian to Native American and many more. Theodor Bastard albums were released in 5 countries: Russia, Germany, Turkey, Mexico, Argentina.
Theodor Bastard's musicians use classical instruments: cello, harp as well as electronic instruments: synthesizers, samplers, theremin and ethnic instruments: nyckelharpa, jouhikko, darbuka, ashiko, conga, djembe, daf, didgeridoo, bağlama, gusli, cimbalom, dulcimer, caxixi, agogô, bawu, mbira, marimba, udu, reco-reco, ocarina, morin khuur, tibetan horn, kangling, cajón, jew's harp, spring drum and many other.
History The band was founded in 1995 by Alexander Starostin – guitarist and composer – as a solo project. His stage name is Fedor Svolotch and the birth name of the band was the same. More members joined the band later, in 2000's, including vocalist and composer Yana Veva who also later participated in Shiva in Exile. In 1999 the band's name became Theodor Bastard as the English translation of the stage name 'Fedor Svolotch'.
In 2004 Theodor Bastard released the album Pustota. The album name is a Latin transliteration of the Russian word for emptiness, voidness. Considering a Buddhist concept Shunyata.
The band performed at famous festivals in Europe: Fusion Festival (2004), Wave-Gotik-Treffen (2011, 2014, 2017), Dark Bombastic Evening (2012, 2013, 2016), Castle Party (2014), Castlefest (2015, 2017), Mėnuo Juodaragis (2008, 2012, 2016) and others.
Theodor Bastard collaborated with many artists: Martin Atkins, Peter Christopherson, Stefan Hertrich, Fun-Da-Mental, Julien Jacob and others.
In November 2011 the album Remixed was released – the collection of remixes of Theodor Bastard's songs. Such artists from all over Europe as Riz Maslen, Animals on Wheels, Up, Bustle and Out, Robin Rimbaud, State of Bengal, Geomatic, Flint Glass and others took part in the work on the collection.
All 2011 Theodor Bastard worked on the new album. They recorded it in several studios at the same time. British band Fun-Da-Mental, African band The Mighty Zulu Nation, French singer Julien Jacob – took part in the recording. Many ethnic instruments as udu, mbira, marimba, reco-reco, caxixi, ashiko, and spring drum were used. Fedor Svolotch also used the instruments that he had invented and made of improvised materials, such as coconuts, door springs, empty bottles, and plastic. In February 2012 the album Oikoumene was released. Its name comes from Ecumene – an ancient Greek term for the known world.
In May 2015, Theodor Bastard released the album Vetvi. Its name is a Latin transliteration of the Russian word for branches bearing in mind the branches of the World tree. The work on this album took three years.
On December 4, 2017, Theodor Bastard released the soundtrack album Utopia for the game Pathologic 2 – the remake of the game Pathologic from Ice-Pick Lodge.
In the beginning of 2018 Theodor Bastard have finished the whole soundtrack for another awaited game – Life is Feudal: MMO, with 30 tracks, with many instruments including medieval and with vocal by Yana Veva.
10 year anniversary edition of the album Beloe was released in November 2018. The album Volch'ya Yagoda was released in April 2020. The album name means literally "Wolf's Berry" – the berry that belongs to a wolf. This is a common Russian name for forest dangerous (poisonous) berries.
Members
Current members Fedor Svolotch — guitars, sampler, vocals (1999–present) Yana Veva — vocals, bawu, ocarina (1999–present) Alexey "Kusas" Kurasov — ethnic percussions, winds (1999–present) Andrey "Andy Vladych" Dmitriev — drums (2009–2018, 2025—present) Alexey Kalinovskiy — keyboards (2014–present) Vyacheslav Salikov — cello (2019—present) (live member from 2018 to 2019) Ekaterina Dolmatova — backing vocals, gusli, flute (2019—present) (live member in 2016, from 2018 to 2019)
Former members Taras "Monthy" Frolov — keyboards (1999–2008) (live in 2014) Maxim "Max" Kostyunin — bass (1999–2008) (live in 2014) Anton Urazov — programming, sampler, jew's harp (2001–2005) Sergey Smirnov — drums (2019–2024) Vyacheslav Nikiforov — drums (2024–2025)
Former touring/session members Alexey Bazhenov — electric piano (2003) Mila Fedorova — cello (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008) Thorsten Berg — acoustic guitar (2004) Gregh Dotson — electric piano (2005) Maria Akimova — gusli (2008) Alexey "Prokhor" Mostiev — theremin (2008, 2010, 2015) Yan Nikitin — vocals (2007, 2008, 2010) ? — percussion (2009) Zmitser von Holzman — theremin, clarinet (2010, 2012) Vladimir Belov — cello (2010, 2013) ? — bass (2010) ? — drums (2011–2012) Valeria Atanova — backing vocals (2012) Eduard Dragunov — jew's harp, singing bowl, didgeridoo, throat singing (2012) Taras "Monthy" Frolov — keyboards (2012, 2014) Radik Tyulyush — shoor (2012) ? — keyboards (2012) Alia Sagitova — keyboards (2013) ? — cello (2013) ? — harp (2013) Vasil' Davletshin — bass (2013, 2016) Filipp Barskiy — harp, dulcimer (2013) Viktor Kabanov — theremin (2013) Maxim "Max" Kostyunin — bass, double bass (2014) ? — flute (2014, 2015) Natalia Nazarova — cello (2015) Kirill Sekerzhitskiy — bass (2015) Olga Glazova — gusli, backing vocals (2015, 2017) ? — backing vocals (2015) Ilya Kartashov — cello (2015, 2016, 2017) Ekaterina Dolmatova — backing vocals (2016, 2018–2019) (official member since 2019) Evgeniy Vikki — balalaika, bouzouki, flute (2017) Vitaliy Pogosyan — duduk (2017) Timofey Smagliev — drums (2018–2019) Vyacheslav Salikov — cello (2018–2019) (official member since 2019) Christine Kazaryan — harp
Directors of the group Alexey Bazhin — director (2009–2014) Maxim Krupoderya — director (2014–2016) Denis Knyazev — director (2017–2021) († 2 May 2021)
Timeline
Discography
Fedor Svoloch (Фёдор Сволочь) Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release Восемь способов добиться леди Vosem' sposobov dobit'sya ledi Eight methods to pick lady up 1996 Как не нужно делать попсу Kak ne nuzhno delat' popsu How not to create pop music 1997 Зверинец Крафта-Эбинга Zverinec Krafta Ebinga Krafft-Ebing's Bestiary 1998
Wave Save Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release Wave Save Wave Save Wave Save 1999
Theodor Bastard
Studio albums Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release Agorafobia Agorafobia Agoraphobia 2000 BossaNova_Trip Bossa Nova Trip Bossa Nova Trip 2002 Pustota Pustota Voidness 2004 Белое: Ловля Злых Зверей Beloe: Lovlya Zlyh Zverei White: Hunting For Fierce Beasts 2008 Белое: Предчувствия И Сны (alternative/re-recorded version of "Белое: Ловля Злых Зверей") Beloe: Predchuvstviya I Sny White: Premonitions And Dreams 2009 Oikoumene Oikoumene Ecumene 2012 Vetvi Vetvi BranchesMeaning the branches of World tree 2015 Волчья Ягода Volch'ya Yagoda Wolf's Berry 2020
Live albums Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release Live In Heaven Live In Heaven Live In Heaven 2000 Sueta Sueta Bustle 2006
Compilation albums Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release Remixed Remixed Remixed 2011
Soundtrack albums Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release Music For The Empty Spaces (soundtracks written for documentaries for Brazilian director Gustavo Santos, for the film "Secrets of Ourselves" by Viktor Fokeev and for Japanese designer Yushi Kuroda's show) Music For The Empty Spaces Music For The Empty Spaces 2012 Utopia (soundtrack for the Pathologic 2 game) Utopia Utopia 2017 Life is Feudal (soundtrack for the game Life is Feudal: MMO) Life is Feudal Life is Feudal 2018 Ash of Gods: The Way Soundtrack (soundtrack for the game Ash of Gods: The Way) Ash of Gods: The Way Ash of Gods: The Way 2023
Reissue albums Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release Agoraphobia (remastered and partially re-recorded) Agoraphobia Agoraphobia 2007 Pustota (Remastered) (remastered and partially re-recorded) Pustota (Remastered) Voidness (Remastered) 2014 Белое: Ловля злых зверей (10th Anniversary Edition) (both versions from "White: Hunting For Fierce Beasts" and "White: Premonitions And Dreams" are merged + partially re-recorded again in 2018) Beloe: Lovlya Zlyh Zverey (10th Anniversary Edition) White: Hunting For Fierce Beasts (10th Anniversary Edition) 2018
Singles Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release Мир Mir World 2008 Будем жить Budem zhit' Will Live 2009 Tapachula Tapachula Tapachula 2010 Serp Serp Serp 2017
Festivals
2000 - Свободный Полёт-2 (Russia) 2000 - Другая Культура (Russia) 2000 - Ушки В Трубочку-4 (Russia) 2001 – V международный фестиваль им. С. Курехина (СКИФ) (Russia) 2001 - Свободный Полёт IV (Russia) 2001 - Кислотный Тест (Russia) 2001 - Индустрия Звука (Russia) 2002 – Radio Inferno (Russia) 2003 – Faut Qu'ca Bouge (Belgium) 2004 – Fusion Festival (Germany) 2008 – Mėnuo Juodaragis XI (Lithuania) 2010 - Этномеханика (Russia) 2010 – Queer festival (Russia) 2011 – Wave-Gotik-Treffen (Germany) 2012 – Dark Bombastic Evening 4 (Romania) 2012 – Fekete Zaj (Hungary) 2012 – Mėnuo Juodaragis XV (Lithuania) 2012 – KAMWA (Russia) 2012 – Дикая Мята (Russia) 2013 – ReRe:Riga (Latvia) 2013 – Dark Bombastic Evening 5 (Romania) 2013 – Fekete Zaj (Hungary) 2013 – Вольнае паветра (Belarus) 2014 – Wave-Gotik-Treffen (Germany) 2014 - Движение (Russia) 2014 – Castle Party (Poland) 2014 – Labadaba (Latvia) 2014 – Дикая Мята (Russia) 2015 - Бродский Drive (Russia) 2015 - Зов Пармы (Russia) 2015 – Castlefest (Netherlands) 2016 – Tallinn Music Week (Estonia) 2016 - Троица: Всё живое (Russia) 2016 – Дикая Мята (Russia) 2016 – Dark Bombastic Evening 7 (Romania) 2016 – Mėnuo Juodaragis XIX (Lithuania) 2016 - Алтея (Russia) 2017 – Music Drive (Armenia) 2017 – Wave-Gotik-Treffen (Germany) 2017 - МИР Сибири (Russia) 2017 - Белый шум (Russia) 2017 - Метафест (Russia) 2017 – Castlefest (Netherlands) 2017 – FourЭ (Kazakhstan) 2017 - Камяніца (Belarus)
External links
Theodor Bastard official site Theodor Bastard Youtube channel Theodor Bastard on Facebook Theodor Bastard on Instagram Theodor Bastard on SoundCloud Theodor Bastard on Bandcamp Theodor Bastard at Last.fm Theodor Bastard at Discogs Theodor Bastard at CdBaby Theodor Bastard on Myspace
References