Otyken

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Otyken (Russian: Отукен, OH-too-kyen) is a Siberian indigenous music group that mixes elements of modern pop with local folk music, incorporating traditional instruments, lyrics, and languages. 'Otyken' is a Chulym word for a sacred land where warriors would lay down their arms and talk. The band was formed in 2015 by Andrey 'Medonos' Chernotsov, and their debut album was released in 2018. As of June 2025, the group has 2.9 million followers on Tiktok, over 250,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and 984,000 subscribers on YouTube. The band members are of Siberian ethnicities and are based in Krasnoyarsk Krai.

Genre and style

Their career began by performing traditional songs representative of their culture but later modern elements of rock and pop were blended over this folk foundation in order to create greater appeal for global audiences. Costumes also incorporate historic and modern design elements for this same reason. Their music is performed with traditional instruments such as the komuz, igil, jaw harp, rattle, and leather drum, although modern instruments such as the keyboard, bass guitar, and saxophone have been used. Some of their instruments are home-made including drums and even a flute made from a human bone. Throat singing is frequently implemented. Many of their sounds, both instrumental and vocal, attempt to mimic the sounds of nature and animals; and the lyrics try to capture the practices, beliefs, and spirit of the indigenous people. The language is mostly in Chulym Tatar which had only 44 speakers in 2010 and about 25 speakers in 2020; some songs are also sung in Khakas (“Legend”, “Lord of Honey”) or Russian (“Steps”, “Paradise Lost”).

Many of their songs tend to consist of a single chord with one bass note playable throughout, often attained through the use of traditional throat singing. This is sometimes overlaid with a bass drum on all downbeats making for a style analogous to trance EDM. This style lends itself to those traditional instruments which are played with fixed pitches such as the jaw harp, the bass string of the komuz, and some types of throat singing.

History

Formation

The group was formed by its producer, manager, and songwriter, Andrey 'Medonos' Chernotsov, in order to preserve Chulym folklore, traditions, and songs which are nearing extinction. Medonos, though not of Siberian ethnicity, grew up at his family’s apiary in the Siberian wilderness among its indigenous people who maintained a longstanding beekeeping partnership with the Chernotsov lineage. There he entered into the beekeeping trade but also engaged in Chulym culture: hunting, fishing, and foraging with the people, learning their language, and marrying an indigenous woman. He founded The Ethnographic Museum of Honey in Krasnoyarsk city and became its director to preserve the cultures of the Chulym, Tatarlar, Ket, and Selkup indigenous peoples, hosting lectures and gatherings. But the museum attracted visitors who also wanted to hear the traditional instruments and songs played by indigenous people. This inspired Medonos to find locals who would demonstrate their ethnic music at museum concerts. Medonos’ wife was among the first performers and later went on to produce their costumes.

In 2013, Medonos started a YouTube channel to share Chulym culture. There he showcased an apiary made with traditional log beehives and Chulym folklore, dances, and songs that had historically accompanied honey production. Then in 2015 Otyken was formed and was partnered with Medonos in the production of wild Chulym honey. Their honey products (Ethno-Honey) became popular in Japan and the sales helped to establish the band through funding music production and purchases of instruments, equipment, and costumes. They released their first album in 2018. A yurt was constructed at the apiary in the following year to host rehearsals and meetings, and they began holding concerts on nearly every weekend at the museum.

Recent years

Otyken performed in numerous international events such as Universiade, the Freestyle Wrestling World Championship, and the Grammy’s Global Spin. Their 2021 album Kykakacha contained more pop and EDM elements and tracks remade with a new lead singer, Azyan. Since then, Otyken began to gain more traction. They were nominated for the Grammy award for their song “Legend” in 2022.

Their music grew to a higher demand than their honey, but Medonos stated that they would continue spending time in the apiary and hometowns, even if it was 450 kilometers away from their concert venue, because the wild meadows, mountains, and rivers of the taiga provide the foundations of their life and the inspirations of their music.

The group has faced some setbacks due to wartime sanctions imposed on Russia by Western nations. In 2022, their Paypal account was blocked and their international sales were limited. Furthermore, Otyken was invited to perform in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 opening ceremony, however they were rejected last minute in October after the European Sports Committee banned Russians from participating.

Members

Otyken members are of Chulym, Ket, and Selkup ethnicity – proposed ancestors to Japanese Ainu and American Indians. Moreover, all members are local talent from tiny settlements near Pasechnoye village, where medicine and electricity are difficult to access and food is obtained locally through fishing, hunting, foraging, farming, and beekeeping. Consequently, group members maintain busy lives outside of the band to work in their communities and assist family. As such, although there are around ten main members in the group, fewer people tend to participate in concerts according to each person’s availability. None of the performers were professionally trained in music (except Ach) however many indigenous Siberians have musical abilities as it is customary for them to play folk songs and instruments in the home.

Active membership

• Tsveta – jaw harp, drums, komuz, vocals, rattle (2017–present): the longest active member of the group.
• Azyan – vocals (2018, 2021–present): dabbled in the group, left for two years, and then returned replacing Taida as the lead singer in 2021.
• Ach – keyboard, throat singing (2020–present): received an education in sound engineering.
• Hakaida – drums (2022–present): needed as a second drummer after Maya developed a fear of flying.
• Muna - bass, vocals (? - present)
• Hara - drums (? - present)
• Khys - igil (? - present)
• Achanay - vocals, komuz, percussion
• Sandro (Sandrosiy) – rattle, throat singing, dancer (2020–present): rapper and part-time geography teacher in the village.

Past membership

• Alena – vocals, drums (2015–2018): wife of Andrey Medonos.
• Kristina – violin (2015–2019): sister of Alena.
• Misha – throat singing, guitar, bass guitar, jaw harp, drums, komuz (2017–2019): the only non-ethnic member.
• Aisylu (Tansylu) – bass guitar, drums, jaw harp, vocals, rattle (2017–2021): switched to bass guitar in 2019 when Misha and Aiko left the group.
• Aiko – bass guitar (2018, 2022–present): played only in the first album but returned for “Legend”.
• Altyna (Altynai) – komuz, vocals, jaw harp (2018–2021)
• Eugene – saxophone, throat singing, jaw harp (2018–2021)
• Taida – vocals (2019–2021)
• Maya (Viktoria) – drums, assistant producer (2019–2024): became the new drummer after Aisylu switched to bass guitar.
• Kunchari – igil (2021–2024)
• Otamay – komuz (2022–2024)

Discography

Albums

• Otyken (2018)
• Lord of Honey (2019)
• Kykakacha (2021)
• Phenomenon (2023)

Singles

• Fashion Day (2020)
• Шаги Шойгу (2021)
• Genesis (2021)
• Storm (2022)
• Legend (2022)
• Smoke (2024)
• Khan Blues (2024)
• Altay (with Ummet Ozcan) (2024)
• Belief (2024)
• Chukotka (2024)
• Mammoth (2024)
• Psyche (2025)
• Day By Day (2025)
• Alaska (2025)

External links

• Official Otyken website
• Andrey Medonos website