Lithuanian folk-rock, post-folk and world music band, combining archaic Lithuanian folklore with elements of rock, jazz, Indian music and means of expression. The name means "the rain is coming" in the High Saxon dialect.
This is the oldest Lithuanian folk-rock band that has ever performed in Lithuania. During more than 10 years of its existence Atalyja has won the affection of listeners of all ages. The group aims to popularise archaic folklore and to bring old Lithuanian songs closer to the modern listener. The main part of the repertoire consists of contract, calendar, military-historical and wedding songs. Musical expression ranges from meditative improvisation to hard compositional artrock. The musicians do not shy away from experimentation, combining the melodies of traditional songs with elements of classical rock, metal rock, blues rock, funk, progressive rock, Indian classical music.
The band uses traditional Lithuanian folk instruments (kanklas, skudučius, violin, bagpipe, dambrel) and ingeniously combines them with electric and bass guitars, rock percussion. Some of the songs are given a distinctive oriental touch by North Indian instruments: bansuris (transverse bamboo flute) and tabla (paired drum).
History
Lithuanian folk-rock band Atalyja was formed in Vilnius in autumn 1998, and made its debut in Kaunas in spring 1999 at the post-folk festival Suklegos. A year later, the band's debut album "Atalyja" was recorded and released (2000, MC, 2001, Kukū records CD). It received international attention and was favourably reviewed in folk and world music magazines. The second album "Mochia" (© 2004 Atalyja, Dangus), released in 2004, is characterised by a lively, warm sound. It was appreciated as one of the most solid modern folk music releases in the Lithuanian discography. In 2008, he released a seven-track mini-album (extended play) "Žemaitiu ruoks" . It contains three original songs, three electronic remix versions and one meditative instrumental composition written especially for this album. The album "Saula riduolėla" (2009) features an instrumental medley, The theme of the sun is emphasised not only by the titles of some of the songs and the album itself, but also by the bright, sunny sound of the album.
The group has performed in the Czech Republic (2009), Belarus (2009), Russia (2009), Turkey (2008), Germany (2006, 2010, 2013), Poland (2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009), Latvia (2002, 2009), Estonia (2002 - at Viljandi Folk Music Festival)[citation needed], and has been featured in Lithuanian radio and television programmes. She is a participant of Lithuanian folklore festivals, post-folk and neo-folk festivals, town and city festivals. She is a regular performer at the festivals "Mėnuo Juodaragis" "Baltijos Garsas", "Suklegos", "Days of Living Archaeology", "Skamba skamba kankliai". The band's music can be heard in various art projects, films, theatre performances.
In March 2009, the band won the Ethnogroup of the Year Award at the Alternative Music Awards "A.LT 2008". In April 2009, the band presented the CD "Saula Riduolėla" in Vilnius and Kaunas. Atalyja performed in Minsk (filmed for the Belarusian ONT TV music programme), Riga (VEF Palace of Culture), Prague (Akropolis Music Club), Olsztynek and Gdansk. On 25 and 26 December 2009, he organised a Christmas tour in the Russian capital Moscow (25th - at the club "Masterskaya", 26th - at the Lithuanian Embassy's cultural centre - Jurgis Baltrusaitis' house).
December 2011, he recorded and released a free online single: the Christmas song "Aism, bernai, kalėdauc" and two remixes of this song.On 16 February 2012, together with the bands Ugniavijas, Gyvata and Skylė, he participated in the musical event "Auszra 16", dedicated to the anniversary of the restoration of the Lithuanian State (organised by the independent Baltic music publishing house "Dangus").
