Azerbaijan: Unformal

In addition to covering issues such as poverty, corruption, conflict, human rights and national minorities, one other theme The Caucasian Knot has concerned itself with — albeit on an earlier blog — has been rock music in the South Caucasus. Although most of that has been centered on Armenia, The Caucasian Knot has written about and photographed Georgian bands, but Azerbaijan unfortunately remains off-limits because of the unresolved conflict over Nagorno Karabakh.

Even though there have been festivals to promote rock music in the South Caucasus, Armenian bands can’t visit Azerbaijan because of the unresolved conflict over Nagorno Karabakh and vice-versa. That’s a pity given that during this year’s Eurovision Song Contest one band which stood out from the crowd was Unformal, an alternative rock band from Baku which really show a lot of promise. Unfortunately, perhaps having more talent than Eurovision deserves, they didn’t make it past Azerbaijan’s national finals.

Unformal is an Azerbaijan rock band from Baku. Unformal was founded in 2000 by Rustam Mammedov and Novruz Ismayilov. During the first years of its existance it was known as a hard rock band. In 2001 Unformal won Azerbaijan Rock Award Competition. In 2006 vocalist Delya and bass-guitar performer Looper joined to the band. Since then Unformal changed and now it is an alternative rock band. In march 2007 the single “Sonsuz yol” acclaimed by listeners, becoming the top-ranked song on the Azerbaijani, Ukrainian and Turkish charts. Unformal also took place in national final of Azerbaijan in Eurovision Song Contest 2008 and became second after Elnur Huseynov and Samir Javadzadeh.

Managing to sing in a variety of rock styles, their La-La-La Song was certainly fun and fresh and was the first song that brought the band to the attention of The Caucasian Knot. Nice track and very energetic.

Since then, however, some searches on YouTube show that the band had a harder beginning. Still great stuff and very encouraging to hear coming from Azerbaijan when you consider the stereotypes many people have about the region. Nice to hear something alternative to sit alongside the traditional.

Great stuff, but following the departure of other members of the band, they eventually changed direction with the addition of Delya and Looper, as their Facebook page explains.

[…] Soon Unformal recorded an experimental duet with the singer of “W/Omen” – Dilya, which turned out a real success and in 2006 she joined Unformal along with Looper (guitarist). In October 2006, represented by: Rustam and Dilya (vocal), Looper and Imran (guitars), Farida (bass) and Eugene (drums); renewed Unformal gives a solo concert with new band members and new musical concept. Sudden changes from hard to more alternative music were welcomed by the fans. “Ilk Suigest” becomes one of the best concerts the band ever played , and the beginning of new era in the history of Unformal. […]

It’s hardly surprising that the new line-up was greeted well by fans. Another entry into the Azerbaijani Eurovision National Final shows why. Great vocals and presence by Delya and a nice mix of the traditional with the mugham introduction. They also produce some softer songs with great videos which must be popular with local youth who might otherwise listen to Western or Russian pop music.

Definitely a band to keep an eye out for in the South Caucasus. They look interesting live as well. It’s just a pity that it’s uncertain whether they’d ever be able to play in Yerevan. Still, as usual, there’s aways Tbilisi to take on the role of the cultural center of the South Caucasus where Armenians, Azerbaijanis and Georgians can come together.

Unformal have a Myspace page here and a Facebook group here.