Tuesday 29 December 2015
Thursday 17 December 2015
Tuesday 15 December 2015
Thursday 3 December 2015
Friday 27 November 2015
TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDARY RUSSIAN TROUBADOUR VLADIMIR VYSOTSKY
We'll be performing some songs of the legendary Russian troubadour Vladimir Vysotsky at RichMix, London next WED, Dec the 2nd 2015! Come along! It is a FREE event.
MORE DETAILS: https://www.facebook.com/events/1637800706468138/
Monday 9 November 2015
TO THE EAST!
I have recently rediscovered the footage of my friend Thomas Dylan Eaton that he shot using Super8 camera during our expedition to South-Eastern SIBERIA in 2005. I decided to make a shot video that documents our trip. It is accompanied with the song 'To the East' from our first album 'Ha Numa', released in 2009.
Sunday 11 October 2015
Friday 11 September 2015
LESSONS OF RUSSIAN LITERATURE / УРОКИ РУССКОЙ ЛИТЕРАТУРЫ!
Dear Friends,
Now more exciting news for you!
Sasha Ilyukevich and his band 'the Highly Skilled Migrants' have started working on a new long-term music project - 'Lessons of Russian Literature'! And here is the first track for you - 'What is to be done?'
A new lesson will be arriving to you approximately every two months. And of course, these creative moments would not continue without your generous support. Thank you!
Best wishes,
Sasha Ilyukevich &
'the Highly Skilled Migrants'
PLEASE SUPPORT 'LESSONS OF RUSSIAN LITERATURE' VIA BANDCAMP!
About 'Lessons of Russian Literature':
…Why ‘Lessons of Russian Literature’? I wanted to make a collection of songs inspired by, or with direct reference to, literary works of well known Russian writers.
In my experience of reading Russian literature there is a striking continuity in the characters across the entire literary canon. At any given point in history, from the 19th century works of Pushkin to the modernist Pelevin, the cast of players in a Russian literary work seems to be always roughly the same. One can find the drunk, the sage, the shamanic avant-garde joker, the devil, the sinister exploiter, the rich and morally dubious hedonist, the madman with his moments of insight, the witch and the corrupt and politically ambitious man.
Furthermore, these archetypal Russian characters always seem to find themselves projected against the same dramatic backdrop: darkness, weirdness, madness, vivid social injustice set against ferocious political satire and ultimately an overarching Spiritual longing.
For this record, I wanted to offer my own reflections on this literary pattern [that informs the Russian artistic experience to such an extent] through the irreverent and dynamic lens of rock and roll music. Like the Russian works of literature I refer to in my songs, things are not always as they seem on this album. Allegory and surrealism can trip you up at any time but a richly emotional collection of songs is nonetheless guaranteed!
Ladies and gentlemen, this is ‘Lessons of Russian Literature’! Please support us and help us to bring to life this heady mix of Russian heroes and villains for the first time ever on a rock and roll record!
Wednesday 2 September 2015
WHAT IS TO BE DONE?
Ladies and Gentlemen! We hope to see you all at our show next Wednesday,
September the 9th 2015! We will be launching the first lesson 'What is
to be done?' / 'Что Делать?' - part of our long-term music project -'LESSONS OF RUSSIAN LITERATURE' / 'УРОКИ РУССКОЙ ЛИТЕРАТУРЫ'!
More details here https://www.facebook.com/events/409559192585334/
Book your ticket in advance via http://www.wegottickets.com/event/327432
Wednesday 26 August 2015
WHAT IS TO BE DONE?' / 'ЧТО ДЕЛАТЬ?'
YES! ДА! Sasha Ilyukevich & the Highly Skilled Migrants are working on new album 'LESSONS OF RUSSIAN LITERATURE' / 'УРОКИ РУССКОЙ ЛИТЕРАТУРЫ'! The first LESSON / УРОК - 'WHAT IS TO BE DONE?' / 'ЧТО ДЕЛАТЬ?' will be launched at Servant Jazz Quarters, London on 09/09/2015! Come along! More details here
Wednesday 22 July 2015
Tuesday 21 July 2015
Friday 26 June 2015
Monday 22 June 2015
LEYTON MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL 2015
We had a lot of fun playing at Leyton Midsummer Festival yesterday! Thank you to everyone who came to see our show and many thanks to Dash Arts for hosting us!
Thursday 11 June 2015
THE NEXT SHOW!
21 June 2015! Stage Time: 5:15pm - 6pm. FREE Entrance!
Address: Leyton Jubliee Park, Seymour Road, Leyton E10 7BL. More details here
Saturday 30 May 2015
Friday 29 May 2015
Thursday 28 May 2015
NEW SPRING SINGLE IS ON ITS WAY!
Ladies and Gentlemen! The 5th SPRING SINGLE is on its way! Until then, stream the other 4 via http://thehighlyskilledmigrants.bandcamp.com/
Tuesday 26 May 2015
Saturday 28 February 2015
Friday 27 February 2015
Thursday 26 February 2015
NEW ALBUM OUT THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW!
SASHA ILYUKEVICH - SONGS UNDER THE BRIDGE, ALBUM 2015 - PRESS-RELEASE
Late one autumn on a stroll around Walthamstow Marches, in London I found myself under an old railway bridge. It was an instinctive response to begin to sing under the old structure, the bridge replied to my melody with a unique and fascinating sound, one I had not heard ever before.
The sounds were unusual and very deep, a natural
reverberation mixed with the clutter above of the iron wheels on the rolling train, relentless moans of the wind, dripping water after an early fall cloudburst, sudden pattering of passers-by. This cacophony of mesmerizing soundscape created a very deep emotional experience during my ‘beneath the rail passage’ jam sessions, which I coordinated as a result. It was after these inspiring jam sessions I decided to record this album ‘Songs Under The Bridge', in an attempt to recreate this polyphonic harmony in a more controlled environment.
reverberation mixed with the clutter above of the iron wheels on the rolling train, relentless moans of the wind, dripping water after an early fall cloudburst, sudden pattering of passers-by. This cacophony of mesmerizing soundscape created a very deep emotional experience during my ‘beneath the rail passage’ jam sessions, which I coordinated as a result. It was after these inspiring jam sessions I decided to record this album ‘Songs Under The Bridge', in an attempt to recreate this polyphonic harmony in a more controlled environment.
The bridge became for me a very special attribute and source of inspiration in the creation of this project. Many of the ideas for this piece of work appeared during my spontaneous and experimental performances under the bridge; even the title for the album pays homage to my experience.
Simultaneously, this album ‘Songs Under The Bridge’ is also a reflection of my personal experience living behind the iron curtain of my home country Belarus. My songs are anchored by feelings of misplacement and misleaders; oppression and distortion of reality on a great national scale; delusion and how a belief in the metaphysical wonders of this world can be our way to liberation.
These stories are still very relevant in modern times as we witness misunderstood wars being fought, lives lost and creativity censored. In particular to me it is those withered expanses that stretch throughout the ex-Soviet Empire. The bridge is the symbolic metaphor; I imagine it is the passage, the creative arc across troubled history.
I consider that each song in this album, although existing in a collection of songs, possesses its own distinct narrative and arrangement. This was a very conscious decision, I intended to underline, that by also giving a distinctive sound to each track.
As the result, I invited 22 wonderful musicians to perform on this project. I highly value their immense contribution and I believe this energy, excitement and innovation surges forth in this album ‘Songs Under The Bridge’.
MANY THANKS to all of the musicians who took part in creating this album: Nathan Fustec, Elo Masing, Dave Maric, Ned Crowther, Phil Brunner, Benedict Taylor, Jasmine Scott Neale, Rochelle Anne Swanson, Sophie Charlotte Ramsay, Maja Rivić, Mak Murtić, Paul Woodson, Maria-Christina & The 7 Pedals, Joel Stewart, Marina Nikitina, Gábor Halász, Antonin Voyant, Andrea Piro, Graham Mushnik, Rosie Turton, Dan McKean and Nick Jonah Davis.
Also, thank you to Andrei Rabkavets, Toby Oliver, Niall Doherty and Martin Merenyi.
Finally, I would like to express gratitude to extended friends and family and VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to my beloved Moi Tran for all the help and support.
All Songs Are Written By Sasha Ilyukevich,
Apart From 'By The River':
Lyrics - Sasha Ilyukevich,
Music - Sasha Ilyukevich and Andrey Novikov
Apart From 'By The River':
Lyrics - Sasha Ilyukevich,
Music - Sasha Ilyukevich and Andrey Novikov
The Album ‘Songs Under The Bridge’ was recorded in different locations in the UK between December 2013 and December 2014.
Mixed By Nathan Fustec, Pulse Studios, London, UK
Apart From 'Mio Moi': Recorded and Mixed By Gábor Halász,
Studio of Gabriel Prokofiev, London, UK
Studio of Gabriel Prokofiev, London, UK
Mastered By Támas Illy, Jawbreaker Recording Studio, Hungary
Produced By Sasha Ilyukevich and Nathan Fustec
2015 Copyright – Sasha Ilyukevich. All rights reserved.
Tuesday 24 February 2015
SASHA ILYUKEVICH & THE HIGHLY SKILLED MIGRANTS - SPECIAL ALBUM LAUNCH!
WEDNESDAY 4TH OF MARCH 2015 DOORS: 7PM £6
ADDRESS: SERVANT JAZZ QUARTERS, 10A BRADBURY ST., DALSTON, LONDON N16 8JN
BOOK YOUR TICKET ONLINE
Friday 20 February 2015
Thursday 12 February 2015
CHECK OUT THE LATEST VIDEO FOR ONE OF THE SONGS FROM THE FORTHCOMING ALBUM!
Thank you to
Dave Maric - keyboards and electronic drums and percussion;
Mak Murtić - saxaphone;
Joel Stewart - singing saw;
Nathan Fustec - bass guitar, recording, mixing, co-producing.
Also, thank you to
Moi Tran - Art Direction and Costume Design;
Andrei Rebkovets - Filming;
Anastasia Hadjipateras - Editing.
THE ALBUM IS OUT ON THE 28TH OF FEBRUARY 2015!
PRE-ORDER YOUR LIMITED EDITION COMPACT DISC SIGNED COPY HERE!
Thursday 5 February 2015
LAST NIGHT!
Thank you Dash Arts for hosting our GIG last night at RichMix! Great
event! The NEXT SHOW is the ALBUM LAUNCH at Servant Jazz Quarters on
Wed, the 4th of March 2015! We look forward to seeing you all there!
Wednesday 28 January 2015
NEXT SHOW!
Doors: 7:30pm. FREE Entrance.
More details here
Thursday 22 January 2015
Tuesday 20 January 2015
Friday 16 January 2015
PRE-ORDER YOUR SIGNED COPY NOW! LIMITED EDITION COMPACT DISC.
I am very excited to announce that my new record will be released on the 28th of February 2015! The album will be available as a digital download on the major websites - Bandcamp, iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, etc. In addition, there will be beautifully designed Limited Edition CDs (Only 200 copies) available to purchase. Hurry up and pre-order your signed copy now!
Thank you for your continuing support!
Monday 12 January 2015
Wednesday 7 January 2015
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