NEEDSHES plays with imagination
on a new song “Horse of Love” influenced by
the Brothers Grimm fairytales
Stream on Spotify / Lyrics Video on Youtube (Animated Cover)
The Central Asian country of Uzbekistan is the homeland of Otabek Salamov (Bek), a songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and founder of the rock/pop, alternative band NEEDSHES. Currently based in Tashkent, he continues to expand his eclectic style rooted in David Bowie, Queen, and James Brown in 2023.
On October 13th, 2023, the Rock’n’roll, surf, indie single “Horse of Love” is coming.
“I see this song as the echo of strange fairy tales from my childhood, such as the Brothers Grimm. They left a mark on the conscience.” © Otabek Salamov
BIOGRAPHY
Bek started his musical journey in early childhood. He attended the music academy in his hometown, Tashkent, where he was awarded the first prize for his precision on clarinet at the age of 13. As a teen, his interests varied, and he was drawn to compose metalcore. He growled hardcore music in nightclubs with the cross-painted face. One day he decided to dilute it with melodic undertones. Soon he realized that the switch was something that gravitated to his liking.
He gathered a full traditional formation around his project with the intent to create authentic rock music. In 2016 after several line-up changes, Ivan (guitar) and Alexey (drums) joined him and made it possible for the sound created in the studio to fully sound live.
Stemming from his childhood, he encapsulates his art for composing bluesy story-telling ballads with funk-soul anthems infused with swagger punk and suffocating alternative. Among his main influences, there are Jack White, The Killers, James Brown, Queen, RHCP, Lenny Kravitz, Moby, Amy Winehouse, a-ha, U2.
In 2020-21, NEEDSHES performed on the international showcases MONDO NYC, Sonicbids Home Fest, NAMM Believe In Music (California). The band has been invited to SXSW 2020 but the event was canceled due to Covid.
Pandemic restrictions have made it impossible for bandmates to gather and rehearse regularly. This ultimately has led to the creation of a new format. From the end of 2021, Otabek is performing online as a one-man-band project on a loop station with a lot of live instruments. He plays drums, guitars, keyboard, flute, trumpet, clarinet, cello, and world instruments all by himself. His 3-minute songs turned into 15-minute live versions with a lot of instruments, new song parts, and now sound like a flow of improvisation and creativity. One may catch the recordings of his live shows on Youtube.
Watch pieces of Live looping shows on Youtube
In 2022, he returned back to his hometown Tashkent to continue writing and producing music. He created a second solo project using his name Otabek Salamov where he added the musical rhythms of Uzbekistan and Central Asia to his signature pop-rock sound.
On November 6, 2022, he presented his first single “Welcome to Uzbekistan” at the concert of Therr Maitz at the Palace of International Forums “Uzbekistan” in Tashkent. In May 2023, he performed at the music festival GROZA.
The second single “Reyhana” was inspired by the love story of the student Reyhana and the great Central Asian scientist Biruni (XI century), shown in the Soviet film “Abu Rayhan Beruni” of 1974.
The third single “Bahor” (translated as “spring) is Otabek’s first work on Uzbek language. The song has been played on BBC Introducing Mixtape on BBC 6 Radio Music.
In 2022, Otabek began working with British artist Sohodolls, also known as Maya von Doll. Bek had been listening to her in his youth and was excited to know that Maya wanted to work with him. In February 2023, May came to Tashkent from London for a 4-day record session. They were working on the songs from Maya’s upcoming new album. This has been an incredible experience for both of them.
ACCOLADES
NEEDSHES’ music has been featured in the major Lay’s tv ad campaign in 32 countries of Europe, numerous Renault, Gloria Jeans, LADA commercials, as well as international thrillers such as “Break,” “She Sees Red,” sitcoms, and cartoons.
Over the last few years, Otabek has won the contest Unsigned Only in ‘Rock’ genre with his song “Time to See,” the Independent Music Awards in the category ‘Song Used in Ad’ with the song “Unbelievable,” second place in the International Songwriting Competition, and became the repeated finalist of the USA Songwriting Competition, John Lennon Songwriting, and The UK Songwriting Contest.
NEEDSHES performed at the main stage of the World Cup FIFA Fan Festival ’18. In 2019, the band released their third studio album “Truth Power,” a call for awareness about the obvious truths, which are often ignored. Later on, they performed as a special guest at the Moscow concert of You Me At Six.
The band has got an airplay on BBC Radio 6 Music, Hayes FM, KUTX, idobi Radio, Amazing Radio, as well as press features on PopMatters, American Songwriter, UPROXX’s Indie Mixtape, Alt Press, RIFF Magazine, POPMUZIK.
@NEEDSHES
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/needshes/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/NEEDSHES
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/needshes/
Twitter https://twitter.com/needshes
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/0k56foV9FjTbDpDa8M39Hx
OTABEK SALAMOV (2nd project)
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/otabek.needshes/
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/1TRXnzVjiPZKKtbXMcmcE6