Moscow Grooves Institute

The project was created in 1995 by two Moscow musicians Arkady Martinenko (MEGAPOLIS, HEAT of the EARTH, EJECT PROJECT) and Boris Nazarov. Within the next several years collective was searching for its own style and sound. Together with the Ministry of Psycho MGI were playing electronic concerts at independent experimental “Substation” radio. These lives provided background for the first studio album of the project called “Surround Wednesday”, that was released by Citadel records label in 1997.
At the same time MGI started giving concerts in Russia and abroad. We would like to note that for 14 years of its existence the band has had gigs in many countries: France, Germany, Monaco, Poland, Romania, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania etc. It regularly takes part in international music festivals such as “Kazantip” (Ukraine), “Subtropique” (Georgia), Popkomm (Germany), Grimaldi forum (France), Nu Jazz, NOKIA Lab (Russia), MIDEM (France).
At the end of 1998 the third participant Sergei Belyaev (Rovniy) joined the band. He participated in the record of MGI second album called “Pizza”. The basis of the release is funk with elements of drum-n-base and ethnical trip-hop. Together with Arkady Marto, Boris Nazarov and Sergei Belyaev, Sergei Klevensky and the members of Detsky Panadoll project took part in the record of the album.
In 2000 MGI released an album “Commercial” and also filmed four video clips of the compositions “Stereophonique”, “Voyage”, “2 professors”, "Dancing". Later two videos of OLF (Olga Noel & Moscow Grooves Institute) project – “Na Zare” and “Les Chrysanthemes” were shot. MGI clips are rotated on MTV Russia, Muz-TV, Music box, A one, o2TV as well as on the Ukrainian and Belarusian musical channels. In 2001 MGI together with Mummy Troll group recorded version of Victor Zoy’s song “Malysh” that had never been released before. For a long time this song was the leader of radio “Maximum” music chart.
In June of 2002 MGI new album “Tangibility” was released. Such well known foreign labels as Netlmage Foundation (Great Britain) and MPLS. Ltd (USA) released vinyl singles from the album.
The fifth studio album of the project “Les etoiles sont plus proches avec les yeux fermes” was released in April of 2006, but actually musicians have been gathering the material for it since 2005. Olga Noel beautified with her back vocal several compositions of the album. Such musicians as participant of German band N.O.H.A MC Chevy whose rap diversified MGI electric sound and the old friend of the project Daria Rodcher known for MGI concert activity from 2000 till 2003 participated in the record of the album.
Several times during the last years MGI project has become the finalist of international contest of electronic music Qwartz Electronic Music Awards. MGI tracks are often included to music compilations, issued by such foreign record companies as Pork recordings, George V, Les Maquis, Pschent, Petrol records etc. The members of the project are authors of the music to such films as “Native and intimate” (2007) and “Dance, don’t stop” (2007) by director E. Lavrentiev; they were also working at the remixes of compositions by t.a.t.u, Vitas, Mummy Troll, Enrique Iglesias & Alsou.
In 2007 Citadel records releases a multicolor version of Moscow Grooves Institute debut album “Surround Wednesday”, partly rearranged by sound producer Sofia Kruglikova in 2004-2005.
Since the summer of 2008 MGI consists of Boris Nazarov (vocals, samplers and groove boxes), Yuri Shulgin (bass guitar, cuts) and Pavel Khotin (synthesizers). Before the gig in Japan, that took place in July 2008, the project was working at the new program that will soon provide basis for the sixth studio album of the collective.
In 2009 a performance by Moscow Grooves Institute and Olga Noel opened the concert program of the forty third MIDEM. The show was attended by musical professionals from all over the world and had a great success.