Tristar (band)

Tristar was a local pop-rap band in Almaty, Kazakhstan formed in 1998.

Band members: Inga Ruff, Sergei "Dr. Fox" Chik, Alina Mandrykina (replaced by Yulia Romanova in 2000, who was replaced by Elena Murushidi in 2001).

Ruff and Mandrykina worked together at the Almaty-based 'Channel 31' and a radio station with the same name, and had access to station resources. Ruff's husband, Chik, and the women recorded three songs at a home studio, made a music video and had the video and songs played on Channel 31. Their first performance sold out at one of the biggest dance clubs in Almaty where they sang five songs in the summer of 1998.

Dr. Fox said the group came up with its name after seeing a Korean electronic grill that happened to be at the right place at the right time. The group's first single "Uhodi" ("Go Away") appeared on the radio first, then the video was made. It received criticism and kudos. "Odna" ("Alone"), the second single, became a hit right away.

It was hard to record an album, play concerts and work at the radio station. Ruff and Mandrykina left Channel 31. In January 1999, the band started filming a video for another song "Angel," which made its way to MTV Russia. On March 8, 1999, Tristar released their first album, Igra. The first 10,000 copies sold out in a week in Almaty.

By fall of 1999, there were conflicts between the band its producers. Ruff started working for Russian Radio Kazakhstan, which started a new period in Tristar's development. They filmed a video for a new song "Doroga" ("Road"), a ballad, which not all stations accepted to transmit. The band still toured at sold-out venues. Meanwhile, Mandrykina's left the group. Yulia Romanova, who had been a group's choreographer, took Mandrykina's place as a new member. In April 2000, Tristar came back on stage with their new member.

Discography

• Igra (Game) - 1999
• Svet dalekoi Anglii (The Light of Golden Sovereign) - 2000
• Tretii (The Third) - 2002.

References

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