Mamagama is an Azerbaijani musical band formed in 2021 in Baku. The lineup of the band comprises vocalist Asaf Mishiyev, guitarist Hasan Heydar and drummer Arif Imanov.[1] The band is known for its unique fusion of rock, pop, and traditional Azerbaijani music and their energetic stage presence and deep, emotional lyrics.
Mamagama will represent Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with their dynamic new single, "Run with U".
Career
Formed in 2021 in Baku, Mamagama consists of members with prior experience in various musical ensembles. [2][3] The group quickly gained recognition by performing at several international festivals.[4]
The vocalist of the band, Asaf Mishiyev, participated in the 2020 season of the project "The Voice." He reached the knockout round in Polina Gagarina's team.
In 2022, Mamagama participated in Kënga Magjike, one of Albania’s premier music festivals, alongside Festivali i Këngës. Their performance of the single "Dreamer" earned them the first prize in the "International Artists" category.[3] Later that year, they applied to represent Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Although they were selected as one of the five final candidates,[5] İctimai Television (İTV) ended up choosing the duo TuralTuranX to represent the country in Liverpool.[6]
On February 4, 2025, İTV announced that Mamagama had been internally chosen to represent Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.[4]
Musical style
Mamagama's music blends traditional musical elements with contemporary styles, incorporating influences from indie pop and alternative rock to create a unique and dynamic sound.[2][7]
This fusion is further enriched by the cultural background of the band's lead singer, Asaf Mishiyev, who is of Mountain Jewish heritage. Drawing from the influence of Jewish artists like Bob Dylan and Amy Winehouse, alongside the rich musical heritage of Azerbaijan, Mishiyev infuses the band's music with profound depth and emotional resonance.[8][9]
Members
- Current
- Asaf Mishiyev – vocalist
- Hasan Heydar – guitarist
- Arif Imanov – drummer
- Former
- Roman Zilyanev – guitarist
- Klim Gudin – drummer
Discography
Mamagama's catalogue consists of six singles.
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| "My Medicine" | 2022 |
| "Sleep" | |
| "Dreamer" | |
| "River" | 2023 |
| "This Is for You" | |
| "Run With U" | 2025 |
References
- ^ "Azerbaijan unveils its official entry for Eurovision Song Contest 2025". Apa.az. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Mamagama". Genius. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Aserbaidschan tritt mit der Gruppe Mamagama beim Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel an" (in German). 4 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Mamagama will represent Azerbaijan at Eurovision 2025". 4 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ^ Anthony Granger (2 February 2023). "Azerbaijan: Five Acts in Contention for Eurovision 2023 Revealed". Retrieved 11 March 2023.
- ^ Neil Farren (9 March 2023). "Azerbaijan: TuralTuranX to Eurovision 2023". Retrieved 11 March 2023.
- ^ Antonio Adessi (4 February 2025). "Eurovision 2025: i Mamagama rappresenteranno l'Azerbaigian" (in Italian). Eurofestival News. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ^ Heller, Mathilda (13 February 2025). "Azerbaijan chooses Mountain Jewish singer as Eurovision 2025 entry". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ i24NEWS English (17 February 2025). Jewish singer selected to represent Azerbaijan in Eurovision. Retrieved 19 February 2025 – via YouTube.
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