Welcome to Fromuz band official website! Fromuz is a progressive rock band that creates a high-energy blend of complex classic prog rock, instrumental rock, jazz fusion and prog metal along with healthy doses of European and Asian influences. On this website you can find latest news, photos and other information about band. We hope you’ll enjoy it!

FROM.UZ interview for Jazznet Denmark.

How did your adventures with music begin, did you have any musical training or are you self taught?

Igor Elizov: I graduated from music college, piano class. After college I played in various groups. By higher education I am doctor.

Albert: I have professional actor’s education, but I have started playing music since school years. In Soviet Union almost all boys played guitar, so did I. All my life long I participated in various “projects”, if I can say so. The more I grew up the more interesting my way to professional music appeared.

Ali: I grew up in musical family, my childhood is connected to music. I have 4 steps education: college (piano class), conservatory (drums class) and postgraduate study (drums class).

Vitaly: I have no musical training, I am in music since I was 9.

What music genres do you yourself listen to, and is there some kind of music that inspires you?

Igor: I listen to different music, no favorite. First I listened to SEPULTURA, and CHEMICALS BROTHERS next day. I was under influence by QUEEN in youth, now I am inspired by NEW AGE. VANGELIS is the most bright, to my view, my taste.

Ali: symphonic and instrumental music I listen to mostly, as I am lyrical person. I like jazz. And I am inspired by lyric type of music. For example PORCUPINE TREE, and DREAM THEATRE is my favorite music.

Vitaly: I prefer fusion type of music and progressive as well. I adore MILES DAVIS, JOHN COLTRANE and CHARLY PARKER. This music inspires me a lot. and I like art rock from 70-s – GENESIS and GENTLE GIANT.

Albert: I do not have preferences, intellectual mostly: jazz, art roc pro-rock and the music influenced by. FRANK ZAPPA, TOM WAITS, KING CRIMSON, MILES DAVIS. And I like classic music very much.

If you should mention 5-10 records that have meant something to you and your music, what would they be?

all: KING CRIMSON, “RED” ALBUM. PINK FLOYD, “ANIMALS” ALBUM. YES, “TALK” ALBUM. JETRO TULL, “AQUALUNG” ALBUM. JOHN MACLAUGHLIN, “QUA ALEGRIA” ALBUM. MILES DAVIS, “AURA” ALBUM. LED ZEPPELIN I.

You are in my ears a group of musicians who are in constant movement and moving in many different directions from track to track and from release to release. Where do you get your ideas from and what is your secret (if you have one)?

all: this is quite personal and it is al in-between us only. We have our secret music process, you get music.

Are you all full time musicians in FromUz or are music your second job?

Igor: as I graduated medicine university, for 3 years I worked as doctor. In 2006 after I left profession to music, so music is my main occupation, and I am not going to come back to medicine further more.

Albert: I am drama and cinema actor by professional education, I am in music for 15 years and deputy director of music part in theatre. So I consider music is mine second profession.

Vitaly: by education I am engineer constructor of roads and airports. But the profession has nothing in common with me. It’s been a long time since I am in music, music is the main to my life.

Ali: I live in music, I have higher music education. I teach to music, music is my life.

If a new listener were about to buy his first recording with your music, which one would you recommend as the best introduction to your amazing music?

all: HARY HELLER THEATRE, PARALLELS, 13TH AUGUST… and all the rest.

Your music is hard to put in any musical boxes, because it has so many different styles mixed with each other. In my opinion you belong in the progressive/rock part of the music world. Do you agree with that? And what are your opinions on that genre, and genres in general ?

all: the musical critics may apply the music we play, we just play. Composing music we don’t analyze what we do, we are in process – this is it.

What is it like to be musicians in Uzbekistan, is there a music scene for your kind of music?

all: rock music is less popular than pop music everywhere, in all the world. But the music should live, we have our fans, we are successful and our concerts are full of listeners. In out country there is a great number of rock groups, and each of has its own listener. We represented our country in many other places of the world and we are proud to.

At your concerts and on your records as well, how much is improvised and how much is planned before you start?

all: as the music we play has its form, inside the frame in some there is a place for improvisation. On the concerts we play our music the way it was composed and recorded. Improvisation depends on the mood and inspiration of each member of our group. The better we play on concerts, the more chance of improvisation elements might be. You may never know how improvisation shall be and the understanding as partners and team work appears. Now we prepare to release the 4th album of FromUz QUARTUS ARTEFACTUS, which was recorded from live concert first and edited in studio. This album contains a lot of improvisation, it is the other side of FromUz.

What’s your best advice for young aspiring musicians, who want to make it in the progressive music world or any world for that matter?

all: it is grate to be beginners, you have the way to go. The most important is aim and development. Listen to the music and don’t lie to yourself, look forward and you will win.

What are your funniest and worst experiences performing in front of an audience?

all: we can not recall any worst experience yet, the funniest one might happen in Denmark. APPLAUSE AND LAUGH in audience!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years, still making music for the masses?

all: if you want to make God laugh tell him about your plans.

Finally, what are your plans for the future and what will be the next release from the mighty FROMUZ?

all: this year we plan 2 releases. DVD INSIDE 7TH STORY in summer and CD and DVD QUARTUS ARTEFACTUS in autumn. While the releases we start work over the next album, as the mentioned albums work is over. We have ideas and good music, a lot of plans. We plan to show our music to various listeners in all the world. a man has a lot of roads to go, this interview is our first crossroad with your magazine. We hope music we play will be interesting for the readers of your magazine further more.

Henrik Kaldahl

Webmaster Jazznet Denmark