Ubyk is the brainchild of Russian born singer/songwriter Roman Bleum. The band's moniker, (pronounced yoo-bik) is derived from legendary sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick’s story of a homogenized world run by a powerful and ambiguous organization that owns, creates, and markets everything in existence.
Like Dick with his writing, Ubyk’s musical ambition is to bring the anomic state of the world to the forefront of the listener’s consciousness. Bleum’s soothing vocal delivery perfectly compliments the band’s simple musical elements (guitar, percussion, “secret weapons”) but neatly juxtaposes the cynical subject matter of his lyrics. Subtle build-ups, sound effects, and backing female vocals all come together to serve as an eerily relaxing vehicle to convey Ubyk’s haunting message.
The group performs as a two-piece with Roman and singer/songwriter Samantha Tobey sharing both vocal and multi-instrumental duties. Working together as a duo forces the band to embrace their limitations, and include only the elements necessary to support their concept of a “song”. As Ubyk is intent on recreating their recorded songs in a live atmosphere, they do not add any superfluous or arbitrary elements to their material. By simplifying the equation, the band has created a sound that is sweet, surreal, and psychedelic!
Ubyk has toured the South/Northwest in the summer/fall of 06 in support of their self-titled EP. The band is currently in the studio writing their full-length debut, and will be hitting the road again in the summer of 07.
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