Album Notes

Vlad

Born in a small town in the western part of Ukraine on January 3rd, Vlad began his musical career at
age 7 playing drums. "I was fascinated with rhythm and especially drum sounds," recalls Vlad who used to
bang on books, silverware and plates. At 13 he took guitar lessons and from that moment on the guitar became
his path in his life. Vlad studied jazz and classical music and loved every minute of it. By age 14 he won several
jazz festivals in Eastern Europe and formed his first band.
At 17 a popular rock band Forte recruited Vlad as a lead guitarist. Soon after reaching several #1 hits in the
Ukrainian and Polish charts, Vlad joined an art rock band "Tea Fan Club" (TFC). While in TFC Vlad was
hired as a studio guitarist by Leo Studios in Lviv, Molem in Krakow, M-Studios MTV in Berlin and worked
with a varieties of well known popular and classical artists as well as writing music for major national shows
and soundtrack for motion pictures. TFC joined the presidential campaign endorsing democratic candidate for
Ukraine's independence and had been added to "People of the Year" national pride list.
After Ukraine's independence, Vlad and a former leader of a well-known Opalni Prinz, Yurok Shtyn, formed a
new band, Loony Pelen. #1 hits and #1 album in the national charts quickly followed.
Vlad's playing was described as "..a rare treasure.." (Post-Postup, March 1993), "..brilliant guitarist, composer
and arranger.." (Y.Laniuk, Chairman of Association of Composers of Ukraine, 1995), "..technically adept
solos.." (New York Times, Nov 17, 1993 -Berlin Independence Days Festival), "without comments a must to
listen" (Post-postup, April 1994) and "very important for those who care about serious music"
(O.Shevchenko, Gallas Magazine, Album Reviews, 1997), as well as ".. very important for Ukraine.." (Express
Newspaper, 5/94).
Soon after Berklee College of Music in Boston invited Vlad to study in the USA by giving him a scholarship
to cover the tuition. "It changed my entire life," he states.
In 1996, Vlad moved to Boston and later to New York City to pursue his career. "I think NYC shaped me as a
musician more than anything," reveals Vlad. "It gave me an understanding of who I was and what I have to
say. Without New York my music would have been different."
Vlad now calls California home, having moved west in 2000. The majority of Vladosphere was created in
California, but the album is universal.