Чиж & Co
NUTEKI is a Belarusian-Russian rock band formed in 2007 in Moscow by Mikhail Nokarashvili and Kirill Matyushenko, both originally from Babruysk. At different stages, the band combined alternative rock, nu metal, alternative metal, pop rock and electronic music. Among NUTEKI’s best-known songs are «Стекло души», «Клоуны», «Дыши со мной», «Дни километры», «Песня счастливых», «Лети со мной», «Кроссовки», «Последний вагон», «Нашлись и потерялись», «Кома» and «Хлопоты».
The band developed simultaneously within the Belarusian and Russian music scenes. Its founders began playing together as teenagers, later moved to Moscow and assembled a new lineup. NUTEKI toured extensively across Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and other countries, took part four times in the Belarusian National Selection for Eurovision and finished second twice. Christian themes also became a distinct part of the band’s history: the musicians openly spoke about their faith, while a separate project called NUTEKI WORSHIP later emerged.
Mikhail Nokarashvili and Kirill Matyushenko
The history of NUTEKI is primarily connected with Mikhail Nokarashvili and Kirill «Motya» Matyushenko. They grew up in Babruysk, knew each other from school and began writing songs and performing together as teenagers.
Before creating NUTEKI, the musicians gained their first stage experience in the Belarusian band K+FA. In 2007, Nokarashvili and Matyushenko decided to continue their music career independently and moved to Moscow. A new lineup formed around them there.
Mikhail became the lead vocalist and one of the principal songwriters. Kirill was responsible for vocals, rap-style delivery, electronic elements, arrangements and the project’s visual direction.
Formation of NUTEKI
NUTEKI finally took shape in the autumn of 2007. The founders were joined by keyboardist Sergey Shubin, drummer Andrey Ivanov, guitarist Alexander Gerasimov and bassist Karina Pilipenko.
From the very beginning, the band paid close attention not only to music but also to appearance, stage design and the musicians’ behavior on stage. A concert was intended to feel like a complete visual performance rather than simply a live rendition of songs.
«Стекло души»
In February 2008, NUTEKI independently released their first single, «Стекло души». The song became the starting point of the band’s professional discography and later grew into one of the most recognizable works of its early period.
In the spring of the same year, NUTEKI won the Moscow youth music festival «Призван быть Первым». After the competition, the band embarked on an extensive summer tour across Russian cities.
The lineup continued to change during touring. Dmitry Bezborody joined NUTEKI as bassist in 2008.
Early tours and «Ты+Я»
In 2009, the band toured actively and released the EP «Ты+Я». The early version of the EP included «Ты+Я», «Она», «Последний звонок» and «Я в звуке».
By this point, the characteristic early NUTEKI mixture of alternative rock, rap-style vocals, electronic parts and melodic choruses had taken shape. Mikhail Nokarashvili’s vocal parts existed alongside Kirill Matyushenko’s rap passages, while synthesizers and programming played almost as important a role as guitars.
Digital Dreams
The first full-length studio album, Digital Dreams, was released in 2010. Its digital edition contains 14 tracks.
The album established NUTEKI’s early style: heavy guitar riffs were combined with electronic effects, alternative rock and elements of nu metal. The record included songs written during the band’s first years, including «Стекло души» and «Последний звонок».
By this period, NUTEKI were already performing regularly outside Moscow and had developed an audience in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
Unplugged #1
On February 29, 2012, the band released Unplugged #1, an acoustic album consisting of 12 tracks.
The recording revealed another side of NUTEKI. Electronic arrangements and heavy guitars gave way to acoustic instruments, piano and more restrained vocals.
This period was associated with songs and videos such as «Не молчи», «Stars» and «Клоуны». The latter became one of the band’s best-known songs of the early 2010s.
Four attempts to reach Eurovision
NUTEKI took part in the Belarusian National Selection for Eurovision four times, but none of the attempts resulted in a trip to the international contest.
Superheroes — 2012
Their first competition song was «Superheroes». NUTEKI performed it in the Eurofest 2012 semifinal held on December 21, 2011, but did not qualify for the final.
Save Me — second place
The band made its next attempt in the selection for Eurovision 2013. With «Save Me», written by Mikhail Nokarashvili, NUTEKI reached the national final.
On December 7, 2012, the band scored 17 points and finished in second place. Alyona Lanskaya won the selection.
Fly Away
In January 2014, the band once again appeared in the Belarusian national final, this time with «Fly Away».
The song received the highest score in the public vote but no points from the professional jury. NUTEKI finished fifth overall. Belarus was represented at Eurovision by Teo with «Cheesecake».
Take My Heart and «Так кахаць»
The fourth attempt took place in 2017. For the selection, NUTEKI prepared «Take My Heart», credited to Mikhail Nokarashvili and American singer-songwriter Dawn Michele of Fireflight.
The same material also produced NUTEKI’s first official song in the Belarusian language, «Так кахаць». The Belarusian lyrics were written by Nikita Naydenov.
On January 20, 2017, NUTEKI received 15 points and once again finished second. NAVIBAND won with «Гісторыя майго жыцця».
The Bgnng
On October 31, 2014, NUTEKI released the six-track English-language EP The Bgnng.
One of its central tracks was «Wind Inside». The material continued the band’s international direction and was aimed primarily at English-language alternative rock.
Musically, NUTEKI were gradually moving away from their early nu-metal sound. Melodic choruses and electronic elements became more prominent, while the song structures moved closer to modern alternative rock and pop rock.
Departure of Kirill Matyushenko
At the end of 2014, one of NUTEKI’s two founders, Kirill Matyushenko, left the band and began working on his own music projects.
His departure marked a major change for the group. Kirill had been responsible not only for vocals and rap-style delivery but also for electronic elements, arrangements and part of the visual concept.
Mikhail Nokarashvili retained the NUTEKI name and continued working with the remaining musicians. Guitarist Alexander Naumov increasingly became an important songwriting partner.
«Дни километры»
In February 2015, NUTEKI released the single «Дни километры», followed in May by a six-track EP of the same name.
The song became one of the most enduring pieces in NUTEKI’s live repertoire. The band returned to it repeatedly in later years, releasing an acoustic version and continuing to perform it in concert. In 2024, a new recording was released together with TOMILOV, HUGO and СТЕПАНДА.
Other material from this period includes «Больше чем ты» and «Песня счастливых».
Лети со мной
In 2016, NUTEKI released «Лети со мной». By this point, the band had firmly settled into a quartet format with Mikhail Nokarashvili as the sole frontman.
In October of the same year, bassist Dmitry Bezborody left the band. He was replaced by Alexander Verny.
«Нашлись и потерялись»
On July 1, 2017, NUTEKI released the album «Нашлись и потерялись». The digital edition contains 15 tracks.
The album includes «Больше чем друзья», the title track «Нашлись и потерялись», «Уйди или останься», «Буду вспоминать», «Последний вагон», «Дорога», «Друг / враг», «Тролль» and other songs.
The single «Кроссовки» attracted particular attention. Belarusian video blogger Vlad Bumaga, who later became widely known as Vlad A4, appeared in the music video.
The album marked NUTEKI’s transition from the harder alternative sound of the early years toward more melodic pop rock, although heavy guitars and electronic elements remained part of the music.
Victory Is Ours
On January 25, 2018, the English-language EP Victory Is Ours was released. It contains five tracks.
The release included material from the band’s international period, including «Take My Heart». NUTEKI continued performing outside the former Soviet countries and used English alongside Russian and Belarusian.
Late-2010s releases
In 2018, the band released the singles «#ЕГИПЕТХИТ» and «Медленно», followed in 2019 by «Чувства максимум».
The pace of studio work slowed during this period. No full-length follow-up to «Нашлись и потерялись» appeared for several years, although the band continued performing live.
Christian themes
Religious themes had been present in NUTEKI’s history almost from the beginning. Mikhail Nokarashvili and other members openly spoke about their Christian faith and the influence of biblical values on their lyrics and way of life.
At the same time, NUTEKI did not seek to limit themselves exclusively to a Christian music audience. In interviews, Nokarashvili emphasized that the band played first and foremost for a broad audience, while faith appeared through the themes and content of the songs.
As a result, the repertoire places love songs, works about growing up, friendship and loss alongside songs in which appeals to God are expressed directly.
NUTEKI WORSHIP
The religious direction later developed into a separate project called NUTEKI WORSHIP.
In 2023, the EP «Я новый» was released under this name, featuring «Я новый», «Рыба и хлеб», «Через шторм» and «Аллилуйя».
NUTEKI WORSHIP also took part in the major concert project «Ночь Хвалы», released digitally in 2025 together with «Слово жизни Music», Wolrus WORSHIP and other Christian music groups.
Return in 2021
After an extended break, NUTEKI returned with new material in 2021. Releases from this period included «Девочка не плачь» and «Кома».
«Кома» became one of the band’s most notable later songs and retained the heavier side of its sound.
«Хлопоты»
The band’s next major studio album arrived only seven years after «Нашлись и потерялись».
On November 14, 2024, NUTEKI released «Хлопоты», a 13-track album with a running time of around 40 minutes.
The album includes:
- «Хлопоты»;
- «Сплетены»;
- «Головоломка»;
- «Все уехали»;
- «Слёзы и соль»;
- «Мокрые спички»;
- «Фиолетовые тучи»;
- «Отпусти»;
- «Останови время»;
- «Моя луна»;
- «Ангелы»;
- «Стекло души 2.0»;
- «Хрустальное солнце».
The new version of «Стекло души» connected the contemporary band with its 2008 debut. Otherwise, «Хлопоты» was not an attempt to return completely to early nu metal: the album combines alternative rock, pop rock and electronic arrangements.
«Все уехали»
One of the central songs on the album was «Все уехали». It explores separation through the experience of friends and loved ones scattered across different cities and countries by life circumstances.
The song is credited to Mikhail Nokarashvili and Artur Apetenok.
2025
In 2025, NUTEKI continued developing material from «Хлопоты». The band released the single «Вокзалы», a remix of «Фиолетовые тучи» featuring kunashko and a new version, «Хлопоты 2.0», with СТЕПАНДА.
On December 18, the live album Live in St. Petersburg 2025 was released. It contains 15 performances recorded at a concert in Saint Petersburg.
The program brought together songs from different periods, including «Лети со мной», «Последний вагон», «Кроссовки», «Все уехали», «Фиолетовые тучи», «Дорога», «Дни километры», «Хлопоты 2.0» and «Буду вспоминать».
The final section of the concert was dedicated to NUTEKI WORSHIP, with performances of «Аллилуйя», «Рыба и хлеб» and «Через шторм».
NUTEKI in 2026
In 2026, the band continued releasing new material.
On February 6, the single «Пой гитара» was released. Mikhail Nokarashvili is credited as lyricist, while Alexander Naumov composed the music. The song is built around a more traditional rock sound with an emphasized guitar part.
On May 28, 2026, NUTEKI released «Голос», the latest release in the band’s main digital catalog at the time this biography was prepared.
Mikhail Nokarashvili
After Kirill Matyushenko’s departure, Mikhail Nokarashvili definitively became the central figure of NUTEKI. He remains the lead vocalist, the author of a significant part of the lyrics and one of the band’s key composers.
His songs regularly explore internal conflicts, relationships, family, travel, loss, faith and the search for direction in life.
Nokarashvili does not limit himself to conventional rock vocals: across different periods, he has used clean melodic singing, spoken delivery, emotional rasp and a softer pop-oriented style.
Alexander Naumov
Guitarist Alexander Naumov joined the band after the early lineup changes and gradually became one of Mikhail Nokarashvili’s main creative partners.
After Kirill Matyushenko left, Naumov’s role in writing new material grew considerably. In interviews, Nokarashvili has described himself and Naumov as the band’s principal songwriters.
The collaboration continues in recent releases: for example, Alexander Naumov composed the music for the 2026 single «Пой гитара».
Lineup
NUTEKI’s lineup has changed repeatedly over the years. The core of the band in recent years consists of:
- Mikhail Nokarashvili — vocals, songwriting;
- Alexander Naumov — guitar, music;
- Andrey Ivanov — drums;
- Alexander Verny — bass guitar.
Among the most important former members are:
- Kirill «Motya» Matyushenko — co-founder, vocals, rap-style delivery, electronics, arrangements;
- Dmitry Bezborody — bass guitar;
- Sergey Shubin — keyboards, electronics;
- Karina Pilipenko — bass guitar;
- Alexander Gerasimov — guitar;
- Igor Narbekov — guitar.
Musical style
NUTEKI’s sound changed noticeably over the course of the band’s career. The early period was closest to alternative rock, nu metal and rap rock: heavy riffs were combined with Kirill Matyushenko’s rap-style delivery, electronic elements and contrasting melodic choruses.
In the early 2010s, the band expanded its electronic component and worked more actively with English-language material. The Bgnng demonstrated a more modern alternative sound, while «Дни километры» marked a move toward melodic pop rock.
On «Нашлись и потерялись», heavy elements were used more selectively. Songwriting, melody, vocals and more compact structures moved to the foreground.
The album «Хлопоты» combined different sides of NUTEKI: guitar-driven alternative rock, electronic atmosphere, pop melody and individual compositions with explicitly religious themes.
Stage image
The visual side of NUTEKI was important even before the release of the first album. The musicians used contrasting costumes, makeup, lighting structures, thematic scenery and staged performance elements.
This approach was established while Kirill Matyushenko was still in the band and responsible for part of its visual direction. After his departure, the stage image became less eccentric, although NUTEKI concerts continued to be constructed as complete shows.
Main discography
- «Ты+Я» — EP, 2009;
- Digital Dreams — 2010;
- Unplugged #1 — 2012;
- The Bgnng — EP, 2014;
- «Дни километры» — EP, 2015;
- «Нашлись и потерялись» — 2017;
- Victory Is Ours — EP, 2018;
- «Хлопоты» — 2024;
- Live in St. Petersburg 2025 — live album, 2025.
NUTEKI’s history spans almost two decades and several distinctly different phases, from teenage alternative rock with rap-style vocals and electronics to the more melodic guitar-based sound of recent years. After the departure of co-founder Kirill Matyushenko, the band continued around Mikhail Nokarashvili and kept releasing new music.
The return to the full-length album format with «Хлопоты», the 2025 live recording and new singles in 2026 show NUTEKI as an active project rather than a band existing only on the strength of early songs such as «Стекло души» and «Дни километры». The parallel development of NUTEKI WORSHIP also made the religious side of the band’s work more explicit, reflecting beliefs that had been present in the members’ worldview from the group’s earliest years.
