Project "Sameba" (2001)

The project "Sameba", rooted in Georgian ethnic music, rhythms, and aesthetics, was released in Tbilisi in 2001. It topped the charts of many radio stations and remains popular in Georgia to this day.

The album blends traditional instruments (percussion, duduk, pandur, chiponi, accordion), vintage samples from archival recordings, and the renowned Georgian polyphony with contemporary electronics. This is not merely an adaptation of folk songs but largely an original work: much of the material was written directly in the studio in Tbilisi, in collaboration with vocalist Madi Serebryakova.

The project was created, produced (with the support of Mikhail Mateshvili), and recorded over the course of a year at Saint Sound Studio in Tbilisi by Vlad Zhukov — a well‑known Russian sound producer and musician. The release became a true discovery in Georgia in 2001.

Six tracks from the album were featured in the American film Power Trip, which was nominated at international film festivals. In 2005, the project was re‑released in Russia, and the track "Gelino" appeared on ethnic music compilations in Germany. In 2013, the track "Anagurelo" was used in a CNN commercial promoting tourism in Georgia.

All tracks are based on Georgian folk music, yet they are original material written, produced, and mixed by Vlad Zhukov with the participation of Madi Serebryakova.

Sameba lineup:

• Vlad Zhukov — sound producer, keyboards, bass, guitars, backing vocals, pandur, acoustic guitar, music
• Madi Serebryakova — vocals, music and lyrics
• Mikhail Mateshvili — executive producer

Guest musicians:

• Levan Chkhartishvili — vocals
• Nugzar Pantsulaya — recording
• Sano — percussion
• Kvicha Maglakelidze — acoustic guitar
• Gela Pirosmanskiy — duduk
• Sandro Nikoladze — flute
• Tengiz Kacharava — pandur
• Lekso Peradze — chiponi
• Levon Badalian — clarinet
• Vladislav Zhukov (senior) — additional vocals, claps
• Teya Japaridze — vocals
• Gia Shvelidze — accordion
• George Khmelidze — administration

Vocal samples from the Georgian Folk Music Archives (1930s–1940s)
and many others…

All tracks are based on Georgian folk music, written, performed, mixed, and produced by Vlad Zhukov (2001–2003).

Vlad Zhukov ft. Madi Serebryakova ("SAMEBA") VS Georgian & Turkish musicians - Gelino (mash up)

About the song "Gelino" and the Sameba project

We are truly delighted that our song "Gelino", written in 2001 and inspired by a Georgian folk melody, continues to live its own life to this day. This inspired the idea of bringing together different performances of the song in one video. Here you can see and hear wonderful musicians from the bands EGARI and Shin, as well as ordinary people singing "Gelino" at weddings, at home, and in various TV programmes in Georgia and Turkey.

Sameba lineup:

• Vlad Zhukov — sound producer, keyboards, bass, guitars, backing vocals, pandur, acoustic guitar, music
• Madi Serebryakova — vocals, music and lyrics
• Mikhail Mateshvili — executive producer

The video features performances of "Gelino" by:
The Shin, Ansambli Universiteti, Band 'URSA', Cevahir, Cicinatela, Damla Şahin, Davit Shanidze and URSA Band, Egari (Riga, Latvia), Ethno Jazz Band EGARI, Duygu, Dağhan Aslanger, BHBT Aralık Konseri (2012), şevval karaman‑okan dönmez, Immortal Drunkards, Physical Brothers, Rafet Özpehlevan, Ucxoelebisgan, Yangın Var Filmi, ირაკლი ჭელიშვილი (პეჩო) და მაგდა ვასაძე, Nino Surguladze Da Jgufi Egari, Bayar Şahin, and many others.

Important:
The song "Gelino" by Sameba is not a cover of the folk song Gelino. It is an original composition with its own lyrics, music, and arrangement. There is no version older than the one released in 2001. The copyright belongs to the Sameba project. The song was used as a soundtrack for the documentary Power Trip (dir. Paul Devlin, USA).

— composer, sound producer, director, multi‑instrumentalist.
Creator of the band FDA and the project Sameba, whose tracks became the soundtrack to the American film Power Trip and were featured on BBC in tourism advertising for Georgia. Composer for the films Salyut‑7, How Stars, the series Angel or Demon, and others. Sound producer and co‑composer of the ballet "Three Masks of the King" at the Mariinsky Theatre. Director of the YouTube project "Blue Tales" featuring E. Dzharakhov, Animal Dzaz, Billy's Band, and the band Polyusa. Released albums on Hyperium Records (Germany). Worked across electronic, symphonic, rock, ethnic, and hip‑hop genres. In the past, he worked with Alla Pugacheva, Linda, Zara, and the band Marseille. Participated in the album by Sergey Starostin and Volkovtrio (nomination for BBC World Music Awards).

— vocals, co-writer, lyricist (Sameba).
Vocalist, co-writer of music, and lyricist for the project Sameba. Her voice is considered an integral part of the group's sound. She also contributed vocals to one of the tracks on the FDA album "Another Day". She is currently an Austrian opera singer (soprano). Born in Tbilisi, she graduated from the Tbilisi Conservatory and completed a traineeship at the Tbilisi National Opera House. She was awarded the 2nd prize at the Franz Stanner Competition in Vienna (2010). Since 2011, she has been a member of the Vienna Razumovsky Ensemble.

— executive producer of the project Sameba.

Founder of Saint Sound Music Factory, screenwriter, producer, public figure, and promoter of Georgian culture and arts. He is the creative inspiration behind the Sameba project and a close friend of Vlad Zhukov.

— Georgian musician and vocalist. He performed some of the male vocal parts for the project Sameba (alongside archival recordings from the 1930s–1940s, female vocals by Madi Serebryakova, Vlad Zhukov's own vocals, and the voice of his father, Vladislav Zhukov).

— percussion.

Georgian multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer, and founder of Sano Studio in Tbilisi. Member of The Shin and Adio. A long-time creative partner of Vlad Zhukov — contributed percussion to Sameba and appeared as a narrator in the project "Blue Tales".

 is a Georgian musician, guitarist, sound engineer, and a member of the band New Discipline.

He was the one who suggested that Mikhail Mateshvili invite Vlad Zhukov to Georgia, where they experimented with a few dance tracks based on Georgian ethnic music. Nugzar assisted with the recording. Later, these few songs evolved into a full‑scale project and the album Sameba.

He also contributed to the mixing of Vlad Zhukov's German album — Secret Language (Hyperium Records, 1997).

— sound engineer, mixing engineer.

He helped with mixing several tracks for the FDA album "Another Day" and also handled sound engineering at live concerts.

Together with Mike Marsh, he worked on the mastering of Vlad's previous album — "Virtual Life".

He also mastered the tracks from the Sameba album (2001–2003).

— additional vocals, claps

2022 - 2026

Sameba ft. Mzetamze - Deda mogik'vdesa (2022)

Music by Sameba (based on georgian folk song "Deda mogik'vdesa"). Lyrics (chorus of the song) by Madina Serebryakova-Karbeli

Director: Vlad Zhukov
Director of Photography: Alexey Urban (St. Petersburg)
Director of Photography: Artur Martirosian (Tbilisi)
Executive Producer - Michael Mateshvili
Director's Assist - Sasha Gridneva

Actors: Elene Pichkhaya , Ekaterine Lagvilava , Natali Tvaliashvili
Montage & postproduction by Vlad Zhukov
Produced & mixed by Vlad Zhukov
Voice recording by Jesus Leon "Lyon music records" https://lyonmusicrecords.com/
Mastered by Yury Shcherbakov
Special thanks to Tornike Janashvili

Sameba ft. Mzetamze - Deda mogik'vdesa

Let your mother die for you, your mother my son,
Your mother is dying of sorrow for you,
Your mother is dying of sorrow for you.
Your black horse with its black saddle,
I send to the sun above the sky.
Your black shirt torn on the chest
I embroider with winds and bury in the night.

My child, your horse with the black saddle,
I unlash and set free to the forests and fields.
I unleash and set free to the forests and fields.
Let your mother die for you, your mother, my son!
Your mother is dying of sorrow for you.
Your mother is dying of sorrow for you.

Your black horse with its black saddle,
I send to the sun above the sky
Your black shirt torn on the chest
I embroider with winds and bury in the night
Your black horse with its black saddle,
I send to the sun above the sky
Your black shirt torn on the chest
I embroider with winds and bury in the night

— composer, sound producer, director, multi‑instrumentalist.
Creator of the band FDA and the project Sameba, whose tracks became the soundtrack to the American film Power Trip and were featured on BBC in tourism advertising for Georgia. Composer for the films Salyut‑7, How Stars, the series Angel or Demon, and others. Sound producer and co‑composer of the ballet "Three Masks of the King" at the Mariinsky Theatre. Director of the YouTube project "Blue Tales" featuring E. Dzharakhov, Animal Dzaz, Billy's Band, and the band Polyusa. Released albums on Hyperium Records (Germany). Worked across electronic, symphonic, rock, ethnic, and hip‑hop genres. In the past, he worked with Alla Pugacheva, Linda, Zara, and the band Marseille. Participated in the album by Sergey Starostin and Volkovtrio (nomination for BBC World Music Awards).

— vocals, co-writer, lyricist (Sameba).
Vocalist, co-writer of music, and lyricist for the project Sameba. Her voice is considered an integral part of the group's sound. She also contributed vocals to one of the tracks on the FDA album "Another Day". She is currently an Austrian opera singer (soprano). Born in Tbilisi, she graduated from the Tbilisi Conservatory and completed a traineeship at the Tbilisi National Opera House. She was awarded the 2nd prize at the Franz Stanner Competition in Vienna (2010). Since 2011, she has been a member of the Vienna Razumovsky Ensemble.

— executive producer of the project Sameba.

Founder of Saint Sound Music Factory, screenwriter, producer, public figure, and promoter of Georgian culture and arts. He is the creative inspiration behind the Sameba project and a close friend of Vlad Zhukov.

— remixes

.
Russian electronic musician, composer, and sound producer. His releases have appeared on Tranceport Recordings, Mistique Music, and RUNE Recordings. He has produced numerous remixes for FDA and continues to collaborate with Vlad Zhukov, including on the new album of the project Sameba.

— percussion.

Georgian multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer, and founder of Sano Studio in Tbilisi. Member of The Shin and Adio. A long-time creative partner of Vlad Zhukov — contributed percussion to Sameba and appeared as a narrator in the project "Blue Tales".

— guitar, acoustic guitar, pandur.
A St. Petersburg guitarist, pianist, and visual artist. Founder of the instrumental indie‑rock quartet INFO and the band Lazy Killers. Known for his long‑term collaboration with Vlad Zhukov — together they created the YouTube project "Blue Tales". He has collaborated with Polyusa (piano, guitar) and co‑founded Lemurianz with Alexander "Mikhalych" Krasovitsky (leader of Animal Dzhaz). He designed covers for Animal Dzhaz releases (including the album Korni, 2023) and has performed in the live project of singer Manizha.

— Georgian musician and vocalist. He performed some of the male vocal parts for the project Sameba (alongside archival recordings from the 1930s–1940s, female vocals by Madi Serebryakova, Vlad Zhukov's own vocals, and the voice of his father, Vladislav Zhukov).

 is a Georgian musician, guitarist, sound engineer, and a member of the band New Discipline.

He was the one who suggested that Mikhail Mateshvili invite Vlad Zhukov to Georgia, where they experimented with a few dance tracks based on Georgian ethnic music. Nugzar assisted with the recording. Later, these few songs evolved into a full‑scale project and the album Sameba.

He also contributed to the mixing of Vlad Zhukov's German album — Secret Language (Hyperium Records, 1997).

— mastering.

A mastering engineer who has collaborated with Vlad Zhukov on many projects, including the new album of the project Sameba, the FDA album Another Day,

and the album Once There Was Sun (Sergey Starostin & Volkovtrio).

— additional vocals, claps