Natig Shirinov

Early life

Natig Shirinov was born in Baku on November 10, 1975. A descendent of several ashiks, including Ashiq Shamshir [az], he began receiving nagara lessons at the age of nine.

Career

From 1999 to 2007, Shirinov performed as part of Alim Qasimov's folk group. Natig’s contributions to the art have not been limited by performance on stage. In 2001 he founded “Natig Rhythm Group” consisting of five persons. Besides drum, he included old Azeri instruments such as zurna, balaban, tutek to the group. Except being the head of this group, he extended his activity as the pedagogue and composer. His objective in founding the group was to prove that drum belongs to Azerbaijan, to make some improvements, create new rhythms and make different countries recognize and appreciate drum. In 2002 in order to extend the rhythms in drum, Natig started to have lessons at Tabla School at Council of India in Moscow and later on he started to synthesize the Azerbaijani rhythms with the world rhythms. He was invited by producer of International Drum Festival, outstanding percussionist Tofig Jabarov to participate at the Drum Festival in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009. He was invited by Sevda Alakbarzade, the Honored Artist and singer of Azerbaijan, for albums’ recording “Gul achdi” in 2007 and “Sevdali Dunya” in 2009 which were released by “Network Medien” Company.

In September 2007, Shirinov was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Azerbaijan by Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan. On 22 May 2012, his rhythm group participated as interval act in the first semi final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku.

Discography

• My World I (2004)
• My World II (2006)
• Ritm Varsa,Həyat Var (2012)

Filmography

1. Most (2003)
2. Fortesses of Azerbaijan: Dashkasan-Gadabay (2008)