Formation Otyken was formed by its producer, manager, and songwriter, Andrey 'Medonos' Chernetsov, initially in order to preserve
Chulym folklore, traditions, and songs which are nearing extinction. It
subsequently morphed into an 'ethno-fusion show'. Though not of Siberian ethnicity, Medonos (which is a nickname that translates to 'honey bear' in Russian), grew up at his family's
apiary in the Siberian wilderness among its indigenous people, who maintained a longstanding
beekeeping partnership with the Chernetsov lineage. Medonos' wife was among the first performers and later went on to create their costumes.
Activity Otyken released their first album in 2018. A
yurt was constructed at the apiary in the following year to host rehearsals and meetings, and they began holding concerts regularly at the museum. Otyken performed in numerous international events such as
Universiade, the Freestyle Wrestling World Championship, and the
Grammy's Global Spin. Their second album
Kykakacha, released in 2021, contained more pop and
EDM elements, as well as tracks remade with a new lead singer, Azyan. The group has faced some setbacks due to
International sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, their
PayPal account was blocked and their international sales were limited. Furthermore, Otyken was invited to perform in the
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 opening ceremony, however they were rejected last minute in October after the European Sports Committee banned Russians from participating. The group made plans to perform in the USA in 2023, including on ''
America's Got Talent'', but they were denied the entry to the United States. == Members ==