Open Space is a pop rock and indie rock band from Minsk, Belarus.[3][4] Formed in 2006 with an English repertoire and a few Belarusian songs,[5] they later adapted mostly Russian lyrics. The band has released two full albums and several EPs and singles, but in recent years the musicians play together mostly as a cover band.[6][7] Since 2017, frontman Vitaliy Matievskiy has focused on his synth-pop duo Days of Days,[8] and since 2018 he also writes music for his solo electronic music project MATIVI.[9]
History
Open Space was formed in 2006 by Seva Maslov (bass) and Vitaliiy Matievsky (vocals, guitar).[10] They were later joined by Maxim Mestovskiy (guitar) and Andrey Malashenko (drums).[11]
In 2007 the band recorded their first demo EP Wake Up at the Graffity club in Minsk. They began performing regularly in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. In 2008 they released the 5-song EP Beautiful.[12] In 2009 the band was nominated as Best New Artist at the annual Rock Coronation Awards in Belarus.[13] In 2010 they won the award for Best Pop-Rock Band.[14]
Open Space released their first full-length album Deal With Silence on the local label West Records in 2010.[15][16] Also in 2010, the band played on main stages at the Be2gether and Basovišča music festivals.[17][18] The EP Let It Go was released later that year.
Their second full-length album Pressure was released in 2012.[19] At the 2012 National Music Awards presented by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus and Capital TV, Open Space was honored as Best Rock Band.[20]
Musical style
A columnist for the newspaper Muzykalnaya Gazeta described the Open Space sound: “It felt like an overdose of Coldplay in the music. The only difference is that it is easier, more primitive, not so nice, and does not cling.”[21] The band has been noted for memorable dance rhythms decorated with heavy guitars.[22] The band has “clinging, catchy songs designed for a wide audience,” wrote the Belarusian music portal LiveSound, and “Open Space is a very strong band. The guys play great and will play for a very long time”.[23] The same publication described the sound of the band as soft Britpop, played very smoothly and professionally, though it is occasionally “boring”.[24] In 2010 hosts from European Radio for Belarus noted that the band is often confused with Hair Peace Salon and Coldplay.[25]
^Aresha. "HPS не гости, а хозяева" [HPS are not guests, but the hosts]. LiveSound.by | Белорусский музыкальный портал (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2007-12-08. Retrieved 2018-11-27.