SULTANOV ‘BREAK FREE’ OUT 15 JULY, 2013

SULTANOV RECORDS

• Second single, taken from ‘Sultanov,’ the self-titled album, also out July 15 2013
• Co-written and produced by Andy Wright (Annie Lennox, Simply Red, Jeff Beck, Imelda May)
• Watch the video inspired by Terry Gilliam’s science fiction fantasy film ‘Brazil’ HERE, produced by Partizan Films (Depeche Mode, Foo Fighters, Bjork & The White Stripes)

On 15 July 2013, singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, visual artist and scriptwriter Dan Sultanov releases his explosive second single ‘Break Free.’

Combining layered harmonies with a pounding drumbeat and guitars reminiscent of European indie-poppers, The Whitest Boy Alive, ‘Break Free’ is Sultanov’s take on what can only be called career frustrations. “This is a song that I think everyone can relate to,” says Dan. “People have dreams; some of these dreams come true. Some of them don’t. Most become slaves to the system, and this song’s about breaking free from it all.”   

The video (produced by Partizan Films, Depeche Mode, Foo Fighters, Bjork & The White Stripes) was inspired by the acclaimed filmmaker/animator Terry Gilliam and his 1985 film ‘Brazil’.  Like the film, the video follows a man stuck in a mind-numbing job and living a life in a small apartment. He’s plagued by dreams of a beautiful women, who in the end allows him to break free from his mundane life, as Dan explains:

“Terry Gilliam has always been one of my favourite people in cinematography. Brazil is an amazing film, with some genius art direction, photography and an incredible cast. But most importantly I’ve always felt I can relate to the film’s themes.  It reflects my inner space.”

The second single taken from his self-titled debut album, ‘Break Free’ is just one of the tracks produced and co-written with Andy Wright, who’s produced everyone from Annie Lennox and Simply Red, to Jeff Beck and Imelda May.  It’s a varied and diverse album, influenced by everyone from Tchaikovsky to Michael Jackson. No wonder then, that even Dan struggles to define the album’s sound. ‘It’s a combination of energy and romance, rhythm and melody,’ says Dan. ‘For me, melody is the key component to any song. So I’ve focused on this and worried less about what genre it fits into.’

Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sultanov comes from long line of acclaimed artists, who have single-handedly created some of the most distinguished art and art directions in former Soviet Union, today Russia, and Europe for generations. His grandfather Tahir Salakhov is an internationally celebrated Azerbaijani painter and draughtsman – a leading light in Russian art for the better part of 50 years. His mother and grandmother are also artists. His mother Alagez Salakhova, being a painter was also a dancer in Azerbaijani State folk ensemble and starred in Soviet Union. His aunt, Aidan Salakhova, is a world known gallerist who has her work exhibited across the globe, including at the 2011 Venice Bienniale, where two of her sculptures were controversially censored.

‘I have always been surrounded by art in its many different forms,’ says Dan. ‘All these sounds, rhythms, colours, canvases, paints, charcoals, everything, helped develop my vision of the world and made me the person and artist that I am today. I can’t wait to finally share my music.’

‘Break Free’ & the self-titled debut album ‘Sultanov’ are out 15 July 2013

For more information, please contact Steve Rose @ EMMS

steve@emmspublicity.com  0207 607 5765