Iriao band unveil song for Eurovision music contest (VIDEO)

The seven-member group will represent Georgia in Lisbon in May. Photo: Iriao band Facebook page.
Agenda.ge, 14 Mar 2018 - 16:38, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgia’s ethno jazz band Iriao have revealed the official video for their bid at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest at which the group will perform in May in Lisbon, Portugal.

Known for their signature style of "adorning” Georgian polyphonic singing with jazz elements, the band opted for a less experimenting sound with the song titled For You.

Their choice of the venue for the video was more inventive — the filming took place at a decommissioned Soviet-era space research institute near Tbilisi.

Released on Tuesday, the video features the band as well as dancers of the acclaimed Erisioni folk ensemble.

Iriao will perform the piece at the Eurovision competition on May 10.

Debuting in 2013, the seven-member group is led by composer and folk jazz pioneer David Malazonia, performing on keyboard.

He is joined in the roster of the band by Nugzar Kavtaradze on Georgian folk instruments, Levan Abshilava on drums and percussion, and Shalva Gelekva on bass.

Vocals involve George Abashidze, Mikheil Javakhishvili and Bidzina Murgulia.

Iriao released their maiden recording in Poland in 2015, before taking part in music festivals in Georgia and abroad.

The 2018 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Lisbon on May 8, 10 and 12.