Some curious facts about Dato

 

  1. He's a singer and a composer, writes music and most of the lyrics for his songs.
    Plays almost all instruments there are, except brass and winds. Sings in more than 6 languages and arranges his songs himself.
  2. Has been keen on music since his childhood years, was a member of a Georgian band called 'Flash'.
    Quit studying for a dentist being a four-year student and went to sing in a festival of a-capella singing instead of sitting college tests.
  3. Later, in the 90-s, Dato joins 'Sahe' (the band's name means 'face').
    The first track with rather frivolous lyrics hit the airwaves and became an overnight sensation in the country.
    After releasing the first commercially successful singles the band arranged a solo gig in Tbilisi Philharmonic concert hall which seats 3000 people.
    The musicians were apprehensive about attendance, but the concert sold out and those who didn't get the tickets caused some damage to the building trying to get in.
    All the proceeds from the concerts went to repair the building!
  4. Dato started his solo career with the Grand prize of 'Slavyansky bazaar' festival in Kiev, Ukraine. Another festival 'Voice of Asia' (Almaty, Kazahstan)
    followed shortly and brought Dato Public's Choice prize. Dato's version of 'Chito Gvrito' was played in dance clubs and on radio stations all over CIS.
    Dato released his two solo albums in Georgia, twice filled the Sports Palace in Tbilisi to capacity,
    managed to work with Coolio (as a member of ‘Sahe') on his concert in Tbilisi and jam with Manhattan Transfer'.
  5. Dato went for a Georgian parliament seat and was elected, but his political career was interrupted after being an MP for 15 minutes.
    When the first session started, they played the hymn and… 'Revolution of Roses' turned people's life upside down.
    Dato moves to Moscow and starts from scratch, releasing his first Russian solo album in 2005.
  6. Dato releases a unique video 'Sand dream' featuring Sand drawing by an Israeli artist Ilana Yahav.
    It was presented at 'Cannes' lions' festival, New York Film and video festival and Short Film festival Clermont-Ferraud.
    It represented Russia in Vinterfestivalen in Scandinavia. The video was broadcasted on Russian main channels and caused tremendous public interest.
    After it was placed on Youtube it received approximately a million views in the first few days.
    After the release of 'Sand Dream' Russian and foreign channels saw adverts using the same technology and it can be said that it was Dato
    who brought this new style into Russian show-business.
  7. 7. Awards and achievements.

'Slavyansky Bazar' (Slav Bazaar) festival 2000 (Kiev) — Grand Prize

Black Music club festival (Moscow 2001) – Grand Prize

Voice of the Asia festival (Almaty, 2001) – Public's Choice prize

'Best of the Best' (Russian professional award) (Moscow, 2007)

Big Apple Music Awards (New York 2009) – 'Best music video' and 'Best European artist' awards.

'God of the Airwaves' award, category 'most versatile russian artist', (Moscow 2010)

  1. Hobbies and interests

Used to be keen on paragliding: collected rare autos.
The singer owns two mustangs in Tbilisi and one of them is
especially dear to his heart because it was given as a gift to a Soviet tennis player
in Wimbledon and was brought to Georgia from the UK.

 

Dato is working in his studio Art Land on his new album at present.