NEEDSHES is an indie/alternative rock band founded by eclectic songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Otabek Salamov originally from Uzbekistan. Bek started his musical journey in early childhood. He attended the Uspensky Republic Music Lyceum in his hometown Tashkent where he was awarded the first prize for his precision on clarinet at the age of 13. As a teen, his interests varied, and he was drawn to compose metalcore. He growled hardcore in nightclubs with the cross-painted face. One day he decided to dilute it with melodic undertones. Soon he realized that the switch was something that gravitated to his liking.

Stemming from his childhood, he encapsulates his art for composing bluesy story-telling ballads with funk-soul anthems infused with swagger punk and suffocating alternative. Someone once described them as a balancing act between the moody atmosphere of The NBHD, with dainty anthems reminiscent of The Killers, a bit of the oddball nature of Jack White, and the heartbreaking ballad skillset of Coldplay. Among his main influences, there are Jack White, The Killers, James Brown, Queen, RHCP, Lenny Kravitz, Moby, Amy Winehouse, a-ha, U2.

Otabek gathered a full traditional formation around his project with the intent to create authentic rock music. In 2016 after several line-up changes, Ivan (guitar) and Alexey (drums) joined him and made it possible for the sound created in the studio to fully sound live.

NEEDSHES’ music has been featured in the major Lay’s tv ad campaign in 32 countries of Europe, numerous Renault and LADA tv commercials, as well as international thrillers such as “Break,” “She Sees Red,” sitcoms, and cartoons.

Over the last few years, Otabek has won the contest Unsigned Only in ‘Rock’ genre with his song “Time to See,” the Independent Music Awards in the category ‘Song Used in Ad’ with the song “Unbelievable,” second place in the International Songwriting Competition, and became the repeated finalist of the USA Songwriting Competition, John Lennon Songwriting, and The UK Songwriting Contest.

In 2017, NEEDSHES were selected by popular Russian radio MAXIMUM to perform at the XIX World Festival of Youth in Olympic Park in Sochi. Besides, they performed at the main stage of the World Cup FIFA Fan Festival, 2018. In 2019, they performed as a special guest at the concert of famous british rock band You Me At Six.

In 2019, Otabek released his third studio album “Truth Power,” a call for awareness about the obvious truths, which are often ignored. Since then NEEDSHES has got an airplay on BBC Radio 6 Music, KUTX, idobi Radio, Amazing Radio, Hayes FM, as well as press features on PopMatters, American Songwriter, UPROXX’s Indie Mixtape, Alt Press, RIFF Magazine, POPMUZIK.

In 2020-21, NEEDSHES performed online on the international showcases MONDO NYC, Sonicbids Home Fest, NAMM Believe In Music (California). The band has been invited to SXSW 2020 but the event was canceled due to Covid. Pandemic restrictions have made it impossible for bandmates to gather regularly. This has led to creating a new format. In 2022, Otabek started to perform as a one-man-band with a live looping station. He played drums, guitars, keys, flute, trumpet, clarinet, and world instruments all by himself. His 3-minute songs turned into 15-minute live versions with a lot of instruments, new song parts, and started to sound like a flow of improvisation and creativity. You can find the pieces of these shows on Youtube, Boosty, and Patreon.

The single “One Day” (November 26, 2021) came out with a beautiful retro collage animation by Otabek and has been featured by Spotify Japan Editorial playlist.

The next release "Song for You" (February 11, 2022) became Otabek’s most pretentious effort, he’s singing to his strengths, and this release captures him at the height of his creativity.

In November 2022, Bek created a second solo project using his name Otabek Salamov. He added the musical instruments and rhythms of Uzbekistan and Central Asia to his signature rock sound.

He presented his first single off Otabek Salamov project, pop hit “Welcome to Uzbekistan” at the concert of Therr Maitz at the Palace of International Forums “Uzbekistan.” In May 2023, he was invited to be a headliner at the music festival GROZA.
The second single “Reyhana” was inspired by the love story of the student Reyhana and the great Central Asian scientist Biruni (XI century), shown in the Soviet film “Abu Rayhan Beruni” of 1974.

The third disco funk single “Bahor” (translated as spring) is Otabek’s first work on Uzbek language. The song has been played on BBC 6 Radio.

As a producer, Otabek works with other indie artists from all over the world. The biggest one as of today is British artist Sohodolls, also known as Maya von Doll. In February 2023, Maya came to Tashkent from London for a record session, to finish her upcoming album with Bek.

In 2023 Otabek created a new duo lineup with the drummer Ilya Kanchurin from Tashkent. Together they performed at the festival of local handcrafters “Urban Market” and Moscow festival of Eastern cultures “Tubeteika.”