Atalyja, a Lithuanian folk-rock band formed in 1998, focuses on popularizing archaic Lithuanian folklore and bringing ancient songs to contemporary audiences. Their debut album Atalyja was released in 2000, gaining international attention through folk and world music publications. The band's second album, Močia, released in 2004, was recognized as one of the most substantial modern folk music releases in Lithuanian discography. In 2009, they released Saula Riduolėla, blending strict composition with improvisation and experimentation tied to solar themes. Atalyja has performed extensively across Europe, including countries like Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Germany, Turkey, Czech Republic, Belarus, and Russia. The band's repertoire includes sutartinės, calendar songs, war-historical songs, and wedding songs, showcasing a range from meditative improvisation to hard compositional art rock. Atalyja was awarded ethno-group of the year at the alternative music awards event A.LT in 2008.
