Sistem

Sistem was a Romanian percussion band. The group formed in Cluj, Romania, in November 2000. Sistem had five members: Zoltan “Zoli” Toth, Robert “Robi” Magheti, Claudiu “Nașu” Purcărin, Mihai “Cici” Rogojan, and Florin “Phlo” Romașcu. All the members were trained percussionists with classical music backgrounds. Instead of using only regular drums, they used unusual instruments. They drummed on metal and plastic barrels, hit coffee cups, buckets, bottles, and even used parts of their own bodies to create rhythms. Their live performances were famous for special effects with water, fire, sparks, and energetic choreography. 

In the early 2000s, Sistem quickly became popular in Romania for their exciting shows. They performed at many concerts and festivals, both at home and in other countries. The band often worked with guest singers on their songs. Starting in 2001, they collaborated with Romanian singer Alexandra Ungureanu, who provided vocals for some of their tracks like “Emoții” (“Emotions”). Sistem released several albums and many hit songs during their career. Between 2002 and 2006, they released four studio albums, and 11 of their singles reached number one on Romanian music charts.  They also appeared on television and at award shows to promote their music.

Sistem’s biggest international exposure came in 2005. The band joined singer Luminița Anghel to represent Romania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 in Kyiv, Ukraine. They performed the song “Let Me Try”, with Luminița singing and Sistem providing a powerful percussion show. On stage, the members of Sistem drummed on oil barrels and even used grinding tools to create a dramatic shower of sparks. They finished in 3rd place in the Grand Final. The song “Let Me Try” became very popular and received heavy airplay on radio and TV in multiple countries. Sistem and Luminița Anghel also won a special award from a Romanian magazine for this performance. 

After Eurovision, Sistem continued to perform and record new music. They played concerts all over Romania and in other parts of Europe. Their shows were often grand, featuring their signature drumming acts and special effects. In 2006, Sistem had the honor of opening for the famous band Depeche Mode at a big concert in Bucharest. They also performed at international events, such as a Europe Day celebration in Stockholm in 2004 and a special concert in Brussels in 2006 to celebrate Romania joining the European Union. The band was frequently invited to appear on TV programs and music festivals. . For 12 years, Sistem was considered one of Romania’s most popular and spectacular live bands. 

By the early 2010s, the members of Sistem began to explore new projects. In 2012, after 12 years of non-stop activity, the band announced that they would take an indefinite break. They felt they needed rest and fresh motivation after performing continuously for so long. Sistem’s last concert before the break took place on 15 September 2012 at a festival in Sighișoara, Romania. The members went on to pursue other interests, and two of them (Florin Romașcu and Robert Magheti) later formed a new music project called Cobzality.