So far, no other art form has contributed more significantly to my Russian language journey than music. Listening to Russian lyrics strengthens my listening comprehension; translating Russian songs deepens my vocabulary and broadens my understanding of Russian culture; and singing Russian songs helps me practice pronunciation and enunciation. It has also brought my language learning […]
Manzhia, a Russian-Tajik singer, is coming into a wider spotlight after her performance at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. She was born on 8 July 1991 in Tajikistan. Her mother was a fashion designer and psychologist, and her father worked as a doctor. Her father initially discouraged her from pursuing music, believing that it wasn’t […]
The brief list of online resources has been compiled for those interested in understanding late-Soviet music movements, particularly for rock and punk movements of Leningrad. I. Resources in English A. Lecture on Russian punk In the above virtual lecture, Brandeis University PhD candidate and writer Alexander Herbert explores themes detailed in his book […]
Starting in the late 1970s, Leningrad’s rock scene introduced a new wave of western culture to the Soviet public. For some, this wave was a dangerous cultural phenomenon that went against Party norms, but by Perestroika, Soviet rock was well established and had captivated and inspired young listeners. It also created a new sphere of […]
Late-Soviet Siberia fell in love with punk. While rock bands like Kino and Alisa were making waves in Leningrad, the major industrial and scientific centers of Central Russia produced an underground punk genre that grasped audiences in the USSR and post-soviet diaspora. The cities of Tyumen, Omsk, and Novosibirsk were the centers of this movement. […]
The band Burito’s eclectic music has been described as everything from “r’n’b” to “hard rock with hip hop elements” to “alternative-electronic.” The band borrows from a variety of styles to make a sound entirely their own – sensitive, poetic, and toe-tapping. The band name comes not from Spanish but from a combination of three Japanese […]
The upbeat pop duo Artik & Asti combine electronic beats, hip hop elements, and lively vocals. Popular in Russia and Ukraine, they are also known throughout Eastern Europe. While both band members are Ukrainian, their music is exclusively sung in Russian. Artik & Asti comprises two band members: Artyom Umrikhin (stage name Artik) and Anna […]
Irina Dubtsova is a Russian singer known for her energetic pop style, extensive series of collaborations, and strong songwriting ability. Dubtsova was born in 1982 in Volgograd. She grew up with music in both formal and informal capacities. Her father was a musician who instilled a love of music and singing in Dubtsova. At only […]
Little Big has topped charts and headlines with their provocative style of rave music with pop, hip hop, punk, and EDM elements. The group calls itself a “satirical art collaboration” and is known as much for its catchy music as its infectious dancing and shockingly bright, brutalist videos. Often funny, occasionally inflammatory, Little Big is […]
