Russia

Russia’s Electronica scene not only makes the night life in Moscow and St. Petersburg more exciting than in many other European cities.

"Selecting the acts for this evening proved difficult. The ones I have chosen are performing for the first time in Berlin and Western Europe. They all draw on influences from Russian music: Mujuice /Dza by Russian poetry, Vikhornov mixes Folk with Electro, Pixelord combines Siberian children’s songs with HipHop sets and produces quite a few surprises along the way, and Illuminated Faces adds a Slavic touch with a friendly smile. That makes them stand out from other artists. And they don’t fit the Russian cliche."

Natasha Padabed, program director of "Electro-Mechanica" and SKIF festivals

Mujuice/Dza

This young duo from Moscow puts on the most energetic electro-shows in all Russia at the moment. Roma Litvinov (Mujuice), who found her way to electronic music via Chopin’s pieces for piano and Garage Rock, now produces multi-genre music which is just as likely to feature Acoustic Jazz as it is Microsampling and Glitch. Musician and producer Sasha Kholenko (Dza) stands for atmospheric beats reminiscent of the soundtracks to Soviet space travel series in the 1960s and 1970s. Mujuice/Dza present their new album at the HKW..

Mujuice on Myspace

Vikhornov & Jan Kalnberzin

Following his success with the Pork Roll Band in the late 90s, the keyboarder and composer Vikhornov adjourned to the studio to conduct sound experiments – IDM, Minimal Techno and melancholy melody bits. He returned to the scene in 2007 with a spectacular live show, including a digitally flanked grand piano. Also part of the act are VJs from “Russian Visual Artists“, a collective of artists which he co-founded with Jan Kalnberzin, and brand new video projections.

Vikhornov on Vimeo

Pixelord

This Moscow-based legend of Experimental music aka Gultskra Artikler is known for albums such as “Miasmah“. Under the alias Pixelord, the Siberian natvie Aleksei Devianian produced truly ground-breaking HipHop beats for “Error Broadcast“. They were described by the renowned Russian critic Aleksandr Gorbatschow, in a tribute to Pixelord, as “Avantgarde Folktronica“. The DJ also achieved a rapturous reception when he performed at the “Proper Hoppers Festival", which took place practically in parallel with the World War Two victory commemorations in Moscow.

Pixelord on Facebook | Pixelord on Vimeo | Sounds on Soundcloud

Illuminated Faces

Illuminated Faces is the brainchild of Roman Tsepelev, whose New-Wave-Breakbeat-Sound takes us back to the early days of Acid House, to the days of glow sticks and living for the weekend. The man from Kirov blends Dance Grooves with thoughtful music – a conference of Intelligent Dance Music and Indietronica.

Illuminated Faces on Facebook | Sounds on Soundcloud

VJ Acidburn

The visual artist Januk Latushka alias VJ ACIDBURN worked in Moscow for theater and TV and in the public sphere. Among his works are video installations for pieces by Victor Pelewin and the exhibition RUSSIA! in the New York Guggenheim Museum.

Chosen by Natasha Padabed