Russkaja
For almost a decade RUSSKAJA have spread healthy Turbo Polka all over the world! Their self-created "collective feeling of consciousness expansion" has become legendary. This band is a perfect example of starting in small venues, then moving to the biggest stages after 10 years with more than 600 performances worldwide and still delivering pure energy & finest cultural musical diversity. They spread the joy of life and say that there’s no need to speak Russian to understand the philosophy of RUSSKAJA. Well, that’s right, as the multicultural cast around the charismatic Russian front man Georgij Makazaria reflects this immerse power perfectly!
Their brand new and upcoming album "PEACE, LOVE & RUSSIAN ROLL" was released on July 24th (UK/US/CAN dates tba) – and the name says it all, with a twinkle in the eye. One can definitely say that Russkaja have created their very own style over the past years: a blend of Balkan music and Metal matched perfectly between Polka, Estam Rock, Rock and Roll as well as mariachi and US country music influences. A contradiction? No, not at all! The band simply calls their music Russian Turbo Polka and this high speed sensation delivers the perfect soundtrack to nearly everything! The song "Energia" from the critically acclaimed previous release was viewed more than 2 million times and became a YouTube hit.
The new album features an unprecedented amount of versatility on the top: The first song "Rock and Roll Today” is probably a track with the most Punk attitude that ever existed in the world of Russkaja. Between Balkan brass and hi-speed punk rock elements - this track is the right appetizer for a diverse and super creative album to follow! The song "Slap Your Face" acts as a groovy mid-tempo track with crunchy Balkan brass lines to a call for change as well as a challenge to stagnation! "Hometown Polka" is a classic groove Polka song with gigantic sing along potential and a Balalaika included, is a hymn to true childhood friends who accompany you throughout life and finally turns out as one of the biggest earwigs on the entire album!
Then Russkaja presents "There Was A Time": a pop song! The acoustic "Eagles" guitar, accompanied by tuba and a pizzicato violin and Georgij’s unmistakable Russian accent combines Russkaja’s legendary trademarks to a new exiting facet! "El Pueblo Unido" is the first journey in southerly climes: An up-tempo Ska song in Spanish plus South American flair including mariachi choirs. The content is to unite with like-minded people and to fight with the peace flag in hand for a planet where all peoples of the world have space and respect each other. The idea is to end oppression and injustice - a song that couldn’t be released at a proper time!
The whole atmosphere is wrapped in groovy mid-tempo beats with playful vocals. Following that the album surprises everyone with the most epic ballad Russkaja has written so far: The song "Parachute" is a classic ballad, with a reduced orchestrated and acoustic guitar, light beats and the vocals indulge openly love. In the song "Let's die together" true Russian folklore meets violin and heavy rock with rockabilly guitar sounds in a hymn of love resistance. By this song you should already be singing along to these Russkaja tunes, so be prepared to feel like a real Russian!
The last third of the existing 12 songs from the album will be preceded by "Salty Rain": A song that starts as a ballad, but ends with heavy backbeat and guitars a la Tom Waits. The song grows faster and faster, just like the beat of a heart while the rain falls down and mixes with tears: Salty Rain. With an up-tempo and classical style Russkaja continues with "You Are The Revolution" and as the title suggests, it is an invitation that any revolution can make all the difference.
Russkaja Goes Country? Yes, you’re totally right! "Radio Song" takes part in the Wild West. The band shows that they even dominate the Country & Western genres: Elvis-style, acoustic guitars, bass and a slide guitar makes you feel as if you are in the middle of Nashville! The conclusion so far? Probably the most diverse and most mature album of Russkaja up to date! The track "Peace, Love & Russian Roll” is an up-tempo Ska song with a shout-out chorus and a Balkan brass-central part, celebrating the same-titled album as a whole monument.
The band has gained a great reputation over the years not only in their adopted country Austria as well as in Germany, Switzerland and Mexico. 2011 was the band’s first international breakthrough as the band played four times in a row at Wacken Open Air, the world's largest metal festival as well as participated in numerous festivals throughout Europe!
The musical message of Russkaja is completely clear then: dance, dance, dance to "PEACE, LOVE & RUSSIAN ROLL"! They have conquered the clubs and open air festivals all over Europe by surprise and distributed their high-speed Brass to the world. This is not only a Balkan fashion, these guys are not simply great power pioneers from Moscow, this simply is the pure sound of anarchy!
