As the long-awaited summer heat finally descends, thoughts naturally drift towards cooler destinations and the refreshing allure of the sea. While actual beach vacations may remain a future prospect for many, the Russian music landscape is actively channeling the ocean breeze into its latest offerings. A series of new releases from prominent artists, including Lok Dog, Gayazov Brothers, and Mia Boyka, are tapping into powerful summer and marine imagery, effectively setting the sonic stage for the warmer months ahead.
Lok Dog`s Melancholic Shores
Veteran rapper Lok Dog presents a lyrical and introspective track titled “Berega,” which translates to “Shores.” The song revolves around the time-honored poetic notion of “your eyes are like shores,” intertwining it with numerous other familiar comparisons to maritime elements and the emotional depth of love and heartbreak. This thematic choice feels particularly resonant as temperatures climb towards 30 degrees Celsius. The artist invites listeners into a different kind of ocean – a vast sea of feelings. It`s a composition well-suited for a slow dance on a warm summer evening.
Adhering to a classical lyrical style, the artist avoids the often-abrasive or overtly humorous elements found in some contemporary rap, adding a certain gravitas to this melancholic love ballad. One might anticipate visuals featuring dramatic coastlines and powerful waves to accompany such a track. However, the social media video accompanying the release takes an unexpected turn, placing Lok Dog firmly within a concrete urban landscape, performing under a bridge on a granite embankment. In a simple white shirt, he appears almost too minimalist for the emotional intensity of the song. Curiously, singing under a bridge seems to be a nascent global trend; Korean superstar Jin from BTS recently released a video for “I`ll Be There” filmed in a strikingly similar under-bridge setting. In this particular visual decision, Lok Dog finds himself, perhaps inadvertently, aligning with international trends.
Gayazov Brothers Choose the Dance Floor (and the Sea)
For several years, the Gayazov Brothers duo has been pursuing the creation of a definitive summer hit centered around the sea. Their previous attempt, “Ya, ty i more” (Me, You, and the Sea), despite its pleasant lounge qualities suitable for background ambiance, was rhythmically ambiguous—too fast for true relaxation, yet not quite energetic enough for a full-fledged dance track. This year, they`ve thrown caution to the wind, unleashing a veritable dance floor “blockbuster” that has rapidly climbed the charts. Their new track, “Vybirayu More” (I Choose the Sea), bursts forth with a forceful, declared chorus: “I will eat the sun and drink the sea!”—a line engineered for maximum impact in a club setting.
This latest offering from the “brothers” bears resemblance to several other popular hits. One might detect echoes of Andrey Zhinzhin`s “Snegom stat`” (To Become Snow), albeit transformed here into the aspiration “to become the sea.” And, naturally, it`s difficult to overlook the lingering influence of Valentin Strykalo`s enduring summer mega-hit “Yakhta. Parus” (Yacht. Sail). Strykalo`s satirical yet heartfelt ballad about transient seasonal romance and inevitable parting has inspired many artists. Perhaps this year, the Gayazov Brothers` cheerfully straightforward pop tune will successfully capture some of that “standard-setting” magic.
Mia Boyka`s Aphrodite Assertion
Reaching for her own mythical marine benchmark is the artist Mia Boyka. She has clearly identified and adopted the prevailing “queen” trend in Russian pop—artists who, through self-declaration and self-promotion, aim to establish their own `iconic` status. Anna Asti`s chart-topping “Tsaritsa” (Queen) serves as a notable precedent for this phenomenon. Mia Boyka now positions herself in similar territory, proclaiming herself “Aphrodite” with a track that includes hints of Eastern dance influences. The song is filled with the currently fashionable self-celebration of one`s own beauty and perceived greatness, a clear demonstration of the principle: “If you don`t praise yourself, no one else will.” Fans online have responded with a certain degree of amusement and lighthearted commentary, speculating on her future titles. “First the Queen of the Ocean, now Aphrodite, it`s scary to imagine what she`ll be next,” one fan humorously remarked, recalling Mia Boyka`s earlier self-designation as the “Queen of the Ocean,” whose fans were her “sharks” ready to “tear everyone apart” for her.
While her younger fan base might lament the disappearance of her signature blue hair, the artist has been sharing videos of herself chasing taxis through the night city, blasting her faux-Eastern-tinged melody at high volume. One might observe, perhaps with a hint of professional irony, that the singer-blogger appears to be attempting a demographic shift from teenagers to taxi drivers in an effort to broaden her audience reach. Regardless of the specific promotional tactics, the lively and infectious song nonetheless fits comfortably within the overarching summer music trend.
A Summer Soundscape of Contrasts
These recent releases collectively illustrate the varied approaches Russian artists are taking to capture the essence of summer and the sea. From Lok Dog`s introspective rap delivered against an urban backdrop to the Gayazov Brothers` uninhibited dance anthem and Mia Boyka`s mythological self-declaration, the new tracks contribute to the vibrant and ever-evolving soundscape of the Russian summer. Whether performed under a city bridge or targeting nocturnal taxi passengers, these songs bring a splash of coastal flavor to the rising heat.
