Leningrad

Leningrad, a Russian rock band from Saint Petersburg, was founded in the late 1990s and is led by Sergey “Shnur” Shnurov. Composed of 14 members, the band became known for its Gypsy punk style, characterized by brass instrumentation and provocative lyrics. Despite initial resistance from radio stations due to their explicit content, Leningrad’s popularity grew, eventually leading to their music being featured on radio and television, with profanity censored.

Over the years, Leningrad has experienced periods of activity and hiatus. The band disbanded in 2008 and then reunited in 2010. During its active years, Leningrad experimented with its sound, incorporating female backup vocals in 2007, with jazz singer Yuliya Kogan becoming a permanent member. The band’s music videos have received international recognition, with “Kolshchik” winning the Berlin Music Video Awards for “Best Concept” in 2017, and “Is not Paris” winning the “Best Narrative” category in 2018. In March 2019, Shnurov announced the band would disband again by the end of the year after a farewell tour, however, they have continued to release new songs and music videos.

Leningrad’s work has also contributed to cinema and gaming. Their songs have appeared in film soundtracks for productions such as “DMB,” “Bimmer,” and “Everything Is Illuminated.” Notably, their song “Nikogo Ne Zhalko” was included in the in-game radio station of “Grand Theft Auto IV.” The band’s artistic output also includes various albums and a videography dating back to 2000, showcasing their consistent production of music videos. The band recently released a new song and music video in November 2023.