Monetochka

Yelizaveta Andreyevna Gyrdymova, known by her stage name Monetochka (meaning “Little Coin”), was born on June 1, 1998, in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Her musical journey began in 2015 when, at 17, she uploaded her debut album, “Psychedelic Cloud-Rap,” recorded at home on a synthesizer, to VKontakte. This self-produced work quickly gained viral attention, leading to a burgeoning online following and the release of her first music video, “Ushla k realistu,” in January 2017. Her early career also involved collaborations, notably with Noize MC on the song “Childfree” and later with producer Viktor “BTsKh” Isaev, with whom she released the single “Poslednyaya diskoteka” in October 2017.

Monetochka’s career experienced significant growth with the release of her first studio album, “Coloring for Adults,” on May 25, 2018. The album, produced by Isaev, showcased a new sound incorporating elements from the 1980s and 1990s, club music, and folklore. It received critical acclaim, with Ivan Urgant noting it as “one of the major Russian-language albums of this year.” All ten songs from the album entered Yandex Music’s Top 100 chart within three days, with “Nimfomanka” reaching number one. This success solidified her position as a prominent artist in Russia, leading to further recognition, including winning “Group of the Year” and “Single of the Year” at the Jager Music Awards in 2018 for her song “Kazhdyy raz.”

In 2020, Monetochka released her second studio album, “Arts and Crafts.” However, her career trajectory shifted following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. She made public anti-war statements, fled Russia, and subsequently relocated to Lithuania. In January 2023, the Russian Ministry of Justice designated her as a “foreign agent.” Despite these challenges, Monetochka has continued to perform, embarking on U.S. and European tours and using her platform to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees, including over €200,000 in collaboration with Noize MC. She released her fourth album, “Prayers. Jokes. Toasts,” in 2024, continuing to express her artistic freedom during exile.