Move over, Shaman. Russia’s latest breakout singer is a TikToker who makes listeners feel like the 2010s never ended — and the full-scale war never began
Russia’s biggest musical success of 2025 wasn’t Shaman, the hawkish Kremlin-backed pop singer, or Instasamka, the blogger-turned-rapper who built hits around conspicuous consumption and controversy before turning pro-war herself. Instead, the artist listeners embraced most was quieter and almost a throwback: Vanya Dmitrienko, a 20-year-old singer-songwriter who doesn’t just ignore the full-scale war in Ukraine, but seems to channel the immediate pre-war era. Meduza traces Dmitrienko’s rise, his retreat from the spotlight amid Moscow’s TikTok restrictions, and his return last year with a new, more mature image and sound.
Move over, Shaman. Russia’s latest breakout singer is a TikToker who makes listeners feel like the 2010s never ended — and the full-scale war never began Vanya Dmitrienko, a 20-year-old singer-songwriter, became Russia’s biggest musical success of 2025 by channeling a pre-war era with his mature sound, a stark contrast to pro-war artists. After a career turning point on TikTok in 2020, Dmitrienko briefly faded from view due to platform restrictions and a personal anti-war stance, but returned in late 2024 with a new image and guitar-driven music that resonated widely. He has since been named Artist of the Year and achieved significant commercial success, offering escapism in a politically charged musical landscape.
- Vanya Dmitrienko, a 20-year-old singer-songwriter, was Russia’s biggest musical success in 2025.
- Dmitrienko’s music channels the pre-war era, contrasting with hawkish, pro-war artists.
- His career initially gained traction on TikTok in 2020 with songs like ‘Venus–Jupiter’.
- Dmitrienko briefly retreated from the spotlight due to TikTok restrictions in Russia and a personal anti-war stance.
- He returned in late 2024 with a new, mature image and a shift to guitar-driven rock music.
- His new sound, described as ‘rock disco,’ achieved mass appeal, unlike niche pro-war artists.
- Dmitrienko was named Yandex Music’s Artist of the Year and achieved significant commercial success.
- He offers a form of escapism that unites listeners in a politically charged environment.
- Dmitrienko has headlined at least one pro-war event since his return and has not publicly commented on the invasion since 2022.
No comments yet.
Write a comment