Men Seni Süyemin (Kazakh for “I love you”), the solo electronic project of St. Petersburg-based musician & producer Minona Volandova, releases her EP HOPE, a genre-defiant, multilingual collection of irresistible tracks.
After several tumultuous experiences playing in bands during her days at music school, Voldanova set off on her own, relocating from her native Kazakhstan to St. Petersburg. Soon enough she’d made a name for herself in her new home, releasing solo music with Russian imprint Ionoff Music and performing at notable festivals. Most recently, she was invited to participate in a music residency via PRLL and Spotify EQUAL, where she had the opportunity to work on her new tracks in a studio with high-end equipment and synthesisers for the first time. The tracks on HOPE emerged during those sessions, and as a result, are some of her most polished-sounding and bold songs yet.
Lead single “NOZH” (which translates to “knife”) encapsulates this progression; the rest of the collection is similarly dynamic – songs like “TRAVEL” and “S.O.S.” recall the fluid textures of Durutti Column and other Factory Records releases, while others like “SUMMER” and “BRIGHT FEELING” conjure the playful experimentation of Yaeji and early Grimes.
Listening to HOPE conjures the feeling of walking through a crowded city alone: weaving between crowds and quiet side streets, negotiating moments of happiness and loneliness. Reflecting on her artistic process, Volandova remembers a quote from Dostoevesky’s The Idiot: “I would like to talk with at least one person in the world as with myself.” She’s accomplished this on HOPE. Though her music sounds entirely new, there’s a heartfelt quality to it that cuts through, like a knife, to the familiar.
Stream / purchase HOPE here.
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