Pussy Riot is back and disrupting the status quo. Pussy Riot was launched into international news when they performed “Punk Prayer” and landed themselves in jail for 2 years over it for “hooliganism over religious hatred.” They’re back in the stratosphere calling out Putin with their upcoming album CYKA.
This album was announced at a protest where they rushed the Russian Pavillion at Venice Biannale to protest Russia’s return to the Olympics. They made the loud, worldwide statement of “We see you. We hate you. We declare.”
With the war between Russia and Ukraine, Pussy Riot has amplified their voices, landing them again on Russia’s Most Wanted, and being declared an Extremist Organization by the Russian Federation. With this proud new title, lead Pussy Rioter Nadya Tolokonnikova has challenged Putin to a cage match at the UFC 250 June 14 at the White House. If he loses, he must vacate Ukraine.
Nadya even “collaborated” with Putin on this album, featuring him on the title track “CYKA.” He opens the track with a recorded conversation. She then uses the diss track to target Ekaterina Mizulina, Russia’s head of the censor state, “from one criminal to another.”
“GORE” features B-Real from Cypress Hill. It stemmed from a performance in LA titled “Police State” where it was shut down because of riots and raids. They collaborated on this song to get the message across “don’t trust cops, don’t cross people.”
“CANDY DOPAMINE” is another collaboration, featuring Avenged Sevenfold. This track is an observation and a heartbreak ballad over the prescription drug culture in our society. Nadya wrote it after overcoming a dependency on antidepressants.
You don’t need to understand Russian to listen to this album. Most tracks are bilingual with English and Russian, but the universal language of music transcends any language barrier. This Friday, June 12, buy the album or stream it on all platforms, and Pussy Riot will bring the apocalypse live to Paris at the BEYOND THE STREETS exhibit in Grande Halle de la Villette on Saturday, June 20th. More live shows to be announced.
Pussy Riot – CYKA tracklist:
GODS LEFT
PAIN / БОЛЬ
NOTHING TO LOSE
CYKA ft Vladimir Putin
MURKA
GORE ft B-Real
CANDY DOPAMINE ft Avenged Sevenfold
FACELESS PIGS
UTOPIA ft salem ilese
DISOBEY
GOD LOVES THE FIERCE / БОГ ЛЮБИТ ЛЮТЫХ
CANCEL ME
BLIZZARD
OUTRO
