Get ready to say 'zdravsvtvuyte' (hello) to Russian hardcore punks and exiles from their own country Svetlanas, who make their Australian debut in July.
Svetlanas are led by wild-eyed, firebrand frontwoman Olga, who makes her position as the head of the group perfectly clear in her introduction. “I am Olga, and the boss of the band,” she states in a thick Russian accent, as her band members giggle in agreement.
Never a band to pull any of their punches (case in point being songs such as 'Go F... You Self', 'Crimea River' and 'I Must Break You'), Svetlanas were officially exiled from Russia in September 2014 for their defiant anti-government stance, making distribution or ownership of their music within the country unlawful.
Any return to their homeland would result in arrest; and as the Pussy Riot case showed, Mother Russia isn’t shy about locking up and silencing dissident creatives. You might say they were 'Putin' in a pretty awkward situation.
But in the world of punk, being disowned by your own country is a badge of honour that has worked to strengthen both the resolve of the band and their following around the world.
Now based in Milan, Italy, Svetlanas have been working with associate and collaborator Nick Oliveri (Kyuss, QOTSA) on their new album, which is being recorded in Pinbowl Skatepark. “We are recording a new album in a skate park in Milan in Italy, and we are also building our new recording studio,” Olga says.
“It will be at the skate park and Nick is involved with this project too.”
Coming two years after 2017 record ‘This Is Moscow Not LA’, the forthcoming fifth Svetlanas album will be another vitriolic instalment in a discography characterised by its expression of political and social angst.
“This album will be out for a new label, called Demons Run Amok, and the recording is going really well,” drummer and Olga’s husband Diste says. “It will be like ten songs of violence, I can tell,” he laughs, “and we got inspiration to write these songs from our last tour in the US.”
Olga adds: “The lyrics are about life and they are about politics at this time.”
“The album we are recording… it's not about Russia and the US,” Diste continues, before Olga interjects. “It's not about only Russia and it's not about only US,” she corrects with emphasis.
“In every part of the world there are very horrible situations and we are in 2019 and we are talking about nasty people, we are talking about fascism and we are talking about a lot of horrible things that it's almost crazy that they are happening in 2019.
“And it is almost crazy that there are these situations in the punk scene or in the underground scene where people must have the same opinion... that's unnatural. It's not that I think this because I'm a good girl or a good woman, but because it is a human right.
“There are the same situations in Italy where we are based at the moment in Milan, there's the same situation in France and in every part of the world, and it's crazy. So it's time to wake up.”
As Australia faces the rhetoric of fear that permeates global political discourse at this time, the music of Svetlanas and the message they have to share potentially hold great significance for their upcoming debut Australian tour. “I hope so,” Olga says.
“I really hope that people can look us in the eyes and understand that these are things that are really important; there are strong values in this band that people need to understand and that we want to share, because it's really important to me.”
The Svetlanas’ Australian tour in July includes theatre shows across the country as well as a slot at the Dead Of Winter Festival in Brisbane. Svetlanas will be in good company on a line-up that features Disentomb, Mammal, Bodyjar, 28 Days, Aversions Crown and of course their mate Nick Oliveri.
“[Nick] talks very good [sic] about the festival, so we are very excited to be part of the team this time,” Olga says.
“He is very excited too. We are very happy, it’s our first time [in Australia]. I can't believe it, I can’t wait [and] I’m very excited to get there.”
Australian audiences are in for a treat when Svetlanas take the stage on our shores for the first time with an incendiary, punch-in-the-face live show that has earned them the title of ‘the most dangerous band in the world’.
Behind the aggression and political agitation that has made them enemies of the state is a collective of rebel artists passionate about their beliefs and the cause for which they fight. They’re also affable and intelligent conversationalists willing to share both their views on the world as well as a humorous anecdote or two.
At one point Diste asks “do you know the story of the elephant, man?” Thinking he was referring to Joseph Carey Merrick, I say that I’m familiar with the story The Elephant Man, to which Diste laughs.
“Not The Elephant Man; the story of the elephant, comma, man. It goes something like this: There was a man in the jungle, he heard this crying and there was an elephant in a pit. He goes over towards the pit and hears the elephant trapped in there and tries to save the elephant; he builds a complex system of machinery, goes down to the pit, takes out the elephant and sets him free.
“Then years later he goes to the circus and there he stares at this elephant doing tricks in the circus and he feels a connection towards the animal. The animal looks at him, starts running and smashes him with its trunk. Why? Because, wrong elephant.”
Svetlanas and Nick Oliveri 2019 Tour Dates
Wed 3 Jul - The Basement (Canberra)Thu 4 Jul - The Metro Theatre (Sydney)
Fri 5 Jul - Stag & Hunter Hotel (Newcastle)
Sat 6 Jul - Lucy's Love Shack (Perth)
Sun 7 Jul - Mojo's (Fremantle)
10-11 Jul - Cherry Bar (Melbourne)
Fri 12 Jul - Holy Land at The Omni (Adelaide)
Sat 13 Jul - Dead Of Winter Festival (Brisbane)
