Kedr Livanskiy — New East 100

The captivating power of Kedr Livanskiy’s music easily transcends national and linguistic boundaries. The reason, perhaps, is the fact that her work is not just about the tunes — intricate beats and non-linear, dream-like lyrics in Russian — but about crafting a whole audio-visual artistic universe. Moscow-based Yana Kedrina, the woman behind the alias, composes and records most of her tracks at home — hence the DIY spirit and the almost audible atmosphere of fragile intimacy.

The release of her debut LP January Sun in February 2016 on 2MR records has brought along gigs in US and Japan, and herds of devoted fans seeking the kind of authenticity and connection, these days so rare in the music industry. With the much anticipated second album Ariadna out on 8 September, it’s apparent that Kedr Livanskiy is a new kind of pop heroine, and we’re more than keen to follow her into her labyrinth of enchanting beats.

Text: Anastasiia Fedorova