On March 28, 2025, the acclaimed electronic duo AIGEL released their highly anticipated sixth studio album, Killer Qız, marking a pivotal moment in their musical journey. The album’s focus track, ‘Barısı Da Bezdä’, captures the vibrant energy and thematic depth of the project, which explores themes of loss, rediscovery, and the complexity of human nature. With their unique blend of electronic beats and thought-provoking narratives, AIGEL continues to push the boundaries of genre and storytelling.
AIGEL, comprised of Tatar poet and vocalist Aigel Gaisina and St. Petersburg electronic musician Ilya Baramiya, has captivated audiences with their cutting-edge sound and sharp lyrics in Russian, Tatar, and English. The duo first gained global recognition with their hit song ‘Tatarin’, which garnered over 140 million views on YouTube. Their track ‘You Born’ also made waves, winning a Silver Lion at the Cannes Lions Festival. In 2023, AIGEL made history with their Tatar-language song ‘Pıyala’, which topped charts in over 10 countries and reached the Billboard TikTok chart. Following their outspoken stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, AIGEL’s performances were banned in Russia, leading them to emigrate. Aigel now resides in Berlin, while Ilya lives in Montenegro, with their contrasting environments influencing the sound and tone of their latest album.
Killer Qız is a powerful exploration of emigration, cultural assimilation, and personal transformation. The album tells the story of a DJ killer who dances until the death of a high-ranking official before escaping the country with her lover. Figures from Russian society, including government officials and military personnel, watch their departure, but as the lyrics poignantly declare, “no matter what they do, no one will take them along.” Despite the album’s audacious themes and vibrant energy, it remains deeply introspective. One standout track features a child’s voice transitioning from Tatar to German, symbolizing the painful experience of linguistic assimilation, while the album’s closing moments see Aigel reciting a reflection on the meaning of home in German.
One of the album’s most surprising additions is a dance track in English, originally written for a short film by renowned clown Vyacheslav Polunin. With its near-wordless lyrics, the song echoes the refrain “life is a comedy,” offering a moment of levity amidst the album’s heavier themes. AIGEL’s album embodies a shift in their creative process, as Aigel reflects on the challenging period of creative stagnation that followed their emigration: “The first language that emerged for me was Tatar—it was like a system reset, returning to my default language.”
The track ‘Assimilation’ encapsulates the emotional weight of the album, following children who transition from resisting emigration to embracing their new culture, replacing their native Tatar with German. Opening with sounds from the Berlin subway, the track’s unexpected connection to the district of Ruhleben—which translates to “peaceful life”—adds a layer of serendipitous meaning, perfectly aligning with the song’s theme of finding peace amidst upheaval. Ilya Baramiya draws on a broad range of influences for the album’s production, citing everything from K-pop to hard bass, and shifting away from hip-hop in favor of a unique atmosphere that echoes the duo’s creative evolution.
With Killer Qız, AIGEL takes bold steps forward, blending energetic dance beats with deeply personal stories of transformation, cultural struggle, and the quest for belonging.
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