From Asya_2810
Dear Krist!
I'm writing to you as a Nirvana fan, although I'm actually a "silent" fan - I just like listening to music and reading books and articles about you, about Dave, and, of course, about Kurt Cobain. But right now, it's important for me to reach out to someone famous and influential in the music world, and since Nirvana is my favorite band, I decided to write to you. I'm not sure if you'll even read my letter, but I'll keep hoping for a miracle. I suppose the chances of Mr. Grohl reading my letter are even lower.
But what I want to write about has nothing to do with Nirvana or me personally, although it has to do with the world of music.
I'm from Russia, and I want to tell you about the musicians who are being persecuted for singing the "wrong" songs. I just want to tell their story.
On October 15, members of the Stoptime band, street musicians who performed the music of artists who opposed the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and were forced to leave Russia due to political repression, were detained in St. Petersburg.
Artists such as Zemfira, Monetochka, Noize MC, and others were forced to leave their country, but their music continues to be listened to in Russia.
Many musicians, including Kurt, chose not to mix their art with politics. But there are times when everything becomes politics, and when there is nothing more important in your life than what is happening to your country. If you don't talk about war and politics during such times, then what is there to talk about or write about? The musicians who have emigrated have continued to create their music, and they have certainly started writing songs about politics and war. Although it is not technically forbidden to perform their old hits in Russia, musicians may face penalties for performing new protest songs.
This is what happened to the band Stoptime and its vocalist, Naoko (Diana Loginova): They were detained after a video of them performing the song "Cooperative Swan Lake" by Noize MC .
I'm afraid that explaining the meaning of this song to someone who is unfamiliar with modern Russian culture is quite challenging, but I'll try.
Back in the late Soviet era, there was a strange tradition on Soviet television: if the head of state died (and they often died back then), the central channels would broadcast the ballet "Swan Lake." A little later, Swan Lake was shown on the main TV channel without interruption during the August 1991 coup. Thus, in the minds of Russians, the broadcast of this great ballet turned into a symbol and a meme associated with the death of the leader and the collapse of the political regime. And then Noiz MC took this image and turned it into a song filled with rage, bitterness, and hope.
Undoubtedly, this is a very radical song. But it is not just an agitation; it is true art. This song has such a strong energy that when I see a lot of people singing it at once, it seems to me that something like a magical rite is taking place, calling unknown forces to stop the deaths, the war, the repressions, and finally to punish the perpetrator of all this horror. I want to watch the ballet! Let the swans dance!
Of course, this is not a song that can be regularly sung on the streets of St. Petersburg with impunity. And of course, after Stoptime and their work started getting media attention, the arrest was only a matter of time. I believe that Naoko and the other musicians were expecting this. However, as Naoko herself said in an interview two months before the arrest , she believes that she is doing what she needs to do.
Naoko is a very brave girl. She is also very young. She is 18 years old. She doesn't look like a rocker or a rebellious punk teenager. She looks like a diligent, capable student, her mother's pride, and she seems to be one. She dresses in subtle urban casual attire and wears slightly comical large glasses.
She spent the night at the police station, where she was interviewed by special officers who monitor politically unreliable individuals in Russia. We refer to them as "eshniks."
In the morning, she was taken to court handcuffed (okay, they were removed a little later). The scene was grotesque, with huge police officers and a small, fragile teenage girl in handcuffs and funny glasses. She looked exhausted and very tired.
The court arrested her for 13 days on a minor charge (it's funny that she was accused of organizing a rally; in Russia, all the repressive courts are incredibly absurd and comical). It's not a big deal.
The problem is that we don't know what will happen next. During these 13 days, she may be charged with other crimes, which could result in a "real" and severe punishment. She could spend years in prison.
And of course, there are already people who believe that this is just a PR stunt for Stoptime and Naoko. In a sense, this is true, as the number of subscribers on their Telegram channel is growing rapidly. However, no sane person would willingly spend years in a Russian prison for the sake of fame.
I don't believe that music or art in general can change the world. Life has long since taught me to abandon such illusions. However, there are times when art becomes a light in the darkness, helping someone to survive.
Nirvana and Kurt's art became such a light for many, as he sang about pain, and those who were in pain realized that they were not alone. I know the face of depression, and I know what it's like to wake up in a delirious state after a suicide attempt. Kurt has helped me to survive.
Naoko has also helped me to survive. Tens of millions of people in Russia are surviving amidst despair, bitterness, and powerlessness, and her voice is helping us all.
I think it would be right and fair if famous and wealthy musicians from countries where people can sing on the streets without fear knew about Naoko's story and the danger she's in.
I don't know how to help her right now. I'm afraid that, as is the case with political prisoners, more publicity might even harm her (and certainly, it's absolutely forbidden to try to transfer money for her from abroad, because that would immediately prove that she's working for American, Australian, Japanese, and God knows how many other intelligence agencies), but I still think that if she's willing to take the risk, then at least international publicity will give more meaning to what she's doing. And, alas, it may happen that she and the other Stoptime musicians (I deliberately don't tell you about them - they don't want to reveal their names right now) will have to leave Russia in a hurry. And, alas, immigrants are not particularly welcome anywhere.
Of course, those whose songs she performs will try to help her. However, I believe it would be right and fair if the world of famous musicians and legendary wealthy stars paid attention to her story.
So I'm just asking you to think about whether you can help Naoko and Stoptime in any way. And if you can, please do.
Thank you for your attention.
Asa from Moscow
P.S. To be honest, I have no idea how Naoko or the other Stoptime musicians feel about Nirvana's music, or even if they know who you are. But I don't think it matters.
NIRVANA FOREVER!
WE MISS YOU, KURT!
FREE NAOKO!
FUCK THE WAR!
