The summer of 2019 in Russia (like 2020) was very turbulent. Journalist Ivan Golunov was arrested and (after much uproar) released again, opposition candidates were denied entry into the Moscow City Duma elections (on September 8), and protests broke out. Volodya Kotlyarov, lead singer of PornoFilms (Порнофильмы), picked up his guitar and sang.

‘Pornofilms’ doesn’t exactly sound like a name that would easily conquer the world. But for the members of Порнофильмы (Pornofilmy), it seemed like a good idea—or perhaps the band name was just punk enough.