When it comes to Monetochka (translated as Little Coin), the conversation quickly turns to her voice. Elizaveta Gyrdymova’s (Yekaterinburg, 1988) voice is on the higher side. Not everyone is fond of it, while others love it. Meet Monetochka, the popstar fast becoming the face of young Russia (Russia Beyond, 2018).

A whole portrait in a few headlines. Meet Russia’s most controversial rap star – Dazed (2018) introduces rapper Face (sometimes Фэйс). Another notable headline is ‘I Am the Enemy of the State’: Russian Rapper Compares Russia to Prison Camp – The Moscow Times (2018). Despite this, he was named (by the Financial Times) as one of The Russian rappers Vladimir Putin wants to befriend. That might be difficult.