Russian Culture Lesson #1: Meet Zemfira

It’s a very slow news day in Russia today so let’s take the chance for some contemporary culture lessons, shall we?

Meet Zemfira, one of the best singers around (and in Russia there’s a serious dearth). She’s sort of like Russia’s Amy Winehouse – a tabloid favorite for her many drug-laced foibles, but also immensely talented. Originally from Ufa, in the republic of Bashkortostan, she’s been performing for over a decade. This week, she released a new single. It’s not her best, so I’ll just link to it here. Below are some of her best songs. Enjoy.

She’s also really good live: