5 popular ETHNIC music bands from Russia
Contemporary ethnic music in Russia is not limited to Russian folk traditions. It also draws on the cultures of the country’s many Indigenous peoples and ethnic communities.
1. ‘Ay Yola’ – Republic of Bashkortostan
‘Ay Yola’ is an ethno-pop group from Bashkortostan, founded in 2024 by three musicians: Ruslan Shaikhitdinov, his daughter Adel and Rinat Ramazanov. Alongside modern instruments, the group uses traditional Bashkir ones, including the flute, the ‘dombra’ and the ‘kyl-kubyz’, a bowed string instrument.
The band’s repertoire is based on the Bashkir folk epic 'Ural-Batyr', a cycle of legends about the hero Ural, his children and other characters who battle evil and try to bring happiness to humanity.
One of the band’s best-known songs, with more than 50 million views as of writing, is dedicated to the mythical beauty Homay, daughter of the Sun. In Bashkir tradition, she symbolizes goodness, justice and prosperity.
2. ‘Shyp Liy’ – Mari El Republic
Performing under the Mari-language stage name 'Shyp Liy', rapper Denis Shably brings the folklore of Mari El into contemporary music. In 2025, the artist released the album 'Mariy Yomak', which translates as 'Mari Fairy Tale'.
Each track is based on a different folk tale and features a solo traditional Mari instrument.
3. ‘Yudonma’ – Republic of Buryatia
‘Yudonma’ is the stage name of singer and dancer Valentina Yundunova from Buryatia, who performs in the Buryat and Evenki languages. In 2025, she released the single 'Metiska' (literally ‘a person of mixed ethnicity’), inspired by the history of her own mixed Buryat-Evenki-Russian family.
Her music blends ethnic motifs with modern genres, such as electronic music and folk-pop.
4. ‘Otyken’ – Siberia
‘Otyken’ performs ethno-pop with elements of the traditional music of Siberia’s Indigenous peoples. The name, pronounced “O-tu-ken”, comes from a Turkic language and means “a sacred place of power”.
The group sings in the Chulym, Khakas, Dolgan and Russian languages. Founded in 2015 by self-taught Chulym musician Andrei Medonos, the band brings together representatives of several small Indigenous peoples of Siberia.
The costumes are designed by Andrei Medonos’ wife. Not being exact replicas of traditional dress, they are inspired by its elements.
5. ‘Vereya’ from Republic of Karelia
The folk ensemble 'Vereya' was founded in 1995 in Sortavala by folk vocal teacher Margarita Berezhnaya.
The band performs in Russian and Karelian and promotes the traditional culture of the northern Republic of Karelia, where Russian, Karelian and Finnish influences intertwine. The ensemble also uses old Karelian musical instruments.
In 2025, Vereya released the album 'Aijai, sorja', whose title can be translated as a form of address to a young man: “Ah, graceful one.” The album includes songs performed in dialects. Most of them are devoted to first love.
A full version of this article can be found (in Russian) on the Culture.ru website.
