Durnoy Vkus
Durnoy Vkus is one of the most prominent acts to emerge from the new wave of Russian-language post-punk. What began as an intimate home-recording project has grown into a fully formed band with an audience numbering in the thousands and a distinctive creative identity. The story of Durnoy Vkus began in Saint Petersburg in the late 2010s as a personal musical project by Andrey Degtyarev, who independently recorded songs and experimented with sound inspired by both classic post-punk and the synth-pop of previous decades.
Joy Division, Depeche Mode, and artists from the Soviet and Russian rock scenes had a significant influence on Degtyarev’s musical taste. These inspirations can be heard in the band’s characteristic combination of cold synthesizers, rhythmic basslines, and melancholic lyrics, which have become defining features of the project.
The song “Plastinki” became the band’s major breakthrough. The track attracted the attention of a wider audience and gradually developed into one of the most recognizable hits on the contemporary Russian-language post-punk scene. It spread rapidly online and remains one of Durnoy Vkus’s most popular and frequently played songs.
Following the success of their early releases, the project began to develop rapidly. New musicians joined the line-up, while simple home recordings gradually gave way to more complex arrangements and full-scale live performances. The debut album “Svetomuzyka,” created during the pandemic, became an important milestone in the band’s history and established Durnoy Vkus as one of the notable acts on the contemporary dark music scene.
The music of Durnoy Vkus cannot be limited exclusively to post-punk. Different releases incorporate elements of dream pop, dark pop, synthwave, and new wave. This allows the band to maintain a recognizable sound without being restricted by a single genre. Listeners and music critics often highlight the distinctive atmosphere of the songs, where urban romance is combined with anxiety, loneliness, and an ongoing search for meaning.
Live performances have played an important role in the band’s growing popularity. Despite their minimalist aesthetic, Durnoy Vkus have developed a distinctive stage identity in which lighting, visual design, and emotional delivery are essential parts of the experience. Over time, the band has become a regular participant in major independent festivals and a notable presence on the alternative music scene.
The album “Vstretimsya vo sne” marked the next stage in the band’s development. The musicians significantly refreshed their sound, placing greater emphasis on synthesizers and creating even more atmospheric compositions. At the same time, the project retained its defining qualities: melancholy, sincerity, and close attention to emotional detail. The album demonstrated the band’s desire to continue evolving rather than simply repeating formulas that had already proved successful.
Today, Durnoy Vkus are frequently described as one of the bands shaping the contemporary Russian-language post-punk scene. Their music brings together fans of new wave, indie music, and dark romanticism, while their songs continue to resonate with listeners who see music as a way of understanding their own experiences and emotions.