In one viral social media video the crowd and street musicians can be seen dancing and singing the banned song “Cooperative Swan Lake.” The song, was originally written by exiled 40-year-old pro-Ukraine rapper Noize MC, a.k.a Ivan Alexeyev.
One thing that russia has over other countries is that you have that seal of approval. If artist is banned as a foreign agent by an arbitrary agency, - not as extremist, that is still done by guys in FSB for real cases, - you can tell they are at least potentially based. That is done to only lib, progressive, antiwar and lefty persons uncompatible with the regime, for some irl protests or content they posted, so you can be 90% sure they are sticking to the truth. There are some problematic or rather idiotic actors, but for artists - almost everyone repressed by that regime deserves praise for not confroming.
One thing that russia has over other countries is that you have that seal of approval. If artist is banned as a foreign agent by an arbitrary agency, - not as extremist, that is still done by guys in FSB for real cases, - you can tell they are at least potentially based. That is done to only lib, progressive, antiwar and lefty persons uncompatible with the regime, for some irl protests or content they posted, so you can be 90% sure they are sticking to the truth. There are some problematic or rather idiotic actors, but for artists - almost everyone repressed by that regime deserves praise for not confroming.