A new reality reverberates through Russia's music scene

https://www.npr.org/2022/07/11/ [login to see] /a-new-reality-reverberates-through-russias-music-scene
The day singer-songwriter Manizha Sangin was supposed to headline a June music festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, she went instead to a shelter housing Ukrainian refugees. A week earlier, the festival had abruptly removed her from its lineup — the second to do so. Soon, her July solo show in Moscow was also canceled, with the venue citing pressure from the government as its reason.

"Because of my words, because of my position," Manizha says, in the way of someone explaining things that need no explanation.

In February, when Russian troops attacked Ukraine, Manizha posted her opposition on Instagram, calling it a "fratricidal conflict" against the will of the people. In March, a new song, "Soldier," followed, calling with eerie timing for an end to wars. In June, a big Russian newspaper reported that Manizha was in Paris, where she'd traveled to visit her sister after a car accident.