On March 28, 2025, the innovative electronic duo AIGEL unveiled their highly anticipated sixth studio album, Killer Qız. The album marks a significant milestone in their evolution as artists, delving into themes of loss, rebirth, and the complex journey of cultural assimilation. The album’s focus track, ‘Barısı Da Bezdä’, exemplifies the vibrant energy and emotional depth of the project, offering a unique blend of pulsating electronic rhythms and thought-provoking lyrical narratives. With this release, AIGEL continues to push the boundaries of genre and storytelling, showcasing their ability to capture both the personal and the universal.
AIGEL, formed by Tatar poet and vocalist Aigel Gaisina and electronic musician Ilya Baramiya from St. Petersburg, has established a reputation for their groundbreaking music that merges sharp, evocative lyrics in Russian, Tatar, and English with experimental soundscapes. The duo rose to international prominence with their hit single ‘Tatarin’, which has accumulated over 140 million views on YouTube. Their track ‘You Born’ garnered a Silver Lion at the Cannes Lions Festival, while their 2023 Tatar-language release ‘Pıyala’ made history, topping charts in over 10 countries and reaching the Billboard TikTok chart. After taking a public stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, AIGEL’s performances were banned in Russia, prompting the duo’s emigration. Aigel now resides in Berlin, and Ilya in Montenegro, with their contrasting environments influencing the sound and atmosphere of Killer Qız.
Killer Qız is a compelling exploration of emigration and personal transformation, telling the story of a DJ killer who dances until a high-ranking official’s death, then escapes with her lover, watched by figures from Russian society. The album presents a powerful metaphor for freedom and departure, with the refrain “no matter what they do, no one will take them along,” encapsulating the theme of defying authority. While the album’s energy is vibrant and rebellious, it also remains introspective and emotional. A standout track features a child’s voice transitioning from Tatar to German, reflecting the painful process of linguistic and cultural assimilation. The album’s closing moments offer a poignant reflection on the meaning of “home,” with Aigel reciting her thoughts in German, further reinforcing the album’s thematic depth.
Among the surprises on Killer Qız is a dance track in English, written for a short film by renowned clown Vyacheslav Polunin. This wordless song carries the refrain “life is a comedy,” offering a brief moment of lightness amidst the album’s heavier, more contemplative themes. Aigel speaks about the period of creative stagnation that followed their emigration, noting how the first language to emerge for her was Tatar: “It was like a system reset, returning to my default language.”
The track ‘Assimilation’ is one of the album’s most emotionally resonant moments. It follows the journey of children who, over time, transition from resisting emigration to fully embracing their new culture, replacing their native Tatar with German. The track begins with the sounds of the Berlin subway, and, serendipitously, the voice of the subway announcer declares, “The train is heading towards Ruhleben”—which translates to “peaceful life”—an uncanny reflection of the song’s themes of finding peace in displacement. Ilya Baramiya incorporated diverse influences into the production of Killer Qız, blending elements from K-pop to hard bass, with an intentional departure from hip-hop to create a fresh and immersive sound that reflects the duo’s ongoing creative evolution.
With Killer Qız, AIGEL boldly steps forward, combining energetic beats with deeply personal stories that speak to the universal experience of transformation, cultural struggle, and the quest for belonging.
Stream Killer Qiz below:
Follow AIGEL:
