“It’s better to be a good street cleaner than a bad musician.” I’ve been playing bass guitar since I was 16 years old, but that’s a piece of advice that stands out to me. It wasn’t just any advice, though. It was criticism from a teacher as I was rejected from a music school. It was my first feedback from a professional. But it was far from the last.<br><br> Since then, I’ve performed across Europe and released a solo album of original compositions. I’ve won several bass guitar competitions, including the 2015 Russian Bass Player Competition, and I’ve appeared at festivals like the London Bass Guitar Show, Bass Day St. Petersbourg, Bazzday 2016 in Moscow and the Warwick Bass Camp. My work has been published by the likes of Ultimate Guitar, Candyrat records, ibassmag, NoTreble, Bass The World and many others. I started out busking on the street, later I’ve studied bass guitar at London Music University. I’ve signed endorsement deals with Warwick and Gallistrings. I've been actively performing, touring, and recording in with bands in all possible genres of music. I created a community for acoustic bass guitarists, I’m a member of Bass Players United, and to top it all off, I started “Karmafree” together with my wife. Through all those experiences, I’ve brought my own unique style and approach to my instrument. I guess it just goes to show you: some people just aren’t meant to be street cleaners.