Artist website: https://evgenygrinko.net Born in Zukhovsky, Russia in 1985, Evgeny Grinko's early exposure to music came from films and cartoons. Fascinated by Russian rockabilly and surf music, he received his first guitar as a teenager, inspired by Western bands like Prodigy and Nirvana. At 16, Evgeny began playing guitar seriously and later switched to drums, joining indie noise bands in Moscow. A pivotal moment occurred when he discovered the piano, teaching himself to play. His composition "Valse" went viral on Facebook in 2010, propelling him into the contemporary classical music scene. Evgeny has since released four albums and six EPs, with his work often incorporating cinematic elements and a mix of humour, sadness, and longing. His music has gained widespread popularity, with over 400 million streams on Spotify and 200 million views on YouTube. In 2022, after opposing the invasion of Ukraine, Evgeny left Russia and eventually settled in Berlin. Despite these challenges, he continues to create music, with his latest EP, "Outtakes II," released in 2024, and a new album set for release in 2025.