Electronic duo AIGEL dropped their album Killer Qız, on March 28th, 2025. This album is their second entirely in Tatar and explores themes of loss, rebirth, human complexity, and faith.
AIGEL, known for their sharp lyrics and unique sound, gained recognition with songs like ‘Tatarin’ and ‘You Born’, winning a Silver Lion at the Cannes Lions festival. Their 2023 hit ‘Pıyala’ topped charts in over 10 countries and made it onto the Billboard TikTok chart. Since 2022, the duo has been vocal against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The narrative of Killer Qız follows a DJ killer who dances until the death of a high-ranking official, then flees the country with her boyfriend, watched by various societal figures. Despite others trying to follow, they remain determined to escape. The album blends vibrant energy with personal introspection, including a haunting track where a child’s voice shifts from Tatar to German, symbolizing the pain of linguistic assimilation. Ilya compares the album’s eclectic style to ’90s dance music and artists like Daft Punk and Fatboy Slim, blending influences from K-pop to hard bass with minimal hip-hop.
The focus track ‘Barsı Da Bezdä’ and the album also includes a dance track in English, written for a short film by clown Vyacheslav Polunin, with a playful refrain about life being a comedy.
AIGEL’s creative pause after February 2022, during which Aigel lived in Berlin and Ilya in Montenegro, greatly influenced the album’s contrasts. Aigel returned to Tatar as her “default language,” which shaped the album’s emotional depth. Another notable track, ‘Assimilation’, is a near-documentary piece about children’s cultural integration, inspired by sounds from the Berlin subway and ending with a striking coincidence—a train announcer declaring “Ruhleben,” meaning “peaceful life.”
With Killer Qız, AIGEL pushes their musical boundaries while delving into complex themes of identity, resilience, and cultural integration.The album blends powerful storytelling with electrifying beats, showcasing their unique sound and solidifying AIGEL’s place as one of the most impactful duos in electronic music today.
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