Ilya Zolotukhin

Parents
His mother, an academic musician and piano teacher, instilled in Ilya a love of music.
Dad was in business.

Ilya Zolotukhin is the founder, vocalist, and songwriter, the band's undisputed leader. He sets the creative direction: writing lyrics, creating arrangements, and guiding the group through its various stages.
Damir Mukhamedzhanov – drums. Interesting fact: he's one of the few who's remained in the band since the original lineup (from Neftekamsk), along with Ilya.
Nikita Gorelkin - guitar. He joined the band during the band's relaunch after moving to Moscow and became an integral part of its new sound.
Ekaterina Nechaeva – double bass. She adds depth and a special, velvety texture to the sound.
Sofia Belyaeva on keyboards. Her parts add spaciousness and atmosphere to the arrangements.
Natalia Tsukanova is the backing vocalist. Her voice enhances many tracks and creates the perfect atmosphere during live performances.

A few words about the dynamics:

The lineup has changed several times. Ilya noted that almost no one remains from the original band—he's regrouped several times, especially after moving to the capital. Now, a stable core has been formed, releasing albums and packing out arenas.

Criticism. He admits that critical reviews of his work hurt him because he invests energy and emotion into his work.
Repeated hits. For example, he openly said he was tired of performing the song "Kitchens" repeatedly at concerts—he was simply bored with it, even though the audience loved it.
Some public reactions. After the publication of the prose collection "Damages from the Beautiful," some readers reacted with hostility to the texts—this caused Ilya severe stress and was one of the reasons he sought psychological help.
A feeling of "ceiling." He periodically feels like he's hitting a limit in his development or creativity, and this worries him.

Literature and language. Russian literature is one of his constant passions.
Art in various forms. Theater, music, cinema—he responds deeply to works of art.
Philosophical and existential themes. His lyrics and reflections often include reflections on the meaning of life, relationships, and internal conflicts.
Charity and helping others.

Before devoting himself entirely to music, he tried various professions: he worked in a tile workshop, on a townhouse construction site, at a reinforced concrete plant, he cleaned toilets, fixed tires, and also worked for two weeks in a funeral service (carrying coffins).
He is actively involved in charity work: he believes that if a person has surplus money, he should share it with those who need it more.
He participates in literary projects: his texts have been published in magazines, and in 2025 his debut collection of prose, “Damage from the Beautiful,” was published (genre: autofiction).
He was a music curator for the indie festival "Closeness".
He was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Music category.

Glasses. They're one of Ilya's most recognizable features. He's been wearing them since he was two. This detail is constantly emphasized in photo shoots and interviews—the glasses have become part of his signature look.
Hair. His image evolved over time. In earlier stories, he was often seen with longer hair, while in later interviews (for example, in Lenta.ru in the summer of 2026), journalists noted that he had developed a "ghoul"—a casual hairstyle that, according to the author of the story, along with his matured facial features, added maturity to his appearance.
Facial features. In interviews, he's often described as having a "mature" look—even at a young age, his expression conveys depth and reflection. Sometimes, descriptions include phrases like "a look that seems older than the man himself."
General style. In life and on stage, Ilya maintains a casual demeanor. His looks often feature layered combinations: for example, a shirt over a vest, worn barefoot, paired with a guitar and other details that emphasize a creative, slightly rebellious, yet never outrageous aesthetic. At concerts, he and the band often perform barefoot—this also becomes part of their recognizable visual identity.

Ilya has a complex and multifaceted personality. On the one hand, he's sentimental: he can be moved to tears in the theater—for example, during a performance of "Scarlet Sails" or "Hamlet." On the other hand, he periodically displays doubts and self-doubt, which is why he even sought help from a psychologist. At the same time, he's prone to self-reflection: he constantly analyzes his actions, searching for contradictions within himself. He has a touch of irony and a knack for self-mockery—in interviews, he's sometimes said things that later made him feel embarrassed. At the same time, Ilya lacks the pathos that many celebrities possess.