Little Big

For other uses, see Little Big (disambiguation).

Little Big is a Russian rave band founded in Saint Petersburg in 2013 and currently based in Los Angeles, California, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.^[1][2][3] The band currently consists of Ilya "Ilich" Prusikin and Sonya Tayurskaya.^[4] Their first full-length album, With Russia from Love, was released on 17 March 2014.^[5]

Little Big
Little Big in 2019
Background information
Origin	Saint Petersburg, Russia
Genres	Rave pop hip hop EDM
Years active	2013 (2013)–present
Labels	Little Big Family Warner
Members	Ilya "Ilich" Prusikin Sonya Tayurskaya
Past members	Olympia Ivleva Anna Kast Sergey "Gokk" Makarov Anton "Boo" Lissov [ru]
Website	littlebig.band

History

Little Big onstage in 2016. From left to right: Sergey "Gokk" Makarov, Sonya Tayurskaya, Anton Lissov, Olympia Ivleva, Ilya "Ilich" Prusikin

The band was formed by musician Ilya Prusikin and videomaker Alina Pasok and made their debut on 1 April 2013, releasing their first video "Every Day I'm Drinking".^[6] They made their first public appearance on 2 July 2013 at the club A2,^[7] opening for Die Antwoord.^[8][9][7] They have toured in Europe, Russia, and North America.^{[10][9][11][12]} "This music is really in demand. We have not invested a single penny, just shot video, and became known in Europe", Prusikin said in an interview with UTV.^[13][14] On 19 December 2015, the band released their second album, Funeral Rave. It was 8th on the Russian iTunes chart for the 52nd week of 2015. On 21 May 2016, videos for the songs "Give Me Your Money" and "Big Dick" received a prize at the Berlin Music Video Awards 2016.^[10][15] "Big Dick" won Most Trashy,^[16] and "Give Me Your Money" won third place for Best Performer.^[17] "Big Dick", with over 70 million views,^[18] is full of sexual imagery and overtones.^[19] "We just want to show people that they own their lives. Countries and governments are not as important as they think, a person can deal with what he wants", said frontman Ilya Prusikin on the purpose of the band in an interview with Noisey.^[12] The band has its own label "Little Big Family", which includes Little Big (2016–present), The Hatters (2016–present), Tatarka (2016–present), Khleb [ru] (2017–present), and Lizer [ru] (2018–present).^[20]

Little Big performing at VK Fest in 2019

In April 2018, Olympia Ivleva decided to leave the band.^[21] Later that year, she stated her "burnout after five years of doing the same job", combined with intention to start her own non-musical businesses (chocolate paste and lingerie), were the reasons behind her exit.^[22] Little Big achieved viral success with the release of the video for "Skibidi" on 5 October 2018. The video features a dance that became popular when others tried to imitate it as part of the "Skibidi Challenge".^[23] Little Big took the first prize in the Most Trashy category at the 2018 Berlin Music Video Awards for their music video ''Lolly Bomb'',^[24] and their music video ''Skibidi'' won the first place in the Best Concept category in the festival's 2019 edition.^[25]

In March 2020, Little Big were announced as Russia's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, where they would have performed "Uno".^[26] The music video for the song, released at the same time, features Yuri Muzychenko from The Hatters and Florida Chanturia from Leningrad, both of whom were to join the band on stage during the contest.^[27] However, on 18 March 2020, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the band won the Most Trashy category with their video ''Go Bananas'' at the Berlin Music Video Awards. The same year, they also placed third for the Best Music Video.^[28] In October 2020, Little Big's cover version of "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" was used over both the trailer and the closing credits of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.^[29][30] On 30 December 2020, the group performed the song "Mamma Maria" on the Evening Urgant New Year's special, Ciao, 2020!, under the name 'Piccolo Grandi'.^[31]

On 1 March 2021, Little Big announced on Instagram that founding member Anna Kast had died.^[32] On 8 March 2021, Little Big released a new single, "Sex Machine," along with a video which referenced the video to "Uno" the year prior. However, they subsequently posted on Instagram, "We are not going to Eurovision 2021. We think that Russia has many talented and unique artists, each one of them deserves the chance to be seen out there."^[33] Little Big was nominated for Best Art Director with their music video ''S*ck My D*ck 2020'' at the Berlin Music Video Awards 2021.^[34] On 24 November 2021, Little Big released the video "“LITTLE BIG NFT SURPRISEN EGG” episode 1" (sic)^[35] to announce that the band was making NFTs.^[36] On 1 December 2021, people could buy 1 of 1000 unique surprise eggs which would hatch a week later, revealing one of the designs. Prusikin stated that they were inspired by Kinder Surprise Eggs, which are popular in Russia.^[36] On 11 February 2022, the single 'Ebobo' by Glukoza was 'Inspired and Evilized by Little Big'. Members of the group can be seen in the music video and on the cover art for the single.^[37][38]

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the two leaders of the band, Prusikin and Tayurskaya, relocated to Los Angeles, California on 2 March of that same year.^[1][39][40] They stated that they were on a government blacklist, and aren't allowed to perform any shows in Russia. When asked about a possible return to Russia, they stated that it will be possible "when Putin leaves".^[2] On 24 June, the band released the single "Generation Cancellation", which carries a pacifist, anti-war message, characterizing it as a war of war profiteering old men, a chess game with soldiers as chess pieces to be sacrificed at will, with gloomy consequences on younger generations.^[41] After the release of the song, they condemned the actions of the Russian government and Russian war propaganda.^[42] However, the song was regarded by some Ukrainians as rather anti-American and anti-West rather than anti-Russian.^[43] A protest by Ukrainian activists caused their show in Kraków, that was supposed to take place 12th of November, to be cancelled.^[44] In Russia, they were accused of being "traitors" by the government-controlled media.^[45] Prusikin was designated in Russia as a "foreign agent".^[46] The band planned to release a fifth studio album in 2022,^[47] but did not end up doing so. Prusikin noted that "We are a band that likes to work in so many styles: pop, rave, punk and hardcore. And (now) we embody our ambition and love for different genres in the (new) album. It will be different".^[47]

Musical style

Less than a half of Little Big's 738 million yearly YouTube views were from Russia, as of March 13, 2020.^[48]

The team calls itself a satirical art collaboration,^[8] which relies on the music, visuals, and the show.^[8] Little Big mocks various national stereotypes^[12] about Russia.^[9] All the videos are filmed by co-founder Alina Pasok.^[8][49] The band shoots and produces all of their music videos.^[9]

Since the first concert took place as the opening act for Die Antwoord, the band was dubbed "The Russian Die Antwoord",^[8][12] and is often compared with this band.^[50] Vice also called Little Big "a Russian mental patient's answer to Die Antwoord".^[12] Other critics point out that while Little Big has an identity of its own, it also exposes the listener to Russian folk songs and Russian culture.^[51]

The band was influenced by a variety of musicians including Cannibal Corpse, NOFX, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rammstein, and The Prodigy to Mozart and Vivaldi.^[13][52]

Band members

Current members

• Ilya "Ilich" Prusikin – frontman, vocals (2013–present)
• Sonya Tayurskaya – vocals (recording 2014–present; live 2016–present)

Former members

• Anna Kast – backing vocals (2013–2014; died 2021)
• Olympia Ivleva – vocals (2013–2018)
• Sergey "Gokk" Makarov – DJ, backing vocals (2013–2022)
• Anton "Boo" Lissov [ru] – vocals, guitar (2014–2022)

Touring members

• Danny Zuckerman – DJ, backing vocals (2023–present)

Timeline

Discography

Main article: Little Big discography

• With Russia From Love (2014)
• Funeral Rave (2015)
• Antipositive, Pt. 1 (2018)
• Antipositive, Pt. 2 (2018)
• Lobster Popstar (2024)

Awards and nominations

Year	Country	Prize	Category	Nominee	Result	Notes
2015	Russia	Wildfest 'Like 2015'	Like for music	Little Big	Nomination	[53]
2016	Russia	Wildfest 'Like 2016'	Like for the song	Big Dick	Nomination	[54]
		Alfa Future Awards	TOP-100 best DJs in Russia	Little Big	89th place	[55]
	Germany	Berlin Music Video Awards	Most Trashy	Big Dick	Win	[16]
			Best Performer	Give Me Your Money	Nomination	[56]
2018	USA	Global Film Festival Awards	Best Music Video	Lolly Bomb	Win	[57][58]
	Germany	Berlin Music Video Awards	Most Trashy		Win	[24]
2019	Belgium	Ketnet The Gala of the Golden K's 2018	Hype of the year	Skibidi	Win	[59]
	Russia	Chart Dozen	Clip		Win	[60]
		Native Sound	Best Pop	Little Big	Nomination	[61]
			Best Meme		Win	[62]
			Best Clip of the Year	Skibidi	Nomination	[63]
		BraVo	Music Video of the Year		Win	[64]
	Germany	Berlin Music Video Awards	Best Concept		Win	[25]
	Russia	RU.TV Award 2019	Best Duet	Слэмятся пацаны	Nomination	[65]
		TopHit Music Video Awards 2019	Video Clip of the Year on YouTube in Russia (mixed voals)	Skibidi	Win	[66]
			Rise of the Year on YouTube in Russia	Little Big	Win
2020	Russia	New Radio Awards	Best Producer	Little Big Family	Win	[67]
	Germany	Berlin Music Video Awards	Most Trashy	Go Bananas	Win	[28][68]
2021	Russia	Muz-TV Award	The Best Group	Little Big	Win	[69]
2023	USA	WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival	Music Video – New Artist	Generation Cancellation	Win	[70]

See also

• Little Big videography

References

1. "Little Big Homepage". Little Big Band Website. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
2. BBC News (5 July 2022). "Little Big: The rave band who fled Russia – BBC Newsnight". YouTube.
3. Official page of the group Little Big on SoundCloud "Little Big – Russian pop group, founded in 2013 in St. Petersburg"
4. LISSOV VLOG – Backstage LITTLE BIG April 2 STEREO HALL (MSCs) «ANTHONY LISSOV (LISSOFF) Voice of JANE AIR, Clown from LITTLE BIG»
5. "russian pop – The Weirdest Band in the World". Weirdestbandintheworld.com. 2014. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
6. LITTLE BIG – Everyday I'm drinking
7. "Интервью с Little Big". Sobaka.ru. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
8. "Die Antwoord vs Little Big". Sobaka.ru. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
9. Роман Гогов (7 November 2014). "Ильич и Гокк (LITTLE BIG) – Интервью (Тула 31 October 2014)". YouTube. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
10. Interview | Ilya Prusikin: «Little Big – a musical reflection of society» Archived 2016-07-27 at the Wayback Machine Rock Cult
11. "LITTLE BIG TOUR". Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
12. "I Found the Russian Die Antwoord". Noisey.vice.com. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
13. Настоящая Музыка на UTV (19 February 2016). "Настоящая Музыка – Интервью с группой Little Big". YouTube. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
14. • Little Big Interview in Couvre Feu 2015 – Samedi 22 Aout by Radio Fest (a broadcast of Stefline radio).
    • Archived 2016-07-27 at the Wayback Machine Interview | Ilya Prusikin: "Little Big – a musical reflection of society" Rock Cult
    • On Stage (22 July 2015). "[ON STAGE #15] with Little Big – "Everyday I'm drinking"". YouTube. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
    • Georgy Glau (28 December 2015). "LITTLE BIG – Live in Moscow 2015". YouTube. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
15. • Awards, Berlin Music Video. "Berlin Music Video Awards". Berlinmva.com. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
    • Awards, Berlin Music Video. "Berlin Music Video Awards". Berlinmva.com. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
16. • Berlin Music Video Awards on facebook List of FINALISTS
    • "Berlin Music Video Awards". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
17. "Wall". Vk.com. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
18. LITTLE BIG – BIG DICK scored 10,000,000 views on YouTube
19. Freiman, Jordan (13 February 2016). "'Big Dick' is the song and super NSFW video of 2016". Death and Taxes Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 January 2017.
20. Текущий состав «Little Big Family»
21. "Olympiya_ on Instagram: "В этот прекрасный день я хочу поздравить команду #LittleBig с днём рождения и пожелать ей дальнейшего продвижения и успехов в следующих…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
22. "Почему она УШЛА ИЗ LITTLE BIG? ОЛИМПИЯ" [Why did she left LITTLE BIG? OLYMPIA]. Nezyny Redaktor (in Russian). YouTube. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
23. "The internet is going bonkers over the Macarena-like #skibidichallenge". Dailydot.com. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
24. Berlin Music Video Awards (16 April 2021). "Winners of the Berlin Music Video Awards 2018". berlinmva.com.
25. Berlin Music Video Awards (16 April 2021). "Winners of the Berlin Music Video Awards 2019!". berlinmva.com.
26. "Russia's Eurovision act Little Big drops epic video for their amazing entry song". Metro. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
27. "Little Big выступит на "Евровидении-2020" в расширенном составе" [Little Big in expanded edition will perform at Eurovision 2020] (in Russian). Izvestia. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
28. Berlin Music Video Awards (16 April 2021). "Winners of the Berlin Music Video Awards 2020". berlinmva.com.
29. "Instagram".
30. "Little Big записали песню для сиквела "Бората" – Газета.Ru | Новости".
31. CIAO, 2020! Полная версия, retrieved 20 January 2022
32. Little Big (1 March 2021). "Little Big history started almost 8 years ago with: Anya, Ilich and Olympia. (...)". Instagram. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
33. url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKmqJcLfX3
34. Berlin Music Video Awards (16 April 2021). "2021 Nominees – Set 3". Berlinmva.com.
35. "LITTLE BIG NFT SURPRISEN EGG" episode 1, retrieved 7 December 2021
36. "CCKY". CCKY. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
37. Глюк'оZа (Inspired by Little Big) – Ebobo, retrieved 23 February 2022
38. Ebobo – Single by Gluk'oZa, 11 February 2022, retrieved 23 February 2022
39. "Группа Little Big выпустила "антивоенный манифест" — песню "Generation Cancellation". И объявила, что уезжает из России". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 24 June 2022.
40. ""Stop war in Ukraine" — Russia's Little Big release "Generation Cancellation" and leave the country". wiwibloggs. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
41. Schulz, André (7 July 2022). "Critical voice: "Little Big" and their song "Generation Cancellation"". ChessBase 17. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
42. "Russian Pop Band Little Big Drops New Single Generation Cancellation – An Anti-War Manifesto". Business Insider. 24 June 2022.
43. Ukrainian Toronto Television (6 July 2022). "Little Big filmed "an anti-war manifesto". But it turned out about "the bad west"". YouTube.
44. "Kontrowersji wokół występu Little Big ciąg dalszy. Koncert odwołano!". Nasze Miasto. 9 November 2022.
45. "Exile, silence or arrest: Russian celebrities against Ukraine war have no good choices". NBC News. 12 July 2022.
46. "Russian Justice Ministry names new 'foreign agents,' including Dalai Lama's envoy Telo Tulku Rinpoche and Little Big frontman Ilya Prusikin". Meduza. 27 January 2023.
47. Илья Прусикин и Соня Таюрская: "Изменила бы в Илье всё!" Встречаем Новый Год и обсуждаем прошедший, retrieved 17 January 2022
48. "Music Charts and Insgiht – Little Big – Worldwide – 12 months". YouTube Charts. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
49. "Alina Pasok – IMDb". IMDb.com. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
50. Metatroniks (12 December 2013). "Little Big from Russia". Metatronicks.net. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
51. "Los "Die Antwoord" rusos: Little Big – Beatmash Magazine". Beatmashmagazine.com. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
52. "LITTLE BIG (desde Rusia) en BARCELONA – Rave Funeral". Theconcertinconcert.com. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
53. "Wildfest 2015 Nomination".
54. "Видфест 2016". 2016msk.vidfest.ru. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
55. "Best DJ award".
56. "Клип Little Big – Big Dick взял первое место.. | LITTLE BIG | VK". vk.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
57. "GFF Awards Winners of Monthly Competitions". gffawards. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
58. "Наш клип LollyBomb выиграл в номинации "Best.. | LITTLE BIG | VK". vk.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
59. "Ketnet". www.ketnet.be. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
60. "Уапапа-уапапапапа! SKIBIDI — лучший клип! | НАШЕ | VK". vk.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
61. "За "Лучший поп" была равная схватка Монеточки.. | Родной звук | VK". vk.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
62. "Лучший мем – в основном здесь авторы вирусных.. | Родной звук | VK". vk.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
63. "В 2018 году было много крутых клипов. Выбор.. | Родной звук | VK". vk.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
64. "Кто получил премию "BraVo"". Газета.Ru. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
65. "💖 Номинация "Лучший дуэт" представлены:.. | RU.TV | VK". vk.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
66. "Top Hit Music Awards 2019". thma.tophit.live. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
67. Новое Радио Awards 2020 (полная версия), retrieved 17 January 2022
68. "Клип Little Big — "Go Bananas" одержал победу.. | LITTLE BIG | VK". vk.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
69. "Everybody! Победа в номинации "Лучшая группа".. | LITTLE BIG | VK". vk.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
70. "WorldFest 56 Remi Award List" (PDF). 30 April 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Little Big profile on Warner Music Russia
• Little Big on VK
• Little Big's channel on YouTube

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Sergey Lazarev with "Scream"	Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 (cancelled)	Succeeded by Manizha with "Russian Woman"