Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova Opens Up on New Album Cyka, ICE Raids, and OnlyFans Hustle

Behind the fierce sound and activism lies the raw honesty of Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova as she dives into the making of Cyka, her fight against authoritarianism, and the creative freedom found on OnlyFans.

From Art Installation to Revolutionary Soundscapes

When creative energy flows, there's no stopping it—and for Nadya Tolokonnikova, the powerhouse behind Pussy Riot, that energy is a whirlwind of art, activism, and music. After wrapping up “Police State,” a gripping 10-day performance installation at Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) last year, Nadya wasn’t anticipating a new album. Her piece, a stark reproduction of a Russian prison cell, plunged deeply into themes of surveillance and authoritarian rule, setting a heavy tone.

Yet, as she reflects, “I didn’t really know how to relax after that, so I had to pick a hobby and that was making sounds.” What started as crafting soundscapes and scoring her performance soon blossomed into a full-fledged musical journey. The process pulled her back into music production, a passion she hadn’t quite realized she missed until she was out of the performance spotlight.

Most of this creative rebirth took place in her bedroom, where she toyed with beats and melodies. Nadya admits she wrestled with self-doubt, trying to convince herself that she could produce not just ambient sound but something that would resonate as punk, pop, or rock. “My head goes into very dark places, otherwise, and so it just kept me busy,” she shares. However, she’s cautious about viewing art as therapy, calling it “too one-sided”—instead, she’s focused on outward goals like “killing dictators or something.”

Cyka: The Raw, Angry Pulse of Resistance

The new album’s title, Cyka, is a Russian expletive meaning “bitch.” The title track is no surprise in its fiery, unapologetic attack—with Vladimir Putin himself “credited” as a collaborator through biting soundbites. Pussy Riot’s fraught history with Putin’s regime has been well-documented. Nadya and co-founder Maria Alyokhina famously went to jail for nearly two years after their 2012 audacious “Punk Prayer” protest inside a Moscow cathedral—an act that launched them into global notoriety.

Though known as punk icons due to their ski-mask-wearing antics and politically charged ethos, Pussy Riot blends punk energy with experimental pop sounds. Their provocations have often taken visual form as much as musical, from the biting “Make America Great Again” video to the ritualistic burning of Putin’s portrait in “Putin’s Ashes.”

This time, Nadya is leaning into Pussy Riot’s “band” identity, creating a debut record that stands solidly on its own—music you can experience without the accompanying spectacle. And collaborations spice up the album, including Avenged Sevenfold’s M. Shadows and Zacky Vengeance on “Candy Dopamine” (shedding light on the drug crisis and big pharma’s role) and Cypress Hill’s B-Real on “Gore” (a fierce stance against police brutality).

A History of Powerful Partnerships and Protest

Nadya isn’t new to collaborating with heavy hitters in politically charged music. Past projects include working with Tom Morello, Alice Glass, Nova Twins, and Slayyyter. Her relationship with Avenged Sevenfold goes back to a 2023 remix “We Love You Moar” for SOS North Caucasus, supporting persecuted LGBTQ+ individuals in Chechnya.

Her bond with B-Real was forged at Morello’s Anti-ICE event, “Defend L.A.”, which raised funds for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights amidst an uptick in ICE raids in Los Angeles. These raids hit close to home for Nadya, who saw first-hand the heartbreak and cruelty. Her MOCA show had to shut down as protests erupted over National Guard deployments in the city, yet she remained inside, live-streaming the sounds of the unrest—a haunting dialogue between art and reality.

Some of Cyka’s heaviest tracks—like “Faceless Pigs”—were born during this turbulent time. Nadya shares, “I was actively participating in protests, helping some friends of mine who got detained by ICE.” She paints a vivid picture of the heart-wrenching scenes she witnessed: families torn apart by what she calls “complete and utter assholes” in power, ICE showing “their face as being on the side of evil,” even raiding kindergartens and churches.

Trump vs. Putin: A Tale of Two Tyrants

When asked who’s worse, Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin, Nadya’s answer is blunt: “Putin created much more deaths and suffering, but Trump is a runner up.” Both, she explains, seem to aspire to be like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un—a dictator who “rapes the entire country” and crushes any freedom of thought.

She sees this creeping authoritarianism as a virus spreading worldwide, from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to wars sparked by Trump-era politics. As a mother to an 18-year-old daughter, this bleak outlook weighs heavily on her. Yet, she speaks openly with her daughter as a friend, offering advice sprinkled with realism and hope: “There’s no doubt we’re royally fucked, but if you can enjoy what you do, just take your time and enjoy it… just make connections.”

Her daughter’s ambitions to volunteer worldwide reflect the next generation’s drive to build something better.

OnlyFans: A Bold Move for Creative Independence

Nadya pulls no punches about the challenges facing politically outspoken artists in today’s music industry. Attempts to work with traditional music labels left her disillusioned. “I honestly have had conversations with different music labels throughout the last 10 to 15 years, and the way their attitude changed towards music artists is terrible,” she says. Labels expect lifelong submission for paltry pay, assuming all musicians struggle—and they stifle creativity, especially political content.

Faced with that grim reality, Nadya found more honesty and freedom in sex work through OnlyFans. She openly funded Cyka by selling “booty pics,” a stark contrast to the limitations imposed by the music business. She views sex work as “more honest than jumping into bed with some record label guy who will just slowly kill my creativity.”

She underscores a chilling truth about platforms like Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok: “It’s impossible to get traction if you talk about something deep and serious.” Unless you’re a major figure like Bruce Springsteen, political art is suppressed.

Finding Fragments of Hope Amidst the Chaos

Despite the raw anger and frustration radiating from most tracks on Cyka—many written in 2025 during a gloomy political climate—Nadya ensures the album carries glimpses of hope. Songs like “Utopia” and “God Loves the Fierce,” penned years ago, offer a brighter vision.

She stresses the importance of personal strength and imagining a better future. “If you don’t have a goal to reach, you’re not going to reach anything,” she reflects. While the majority of the record channels revenge and sadness, Nadya hopes listeners who feel equally overwhelmed know they’re not alone.

Final Notes

Cyka is more than an album; it’s a manifesto of resilience, a sonic protest against authoritarianism, and an authentic expression of a fearless artist navigating a harsh world. Nadya Tolokonnikova’s story is a powerful reminder that art can be both a weapon and a beacon.

For more information on Pussy Riot, their new album Cyka, and upcoming tours, head over to pussyriot.love.

FAQ

• What inspired Nadya Tolokonnikova to create the new album Cyka?
  The album was born out of her need to decompress after a politically charged art installation and her experiences witnessing authoritarianism and ICE raids.
• Who are some collaborators featured on Cyka?
  Notable collaborators include Avenged Sevenfold’s M. Shadows and Zacky Vengeance, and Cypress Hill’s B-Real.
• How does Nadya fund her independent projects?
  She openly shares that selling content on OnlyFans helped fund this album, offering her creative freedom away from restrictive music labels.
• What themes dominate Cyka?
  The album confronts authoritarianism, political corruption, drug crises, police brutality, and immigration struggles, while still offering moments of hope.
• How does Nadya view the current political climate?
  She sees authoritarianism like a virus spreading globally but encourages personal strength and envisioning positive futures despite the challenges.

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