SmailoffIsmailoff

SmailoffIsmailoff is a musical duo composed of Alexander Smailoff and Ilya Ismailoff, who came together in 2014 in the city of St. Petersburg, Russia. Born in the early 1980s, Smailoff and Ismailoff both studied at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, with Smailoff focusing on classical piano and Ismailoff on electronic sound design. After collaborating on a series of experimental club mixes, they decided to formalise their partnership as a studio project that blends Russian folk melodies with contemporary electronic and ambient textures.

The duo released their debut EP, “Echoes of the Neva,” in 2016. The EP received critical praise for its use of field recordings from the Neva River and for incorporating traditional Russian instruments such as the balalaika and bayan. In 2018, they issued a full-length album entitled “Transistor Dreams,” which charted in the top ten of the Russian Electronic Albums list. Their follow‑up release, “Winter Solstice,” was noted for its atmospheric soundscapes and was shortlisted for the best electronic album in the Russian Music Awards 2019.

SmailoffIsmailoff has performed at major festivals, including Sónar in Barcelona and the Moscow Electronic Festival. Their music has appeared in several independent films and television series, frequently used to underscore dramatic or reflective scenes. Critics often compare their style to that of the late Russian composer Anatoly Lensky, noting a similar fusion of folk heritage with modern production techniques.

While they remain largely independent, the duo has maintained regular releases through their own label, Frosted Sound, and continues to collaborate with artists across genres such as folk-pop, chillwave, and experimental rock. Their influence is evident in the growing popularity of hybrid electronic‑folk music in Eastern Europe and the wider global electronic scene.