The story of the band Tokiо began in 2002, when director Aleksandr Shein introduced two young musicians to each other — Yaroslav Maly and Demyan Kurchenko. Later both would laugh about this first meeting: wanting to show off his virtuoso playing, Demyan accidentally broke a string on Yaroslav’s guitar — and instead of friendship, they almost ended up in a conflict. But this uneasy beginning became the starting point for the future band.
The duo was soon joined by bass player Ilya Yazov and keyboardist Maksim Bogoyavlenskiy. All of them had different musical backgrounds and had already taken part in studio projects, which allowed the band to sound confident and professional from day one. Interestingly, some members came into music through cinema: even before the band was formed, Yaroslav Maly recorded soundtracks for films, worked on projects with Gosha Kutsenko, and collaborated with directors as a fully-fledged musical partner.
Cinematic roots and the influence of film on Tokiо’s sound
The band’s connection with cinema became a hallmark of Tokiо’s early period.
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Yaroslav and Maksim met while recording music for Aleksandr Shein’s film “Mixer”.
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In 2006, the song “Kto ya bez tebya” (“Who Am I Without You”), featured in the film “9th Company”, was nominated for the MTV Movie Awards in the “Best Soundtrack” category.
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The band wrote a track for the film “Heat”.
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And in 2009, the musicians wrote the track “Dogonim” (“We’ll Catch Up”) specifically for a computer game — one of the first cases in Russia when a pop-rock band integrated into the gaming industry.
This cinematic background also shaped their musical style: Tokiо developed a melodic pop rock sound with an emphasis on atmospheric lyrics, rich arrangements and emotional climaxes reminiscent of scenes from movies.
First successes — “Sneg”, Maxidrom and the debut album
The year 2003 became a real starting point for the band. Major radio stations picked up the song “Sneg” (“Snow”), which brought Tokiо their first wave of popularity. And on 17 May they performed at the Maxidrom festival, becoming one of the unexpected discoveries of the season. The press enthusiastically hailed them as a “new sensation” and “the most romantic band in Russia”, while music critics noted the unusual combination of lyricism and a modern sound.
In March 2004, the band released their first album “Tokiо”, with the launch show held at the legendary B2 club. The debut record cemented their status as a fresh and promising name on the Russian music scene.
2005 — travels, European stages and broadening horizons
The following year was packed with touring. Tokiо performed:
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in the United Kingdom, becoming one of the few Russian pop-rock bands of that time to play British venues;
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in France, where their music unexpectedly received a warm response from the European audience;
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in India, which became the most exotic and unusual stop on their tour route.
These trips influenced the band’s stylistic development — shows in different cultural environments added drive, boldness and a spirit of experimentation to their music.
2006–2009 — recognition, a mature sound and new albums
In 2006, their second studio album “Puls 200” was released, with a sound that became more electronic, energetic and contemporary. At the same time, Tokiо continued to collaborate with the film industry and stayed active on the touring circuit.
The third album “Vybirayu lyubov” (“I Choose Love”) (2009) was more romantic and introspective, with a focus on melody, sincere lyrics and the distinctive voice of Yaroslav Maly. During this period, the band’s songs regularly appeared on radio, and their music videos stood out for their strong visuals — another echo of their “cinematic roots”.
Style, philosophy and the band’s influence
Tokiо have always been distinguished by:
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thoughtful lyrics often rooted in emotions, personal experiences and philosophical reflections;
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an atmospheric sound that blends elements of pop rock, electronica and film score aesthetics;
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the powerful vocal delivery of Yaroslav Maly;
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a strong visual identity, with music videos often serving as part of a broader artistic concept.
Music critics have repeatedly noted that Tokiо combine “European musicality” with “Russian emotional depth”, which helps the band sound relevant beyond specific trends or eras.
Today, Tokiо remain one of the most recognizable projects on the Russian pop-rock scene. The band has traveled from intimate shows at the Odesa Actor’s House to major festival stages, created music for films, games and television, all while preserving their own sound and artistic signature. Their songs continue to resonate with listeners, and Yaroslav Maly is one of the few artists who brings together pop rock, cinematic flair and philosophical depth. The story of Tokiо is the story of a band that managed to turn the romantic mood of the early 2000s into a modern, mature and carefully crafted musical aesthetic.
