Roots of Kino

Layia Watkins, known professionally as Lay Bankz, is an American singer and rapper. After signing a record contract with Artist Partner Group (APG) in 2022, she released the singles "Left Cheek ", "Na Na Na" and "Ick" the following year. Her 2024 single, "Tell Ur Girlfriend" became popular on TikTok and marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.

Boris Borisovich Grebenshchikov is a prominent member of the generation which is widely considered to be the "founding fathers" of Russian rock music. He is the founder and lead singer of the band Aquarium which has been active since 1972. Grebenshchikov is frequently referred to as BG, after his initials.

Red Wave: 4 Underground Bands from the USSR was a split double album released in 1986 and featuring Russian rock bands Aquarium, Kino, Alisa, and Strannye Igry, all from Leningrad. It was the first release of Russian rock music into the United States.