exactly one year ago, ionnalee graced her audience with the release of EVERYONE AFRAID TO BE FORGOTTEN, the result of years worth of personal struggles, culminating in a full-fledged audiovisual tour de force.

today, it’s our turn to give back.

we proudly present to you GONE - ECHOES FROM OUR PAST -, the first dowel in a string of tributes to come. featuring the musical and vocal talents of singer-songwriters and producers Minute Taker and Christopher Norman, and German producer ein einmeier, with artwork provided by Florence G. S. and Russian artist Nikita Kolomin (polufuckin).

GONE - ECHOES FROM OUR PAST - is now available as a free download on Bandcamp.

with love,

this time we interviewed a MOSCOW-based illustrator Nikita Kolomin, who creates under the nickname @polufuckin, about his work with To whom it may concern. label @twimclabel, the creative process behind his artworks and the devotion of Russian fans in relation to iamamiwhoami and ionnalee.

q. first off, tell us a bit about yourself.

my name is Nikita, i create under the nickname “polufuckin”. my main activity is related to science, i’m engaged in research in the field of biotechnology and microbiology. however, creativity has always been an integral part of my life. i like developing in different kinds of creative activities, and currently illustration brings me the most joy.

q. who are your biggest inspirations?

Aurora Aksnes, Tahliah Barnett, Jillian Banks, Tim Burton, Amy Lee, Tracy Lewis and of course Jonna. in general, i’m very inspired by people who are completely immersed in their work. they create the coolest things in my opinion.

q. when did you first learn about iamamiwhoami?

in 2013 a friend sent me a link to IN CONCERT, and i was very fascinated by what i saw. it was so unique, frightening and beautiful at the same time that it was impossible not to be captivated by the project. from that moment i can’t stop drawing Jonna :)

q. which song and era are your favorite?

oh, it’s always an insanely difficult choice, but i’d say good worker. that’s the sound i associate with iam. and my favorite era is kin.

q. as we all know, you have made artworks for Barbelle and Tungorna single covers, as well as some stunning fanarts. could you tell us a little bit about the process of their creation and what it was like working with TWIMC?

i work in mixed media, combining traditional and digital drawing. i use a variety of artistic materials and tools for this purpose: paints, pencils, pastels, pens, etc. most of all i like creating minimalist illustrations in pastel shades. usually in the process i have a lot of versions of one artwork and it is always difficult to choose a single one. working with TWIMC showed me what a real creative team should be like. they know how to inspire for something more.

q. do you have some interesting memories connected with Russian community? in your opinion, how can one explain such love and devotion of Russian fans in regard to iamamiwhoami and ionnalee?

for some reason, i immediately remembered Royksopp’s performance with Jonna in 2015 at the PARK LIVE festival. on that day, the whole area close to the stage was filled with iam fans, and despite heavy rain with hail (a monthly rainfall rate fell on that day), everyone was patiently waiting for the performance. we were soaked to the skin, but it did not spoil the impression of the concert. everyone here really loves her and looks forward to seeing her. i think it’s because Jonna is close to us in spirit. in addition, she is very kind and sincere with the fans, which is not so common among famous people, and it’s very appealing.

q. what are your impressions of this year’s MOSCOW concert? can you tell us about the llama and broccoli toys which you and your friends gifted to Jonna?

wig snatched! of course, the impressions of the concert are only the most pleasant. i’ve finally heard my favorite songs live. the performance of GONE just blew up the crowd, didn’t want it to ever end. what i especially enjoyed is visualization. the show turned out to be damn beautiful and thought out, and the team managed to surprise everyone. in turn, we always carefully prepare for the concert and give Jonna something special. therefore, as a token of gratitude, we chose broccoli and llama as a reminder of the bounty era. in fact, it’s very funny how happily these toys jump on stage each time.

q. do you believe in evolution?

yes.

q. thank you for answering our questions! where can people find you online and discover your artworks?

thank you!