Life in the underground Soviet music scene Part 1 (198)

Cold War Conversations

Joanna Stingray was only 23 years old when she first set foot in the USSR and started meeting now-legendary musicians and artists of the Soviet underground. By 1985, she was writing and recording with them, and smuggling their music to the West in order to produce the groundbreaking album Red Wave: 4 Underground Bands from the USSR.

This is her testimony of youthful fortitude and rebellion, her love story, and proof of the power of music and youth culture over stagnancy and oppression.

Details of the book giveaway are here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode198/

Part 2 is here and part 3 here

Joanna’s book, Red Wave written with her singer/songwriter daughter, Madison, includes Stingray’s extensive collection of photographs, artworks, and interviews with the musicians.

Buy the book and support the podcast here

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I am delighted to welcome Joanna Stingray to our Cold War conversation…

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Thank you very much for listening. It is really appreciated – goodbye.

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0:00 Introduction and Joanna Stingray's journey into the Soviet Underground

1:23 Sponsor: Patreon introduction and shoutout

2:46 Joanna's initial career plans and first visit to Russia

6:14 Joanna's struggle with communication and parental concerns

11:38 Joanna's first meeting with Boris Grebenschikov

14:17 Joanna's first visit to a Soviet apartment

18:27 Joanna's realization about her own music and the language of music

23:04 Joanna's experience at an underground concert and promise to return to Russia

29:49 Joanna's offer to help the Russian music scene

36:38 Joanna's first experience at a Russian rock concert and impressions of Soviet bands

44:00 Joanna's backstage experiences and encounter with the KGB

46:40 Ian's closing remarks and Sponsor: Patreon acknowledgement

48:21 Cold War Conversations online store promotion

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