IC3PEAK - The Sound of Beauty and Ruin lands in Japan
The Moscow-born duo turning emotion into ritual and chaos into art.
There’s something magnetic about IC3PEAK, the way their world feels at once violent and fragile, sacred and carnal. Formed by Anastasia Kreslina and Nikolay Kostylev, the duo create not just music, but a living, breathing mythology of sound and image. Their art moves like a fever dream, where beauty collides with pain, and tenderness burns through the dark.
Behind the haunting visuals and raw performances lies something deeper: a meditation on freedom, vulnerability, and what it means to stay human when the world turns cold. Every song, every visual, feels like a secret language, one that doesn’t ask to be understood, only felt.
As IC3PEAK prepare to bring their transcendent live show to Japan, GATA sits down with Anastasia and Nikolay to talk about duality, transformation, and the strange alchemy of making art that bleeds and heals at the same time.
GATA: Hello Nikolay and Anastasia! You’ve stopped being just a music duo - people now see IC3PEAK as a creative phenomenon. For our GATA family, could you briefly introduce yourselves in your own words?
Anastasia: Hi, I’m Anastasia, though my friends call me Nastya, as we have nicknames for almost every name in Russian. Some of you might recognize me as a singer, songwriter, and visual artist; I'm one half of IC3PEAK, which I create alongside my friend Nick. I started with photography and later found my voice in music, but visual storytelling remained central to my work.
Fun fact: I’m indifferent about the idea of going to hell, yet I strive to be a better person every day.
Nikolay: I’m Nick - I make music, direct visuals, and co-write songs for IC3PEAK. It’s all part of one creative language for me.
GATA: Your work is often described as the voice of a generation. What does it mean to you to carry that presence and to inspire so many people?
Anastasia: I don’t think any artist can truly ‘own’ the voice of a generation, and I’d never aim to be that. I don’t feel like I’m carrying anything, I just try to stay open and feel the air around me. I try to stay attentive, both to the world and to myself. Still, there’s pressure—from outside and from within, to keep speaking, especially when the world feels like it’s falling apart. Poetry, visual art, and music can express what politics never can.
Nikolay: I’m not sure ‘voice of a generation’ fits us — it sounds too heavy, too absolute. Maybe we reflect a certain part of a generation, in some corners of the world. But I don’t think any artist can really own that title. It’s a big claim; and I’m okay not making it.
GATA: Your imagery is built on contrasts, tenderness colliding with harshness, light with darkness. Is it a reflection of inner dialogue or a deliberate artistic strategy?
Anastasia: For me, contrast is the truest form of expressing reality. It's both a reflection and a method—a way to translate what I feel. Life never is in one tone; it constantly shifts between light and shadow. A human can hold so much beauty and cruelty at once. When those opposites collide, that complexity fascinates me the most.
Nikolay: silence.
GATA: Your videos and lyrics are full of symbolism, often leaving space for the audience’s own interpretations. Do you prefer when listeners find their own meaning, or is it more important to you that they understand the exact message you intended?
Anastasia: I don’t like to speak in riddles - for me, it’s less about understanding and more about feeling. I never expect people to see exactly what I meant, but I try to be as clear as I can. Meaning in art is fluid: the moment you release your work, the memories and emotions of other people start shaping. It doesn’t belong to you anymore. I find beauty in that _ it’s how we communicate with each other.
Nikolay: Everyone should find their own meaning in what we do. We don’t follow a strict narrative in the classic sense; it’s more like we offer a set of symbols that people can connect in their own way. Sometimes, people see things we never even thought about, and that’s the beauty of it. Personally, I don’t like being told what to think or how to feel. We just create a space where a story can arise, it’s a pretty postmodern way of storytelling, I guess.
GATA: Your works have already crossed the borders of countries and cultures. What’s it like to see your ideas resonate with people living in completely different contexts? What’s the most surprising or memorable message you’ve ever received from someone on the other side of the world?
Anastasia: Sometimes I can’t even wrap my head around the fact that people all over the world listen to our songs and relate - even though most of them are in Russian. I love it when someone starts learning Russian because of our music. But what’s truly precious are the stories of people share about overcoming depression and suicidal thoughts, saying our songs helped them. I've been there too, and I know how hard it can be to find your way out. It’s a powerful reminder that art has no borders, and that we’re more alike when we are different. That thought gives me hope for a more peaceful future.
Nikolay: It’s always a bit surreal to visit places I never imagined coming to, sometimes even places I didn’t really know existed, and to see people actually listening to our music or connecting with what we do visually. It makes me feel understood and welcome, even if it’s just a small part of the population that knows us. That sense of connection, so far from home, is really special. Pause… We also get a lot of personal messages, people write notes and hand them to us at shows, sometimes during, sometimes after. Some are incredibly personal. I wouldn’t share what’s in them, but it’s always surprising how deeply people connect with our work. It’s not exactly us they’re connecting with, it’s an image of us they’ve created in their minds. They build this kind of relationship with that image, and we only discover it years later through a message. It’s fascinating — almost like seeing something you weren’t meant to see. I wish we could reply to everyone, but maybe our response is already in the music.
GATA: You are really close to your concert in Japan, tell us more about this! We wanna know if you have been here before, and if not what are your expectations and connection with the country?
Anastasia: This is my very first visit to Japan, and I’m beyond thrilled - though a little nervous, too. I have this feeling I might fall in love with the country so much that I’ll want to move here, ha-ha. Japan has such a rich culture, language and sense of beauty, and this short trip will only offer a glimpse into its depth.
Nikolay: I visited Japan last year, Tokyo and Seoul, actually; and I loved it. What fascinates me most about Japan is the people and their love for detail, the almost fractal nature of everything. The deeper you look, the more you find — in the cities, the food, the clothes, the literature, the culture. There’s nuance everywhere, even in things that don’t really need to be nuanced, but somehow are.
GATA: Is there anything from Japanese culture that you are interested in? For instance, manga, anime, food, etc.?
Anastasia: Japanese theatre and traditional dolls are my weakness - there’s something so mysterious and alive about them. Cinema and animation are huge passions of mine - I do love Hayao Miyazaki, who doesn’t? And Akira Kurosawa, of course, sorry for being so predictable. I’m also diving into the stories by Akutagawa Ryūnosuke right now.
Nikolay: I’m obsessed with Japanese cuisine; I cook it a lot. I’m also a big fan of Japanese literature — I love Murakami and Kōbō Abe — and, of course, I went through an anime phase. One of my favorite filmmakers is Mizoguchi.
GATA: You’ve teamed up with artists from all over, Oli Sykes, Kim Dracula, Grimes, Tommy Cash, GHOSTEMANE. When it comes to working across cultures, what’s more important for you: clicking musically, or connecting on a deeper philosophical level?
Anastasia: Surprisingly, we’ve never actually been in the same studio with any of these artists; it always began with a musical spark, a shared impulse. When you love someone’s music, that connection already exists. I’d never collaborate with someone I don’t genuinely like, no matter how big their name is. Lately, I crave deeper, more personal connections in my work. It’s become critical to me that the people I collaborate with are good human beings, too. Of course, talent and kindness are not always synonymous.
Nikolay: What matters most to me is that moment when things click musically. That’s the secret ingredient. Once the sound connects, everything else; all those different worlds: can merge on their own.
GATA: Your stage energy is insanely powerful. Do you have any little rituals before a show that help you get in the right state of mind?
Anastasia: Between shows, I usually stay quiet — it helps keep my voice and my energy balanced. Some might consider I don’t like being around others, but I’m really saving myself for the stage. Honestly, I’m not much of a social person in daily life either. On tour, I live almost like a monk — and the moment I step on stage, it becomes a shared prayer..
Nikolay: I don’t really have many rituals. I usually listen to an audiobook while doing my makeup, and right before going on stage I do about fifty star jumps — just to get my heart going. Mostly, though, it’s the crowd that gives me the real energy. Performing feels like a dialogue — that charge only exists through interaction.
GATA: When you’re constantly on the road, what gives you a sense of home? Maybe an object, a smell, or a routine?
Anastasia: I carry a wooden cross in my hand baggage. Everywhere I go, I put it on the wall. I also have a mug with a stupid cat on it, which is very funny. My friend gave it to me as a souvenir once, and since then, it has been something warm and familiar.
Nikolay: silence
GATA: If IC3PEAK wasn’t a project but a mythical creature, how would you describe it?
Anastasia: Let’s say Serpent Gorynych (Змей Горыныч) - a Slavic creature from fairytales - a multi-headed dragon. When you cut off one of its heads, two more grow in its place.
Nikolay: Hah, I pass this one.
GATA: Both of you have a strong visual identity. Do you have “guilty pleasures” - a song, a movie, or even a habit that feels totally outside your style but you secretly enjoy?
Anastasia: My “guilty pleasure” is old wrestling videos, definitely. I love how dramatic and fake they are. It’s pure theater of muscles, sweat, and tension. Actually, you might not believe me, but It was my childhood dream to become a wrestler.
Nikolay: Yeah, a lot. My friends say I’m basically living inside the IC3PEAK universe — just a goofier version. I joke around a lot, and I’m usually the punchline myself. I’ve got that self-deprecating humor. But what’s maybe unexpected is that I love surfing and mountain climbing. Those are my go-to sports, and I try to surf somewhere new every year.
GATA: At GATA we are huge admirers of cinema. Have any movies in particular inspired you in your life or career as artists or that you particularly love?
Anastasia: I’m a huge cinema nerd - it really shaped how I see things. My artistic 'parents' are Tarkovsky, Von Trier, Lynch, Cronenberg, Bergman, Sokurov, Argento, Ari Aster, Julia Ducournau, Aaron Schimberg... and the list goes on. I started as a photographer and still shoot most of our visuals, so films have always guided my way of seeing. Music videos are where I feed that hunger - writing, directing, styling, editing, being in the frame. One day, I'll make my own movie—a horror one, obviously. Or maybe a twisted comedy.
Nikolay: I’ve always been drawn to cinema. It’s probably directors, more than films themselves, who’ve influenced me the most. I’m a huge Werner Herzog fan, I think of him as my mentor, though he has no idea. Tarkovsky’s work feels deeply personal to me, like he’s telling my own story. I love Lars von Trier, especially his Dogma period, and of course David Lynch; though that’s almost too obvious to admit. Buñuel’s surrealism and Kurosawa’s precision also shaped how I see the world.
GATA: What projects await IC3PEAK, and you personally Anastasia and Nikolay, in the coming yeat? Perhaps we could get a sneak peek into your upcoming projects?
Anastasia: We’re sorry, but we never reveal anything about IC3PEAK— it’s our top-tier secret. However, aside from that, I’ve been dedicating myself to art objects, videos, and poetry, and have been showcased in several contemporary art shows across Italy this year. I’m currently very into icon painting, so I would love to continue exploring this direction. I’m also finally launching my own merch line, starting with a soft erotic calendar featuring photographs I shot myself.
Nikolay: Once the tour’s over, we’re jumping straight into writing new stuff. That’s the plan. I’ve also got a lot of solo music on the way, which I’m super excited about. Can’t say much yet, but it’s gonna be sick.
GATA: Beyond the performance itself, what lasting impression or shift would you like to spark in people personally?
Anastasia: I just want to create a space where our listeners can feel something real. Even the tiniest change can be huge. If someone walks away feeling even a little less lonely - that’s enough.
Nikolay: This tour, for me, is about transcendence, breaking the walls inside us, and the walls between us and the world. I want to bring people closer, to us and to each other. That moment when everything dissolves and becomes one: that’s what I’m chasing.