The PAGAN MUSIC LIST is an attempt to create a comprehensive list of Pagan, Heathen, Esoteric, Animist, and related music that we listen to and love. We include embedded YouTube, Soundcloud, or Bandcamp links when possible for each artist.

Previous collections in this series have been archived here, and new collections of reviews will be posted monthly (supporters get early access to new collections—find out more here).

We also provide a constantly updated index of artists that we have reviewed by name and genre.

And if you are a Spotify listener, you can click on the embedded player to listen to the full updated playlist!

Collection 22

KAUAN, IANAI, Theodor Bastard

Kauan

Russian Electro/ NEo-Folk

Website https://kauanmusic.com/about or https://kaunan.bandcamp.com/
Recommended Album: Kaiho

Kauan—not to be confused with the band Kaunan— is a Russian atmospheric Neo-folk band headed by Antov Belov, a musician who's also worked heavily with Finnish folk music. Kauan means “for a long time” in Finnish, and the sense one gets from listening to the project is of a wistful longing for both eternity and the past seen through the present.

Consider especially Kauan’s popular track Lapsenmuisto (“childhood memory”)

Deeply beautiful and even more atmospheric is the song Akva, whose sparse lyrics refer to a journey across a frozen world.

IANAI

Electro-Folk (Nordic)

Website: https://ianai.bandcamp.com/

Recommended Album:Surin

Apparently almost nothing is known about Trevenial, the musician behind the project Ianai. Or Trevenial doesn’t wish to reveal anything, anyway. Reviews and attempts to interview Ianai always use the same word: “enigmatic.”

Despite the secrecy, Ianai is quite well connected, and Ianai features vocals and instrumentations from many famous artists (including members of Massive Attack and Sisters of Mercy). And perhaps the secrecy is meant to help the listener focus instead on the music itself, which is lush and exquisite.

Incidentally, just like Sigur Ros, Ianai’s lyrics appear to all be from a made up language which uses elements from several other languages. Amusingly, they released a lyric video composed of entirely untranslatable words.

So, I can’t tell you what they are signing about. And I cannot tell you who they are. All I can do is point you to Ianai’s really excellent music.

Theodor Bastard

Russian FolK/Neo-Folk/rock

Website: https://theodorbastard.com/

Recommended Album: Volch'ya Yagoda

Considered the premiere band of its genre in Russia, Theodor Bastard started in 1995. Their name is an English translation of the founder of the band’s stage name (Fedor Svoloch), which was also originally the band’s name.

The Russian/Slavic roots of Theodor Bastard give their music a rather unique feeling compared to similar bands (fans of The Moon and the Nightspirit may find them more familiar), and at times it feels like you are hearing the steppes. Particularly missing is the usual Germanic influences that other Slavic Neo-folk bands have, making Theodor Bastard really stand out.

I like all their music a lot, but the following two songs (Les, and Volchok) are both ones I’m sure you’ll like too.

The Pagan Music List 22