This is one of those rare bands, which transcends their inspirations to create powerful and original music of its own, ‘Belarusian Rock ’n’ Roll’. Ilyukevich sings in Russian, his lyrics play on images from Eastern Slavic Folklore and Russian Literature, the characters of his songs, brimming with satirical and provocative mischief. His vocals swoop from soft whispered melodies to raucous screams, defying language barriers to deliver songs that are uplifting, intelligent, macabre, romantic and melancholic.

The singer’s inspiration is rooted in rural Belarus its wild landscape, folklore and the rustic daily life of his village. Growing up behind the iron curtain, Ilyukevich later settled in the UK and his songs explore the contrast between the climate of repression in Belarus and the greater possibilities for the individual in the West.

Sasha debuted at London’s famous venue ‘the Luminaire’, in December 2007. In early 2008, and what started as an experimental collaboration with drummer Phil Brunner and bassist Ned Crowther had by the end of 2009 evolved into a flute-violin-double bass quintet defined by soaring melody and lyrical wit.

The first album ‘Ha Numa’ was released in October 2009 on one of Russia’s biggest music labels Bomba-Piter. In June 2010 Ilyukevich headed with the band to Russia and Belarus for the ‘To the East’ tour. The tour was later turned into the documentary film ‘The Nonsense Express’ by filmmaker Robert Dumas. The film reaches its climax with a highly charged and emotional concert at a psychiatric hospital in Minsk. The tour also marked a change of direction from folk style into an expanded electric sound. In December 2010, in the run up to the contested presidential election, the debut album ‘Ha Numa’ was banned from radio play in Belarus due to its perceived political subversion. In response, the band released the single ‘Kolya’, a bitter reflection on the ongoing political situation in Belarus, its autocratic regime that thrives on nepotism and corruption.

'Kolya' is a part of the Spring Single Collection, whereby a new single is recorded and released in the spring of each year. This is part of a longer term project and was started in 2011 with the release of the single 'On the Edge of Your Spring'. Since then Ilyukevich and his band have release the further 2 singles. The latest single 'Railway Liquid' was released in May 2013.

Sasha Ilyukevich and 'The Highly Skilled Migrants' are currently working on their next album 'Lessons of Russian Literature'.