Rock Monsters Romania

On October 25, Kadjavsi will release Above Albatross, his second studio album, with a special concert at Club Control, the same venue where he introduced his debut album, Second Sun. The new record marks a mature stage for the project, blending alternative pop with electronic textures and post-rock accents.

Kadjavsi is the musical project of artist Nikita Dembinski, started in 2017 as an exploration of improvised ambient soundscapes on piano. Over time, Dembinski expanded the project’s boundaries toward alternative pop, beginning with the 2021 single Each Day, where he also made his debut as a vocalist.

His first album, Second Sun (2022), was enthusiastically received by both audiences and critics, being described as one of the most promising works on the local alternative scene. Since then, Kadjavsi has performed on the stages of some of Romania’s most important festivals, including Electric Castle, Summer Well, Europavox Festival, and TIFF, impressing with both an intense live energy and the emotional fragility of his more intimate moments.

The idea for Above Albatross appeared in an apparently random moment, when the word “albatross” suddenly came to Nikita Dembinski’s mind. With no clear connection to what he was doing at the time, the bird became an obsessive presence, leading him to explore the fascinating world of this rare creature, an almost mythological bird, difficult to spot, associated both with good luck and misfortune, and a symbol of freedom and distance.

Thus, the albatross became the creative nucleus of the album, a metaphor for the desire to reach something real, yet always just beyond the span of one’s wings. “I found it interesting that it’s a bird that exists, but it’s almost impossible to encounter. It gave new meaning to the idea of longing for something that’s there, but out of reach,” Nikita explains.

Although the album stems from the artist’s personal introspection, Above Albatross is not an exercise in ego but an exploration of the shared emotions that connect us. Nikita writes out of a genuine need to understand his own feelings, but also with the hope that somewhere, someone will recognize themselves in them. “I’d like listeners to come away with the idea that everything we feel is valid, that meaning comes from those moments that press against our chest or keep us awake at night.”

For him, Above Albatross is also a manifesto for vulnerability and empathy in an increasingly fragmented world. Music becomes a space of connection — a reminder that we are not alone in what we experience. “I write about what I feel not because I think I’m interesting or that my feelings are special, but because I hope that someone out there will listen and realize they’re not alone.”

The Above Albatross launch concert takes place on Friday, October 25, at Club Control, promising a deep sonic experience, somewhere between intimacy and intensity. Tickets are available through iabilet.ro.