
When the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, IMPERIAL AGE founders and singers Jane Odintsova and Alexander ‘Aor’ Osipov published an antiwar manifesto and left their native Moscow for Turkey. The band had enjoyed increasing international popularity since 2020, especially among Western audiences, while staying independent from record labels, which allowed them to make the move and continue their band while fully relying on their music sales to make ends meet.
Over the next year they managed to finish and release “New World” – Imperial Age’s latest album – as well as to tour the EU and UK, securing the visas which were denied to many other Russian citizens.
During their UK tour in January 2023 they were endorsed by England’s Arts Council as ‘Exceptional Talents’, which allowed Jane and Aor to relocate to the UK on Global Talent visas – an elite immigration route reserved for internationally acclaimed artists, sportspeople and scientists.
The musicians posted on their website the following message:
“This moment is historical for us, and the biggest move of our lives so far. After leaving Russia and spending a year of uncertainty in Turkey in a dubious legal state, we finally have firm soil under our feet – something we never truly had before – in the form of Global Talent UK residency until 2026, after which we can both extend or apply for settlement and later – citizenship. We have come here for the long term, and are already searching for a good rent somewhere in the rural areas of the country.
Once that is settled, we will be able to resume full-scale work on our music and touring, only this time in incomparably better conditions.
We are infinitely grateful to our fans and Crowdfunders who made this move possible. Once we have found a place to live, we will start shipping out the perks and will also set up a date for the homecoming acoustic concert. We already have a venue in mind in London 😉”.