«YENISEI» is a maxi-single by the post-ethno group AINA, based on the Evenki worldview: the Lower World of evil spirits Ugu Buga, the Middle World of humans Doolin Buga, and the Upper World of benevolent spirits Hergu Buga.
This is not only a song about the Yenisei River, but also about the moment when a person in the unstable and fragile Middle World (the world of humans) decides who they are and where they stand. The Upper and Lower Worlds are eternal and unchanging, while the human world is a space of struggle, movement, and the risk of losing oneself. The central question is direct: in a world full of «Hargi, ” meaning human flaws, how does one remain human and preserve a connection to nature, love, and one’s roots?
«YENISEI» marks a turning point in the dramaturgy of AINA’s upcoming album. After an inner crisis, the protagonist chooses to move toward the source, toward their lineage, and toward themselves. Musically, it is a dense, energetic track with a strong emotional arc that works as a standalone single while also revealing the depth of the overall concept.