Molchat Doma

Molchat Doma formed in Minsk, Belarus, and began releasing music in 2017.[2] They self-released their debut studio album, С крыш наших домов (S krysh nashikh domov), on 24 April 2017.[3] In July 2017, they released the song "Коммерсанты" as a single.[4] Later that year, С крыш наших домов received a re-release through German independent label Detriti Records.[5] The following year, the band released their second album, Этажи (Etazhi), which included "Коммерсанты", on 7 September 2018,[6] also through Detriti.[7] The label released the album both digitally and on vinyl.[7]

Over time, the band's first two albums gained popularity through YouTube and Bandcamp.[2] Their music was uploaded to YouTube unofficially by a user named "Harakiri Diat", who also uploaded music by other bands with similar sounds. By the end of 2019, Этажи had gained roughly two million listeners through their upload of the album.[8] The band were not initially as popular in their home country of Belarus as they were in the rest of Europe; they had played sold-out shows across the continent but never in Belarus. They have stated, however, that they have no interest in performing a sold-out show at Minsk-Arena.[9] Later that year in September, the band released two singles. The first was called "Звезды"[10] and the second was a collaboration with Russian post-punk band Ploho, called "По краю острова".[11]

Molchat Doma performing in Saint Petersburg, Russia, 2020

In January 2020, Molchat Doma signed with American independent label Sacred Bones Records, who later reissued their first two albums on vinyl in North America.[2] During the first half of 2020, the band gained popularity through the online video platform TikTok, specifically their song "Судно (Борис Рыжий)" ("Sudno (Boris Ryzhy)"), from Этажи; the song had been used as the soundtrack to numerous videos created on the platform.[12][13] Some notable videos that used the song include one made by a user based in San Francisco, California, who compiled several clips of his native country of Russia, adding that he misses being there,[13] as well as a "challenge" that involves a fast photo compilation of the video creator trying on as many clothes in their wardrobe as possible within a time limit.[12] The song's popularity during this time resulted in it reaching No. 2 on the Spotify worldwide Viral 50 chart.[13]

Molchat Doma had planned to tour in North America for the first time, alongside American singer-songwriter Chrysta Bell,[2] but the original tour dates were canceled once the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted the continent.[13] The band contributed to a Black Sabbath tribute album, along with other signees of Sacred Bones, titled What Is This That Stands Before Me?. They covered their song "Heaven and Hell", with a dark wave sound and Russian lyrics, for the album.[14] The album was released in May 2020,[14] and their "Heaven and Hell" cover was released as a standalone single on digital platforms later that month.[15]

On 15 September 2020, Molchat Doma announced their first album through Sacred Bones, titled Monument, and its release date of 13 November. Alongside the announcement was the release of the album's lead single, "Не смешно".[16]