It is a typical particle in bands that instrumentalists come up with their own parts during the rehearsal or recording process. The skill involved in this is often overlooked. A band member must let go of their ego and focus on what suits the song's overall message. The Goldsmiths-educated (UK, London) guitarist, bassist, composer, and songwriter Prokhor Kuznetsov is an excellent example of this unique skill. In fact, Prokhor's experience as both a sideman and a bandleader is what makes his musical output so unique. 

Part of the London scene since 2017, Prokhor has played and recorded with many artists and bands, such as Alex Bayly, the Worry Dolls, and the Buggs. What is noticeable from the live videos and recordings of his bands is that Prokhor always comes up with the right parts for the song. He never overplays and supports the project's stylistic sensibility, whether it's folk, country, or indie-rock. Prokhor understands how to amplify the lyric and the vocal performance with his guitar and bass parts, how to set the mood, and leave space. Whether it's the driving and energetic picked bassline of Alex Bayly's "I'll Never Leave You" or the ambient, flowing, and softly plucked bass in the "Firefly" by the Worry Dolls. 

Arguably, Prokhor "serves the songs" of others so brilliantly because he is also a songwriter and a bandleader in his own right. In 2019 he organized a series of concerts at venues across London, including the headline show at the Albany Theatre, with a full band playing his own songs. Prokhor's confessional songwriting is about storytelling and creating a particular mood, a mixture of melancholy and gentle irony. Despite being an accomplished and skilled guitarist, Prokhor deliberately played rather minimalistic rhythm guitar parts. This helped the audience focus on the lyrics and the song's emotional intent. It's challenging to transition from a sideman to a bandleader, but Prokhor proved it's possible.

Written by Piera Lolandes

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