Pussy Riot’s ‘CANDY DOPAMINE’ Previews CYKA Album, Features M. Shadows

VENICE – Pussy Riot’s new single ‘CANDY DOPAMINE’ arrives as a complex exploration of anxiety and artificial bliss, setting the stage for their long-awaited debut album, CYKA.

“CANDY DOPAMINE” serves as a pivotal single from Pussy Riot’s debut album, CYKA, scheduled for release on June 12, 2026. The album’s title, translating to “bitch” in Russian, directly reflects 14 years of the collective’s activism, imprisonment, and exile. Its announcement occurred during a protest at the Venice Biennale, coinciding with Russia’s controversial return to the event.

The track features M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold, injecting alternative rock and heavy riffs into Pussy Riot’s punk-pop sound. “CANDY DOPAMINE” was co-written by Pussy Riot, M. Shadows, and Zacky Vengeance, with production by Gold Glove and Max Comaskey. This collaboration creates a “fever dream/panic attack collision of punk rage, pop hooks,” mirroring the lyrical tension.

Sugar-Coated Rebellion: Unpacking the Anxious Ecstasy of 'CANDY DOPAMINE'

Pussy Riot’s “CANDY DOPAMINE” addresses anxiety and trauma, reflecting Nadya Tolokonnikova’s experiences with state violence. This “love and hate song to prescription and designer drug culture” details her antidepressant dependence for PTSD and depression, examining “mentalhealthmaxxing.” Explore the full song meaning of “CANDY DOPAMINE” by Pussy Riot.

The song’s “candy dopamine” and “cotton candy” motifs symbolise a saccharine escape from harsh reality, a chemical shortcut to a pain-free state. This imagery connects to Tolokonnikova’s observation of “mentalhealthmaxxing” via pills and injections, presenting these coping mechanisms as an understandable, albeit ambiguous, response to pervasive suffering. The yearning to “melt my brain already” signifies a desire for profound emotional detachment.