Impish

Born and raised in Moscow, Roman Bordoloi began releasing music as Impish in 2008. Before concentrating on drum and bass, Bordoloi was drawn to rock, funk and alternative metal, and played guitar and drums. An introduction to drum and bass shifted his focus towards collecting vinyl and producing electronic music. In Moscow, Impish and a friend started Burning Series, a monthly drum-and-bass night that has run since 2003. The night is also associated with breakbeat, and its sets have been vinyl-only. Impish later launched Occulti Music, his own label, with a run of vinyl releases; the imprint also runs Burning Series.

Occulti Music has been one of several outlets for Impish’s music, alongside Hospital Records, RAM Records, C.I.A., Innerground Records and Fokuz Recordings. His work for Hospital Records includes material on the Sick Music 2018 and Sick Music 2019 compilations. In 2017, he released the album The Hush, and in 2019 came the album Occulti Music XI. His releases have also included the album Silence and the album Underwater, made with Vasilisa Jarlier. The pair’s albums bring together material written between 2008 and 2013.

Impish’s later releases include the single Say Less, made with Quadrant and Iris in 2023, and the 2024 single Refined, made with Dubtype. Other releases include tracks on the Need for Speed: Heat soundtrack. Impish has described “Truth Is (Vinyl Version)” as a favourite track, saying it turned out as he wanted. A memorable career moment for him was Hospitality Festival in Moscow, where S.P.Y, London Elektricity and the Hospital Records crew appeared. His first recorded event appearance was in 2015, and he has played most often in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

In 2026, Impish played at 16TONS in Moscow on 20 June and 1 August.