A Russian lawmaker offered to make Stoptime’s teenage frontwoman a patriotic star — if she’d repent on camera. Diana Loginova chose exile instead, and the band just released its first album.

Last summer, 18-year-old Diana Loginova and 22-year-old Alexander Orlov had just started dating.

They founded a band, named it Stoptime, and began performing on the streets of St. Petersburg.

By fall, the group had attracted attention, and videos of them covering banned songs by musicians labeled “foreign agents” went viral on social media and reached law enforcement.

In November, after a series of “carousel” arrests, the musicians were forced to leave Russia.

Six months later, they released their debut album.

Meduza tells the story of what the musicians went through during their arrests and what they hope for now, living in exile.