Illyah Kuryahkin

Dean Wilson, a New York performer, performed under the alias Illyah Kuryahkin, an identity modeled on the Man from U.N.C.L.E. Wilson first played piano and guitar in childhood, then examined music theory and technique during college studies. After adopting the stage name, he explored alternate tunings and harmonics while absorbing elements from the shoegazer movement through Middle Eastern music, shaping an eclectic mutant pop hybrid. Several singles tracked on his portastudio preceded the initial full-length Illyah Kuryahkin album, Count No Count, which the modest Arena Rock label released in 1996. Thirycabminute appeared in 1999.