[5] As a composer, he has collaborated with numerous singers in classical and pop music, such as Anna Netrebko, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Aida Garifullina, Andrea Bocelli, Sumi Jo, Alla Pugacheva, Lara Fabian, Dimash Qudaibergen, Valery Leontyev, Ani Lorak, Sergey Lazarev, Irina Allegrova, Mikhail Shufutinsky and others.
[10] He failed to enter the Kiev Conservatory and spent the following year giving accordion classes in Haivoron and Bandurovo village.
During that period Krutoy also worked as artistic director of Valentina Tolkunova band and gave performances accompanying Russian male actor Yevgeny Leonov.
[11] In parallel, his friend, popular singer Aleksander Serov, was winning international competitions with Igor Krutoy songs "Inspiration" and "In Fate's Despite".
[9] His sister Alla Krutaya, is the author and host of Laskavo prosymo (Welcome, "Ласкаво просимо") show at TV company "Ukraine".[13][14].